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Desert Hot Springs council ratifies removal of public safety commissioner after dispute over police oversight
Summary
The council ratified the removal of a public safety commission member at the appointing council member's request. Former vice chair Michael Rizzio told the council he was removed after raising concerns about a credible report of excessive force; he urged transparency and accountability.
The Desert Hot Springs City Council on April 15 ratified the removal of a member of the Public Safety Commission at the request of the appointing council member.
Council Member Pai asked the council to ratify the removal, citing the appointing authority. The city attorney read applicable municipal-code language about the council's authority to remove commission members. During public comment, Michael Rizzio, who said he served as vice chairman of the Public Safety Commission, said he was removed for advising city leadership after receiving a credible report of excessive force by city police officers. "I was removed from my position for doing what the ordinance actually demands," Rizzio said, adding he sought clarification and due process by raising his concerns to leadership and the commission chair.
No substantive rebuttal to Rizzio's description appears in the meeting record; the council moved and the clerk recorded the motion to ratify the removal as passing unanimously.
The action formalizes the council-level ratification of the removal; Rizzio said the decision raises concerns about the commission's ability to advise on police conduct. The council did not add additional findings on the record at the time of the vote.
