Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Police Conduct topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Indigenous protesters and residents allege mistreatment by police during public comments to oversight commission
Summary
At the May 9 meeting, two public commenters alleged police harmed Indigenous protesters and restricted cultural expression, naming an officer and describing arrests and delayed responses; commissioners acknowledged the comments and ad hoc committees provided procedural updates.
Two public commenters raised allegations about police treatment of Indigenous protesters during the County Police Review Commission’s public comment period on May 9.
Wyatt told commissioners that their community matriarch had been arrested and injured around a recent observance and alleged officers broke a peace practice. He said he filed matters through internal affairs and raised concerns about delayed emergency response to people in crisis. “Our matriarch was arrested and injured by SAC PD,” Wyatt said, adding that he had pursued internal affairs and wanted oversight attention.
Sierra, who said she placed a teepee to raise awareness, described officers detaining people for jaywalking and alleged prior misconduct by a named officer. “Your officer Ratcliffe, who has also assaulted other protesters... I believe he permanently blinded a protester at a George Floyd protest,” she said, and added that such policing discouraged Indigenous community events.
Commissioners and staff listening to public comment did not record a substantive departmental rebuttal on the record during the meeting; Captain Buchanan acknowledged his role as a liaison and offered future engagement opportunities. The commission’s ad hoc committees continued with scheduled report-backs and said they would keep engagement and training topics on upcoming agendas.
These are allegations raised in public comment; the commission did not take immediate disciplinary action during the meeting. The comments were forwarded to internal affairs where commenters said they had already filed complaints.
