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Vallejo oversight commissioners defend annual report and urge transparency after anonymous attacks
Summary
Public commenters praised POAC’s recent report and urged transparency after anonymous mass emails targeted commissioners; members agreed to prepare an addendum and to agendize further action so the report can meet ordinance requirements and be posted for public review.
Chair Richard Lewis opened the May 14 meeting of the Vallejo Police Oversight and Accountability Commission by explaining he had drafted the commission’s first annual report to meet an April 15 ordinance deadline, then sought the panel’s feedback on whether to revise or add an addendum. "I came across the requirement to submit a report to the mayor and the council by April 15," he said.
Public commenters and several commissioners pushed back on staff and urged the commission to be more transparent. "My name is Sana and I'm with ACLU of Northern California," a representative of the ACLU told the commission, urging the body to fund the IPA, fill independent counsel roles, provide training for commissioners, and publicize open positions. Sherry Ann Grama said anonymous mass emails had circulated in response to commissioners' work: "Anonymous mass emails filled with personal attacks, insults, and defamatory statements were sent out to intimidate and discredit people simply for speaking up," she said, and urged the commission to continue to choose transparency and accountability.
Commissioners acknowledged frustration with delays and gaps in the draft report and agreed on a path forward. Several members said the draft reflected an early snapshot of their work but agreed the document did not include all items required by the ordinance. Commissioners and staff discussed options: prepare an addendum containing the missing ordinance-required information, ask the liaison to place the report on the City Council agenda, or agendize the report as an action item so commissioners can propose amendments and vote.
The commission did not take a formal action to finalize the report at the May 14 meeting; instead, members directed that any addenda or edits be shared with the secretary and agendized for a future meeting so the commission can vote on any amendments.
The commission also heard repeated requests from public speakers that the report and related materials be posted to the city or POAC website so the public can review them in advance of meetings.
The commission’s next steps: collect suggested addenda from commissioners and staff, agendize the draft and proposed amendments at a future meeting, and consider presenting the report to City Council.
