Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek told a crowd of protesters on Wednesday night that he would be bringing a police oversight proposal to the City Council for adoption on Monday.
The declaration represents an escalation from councilmembers’ sentiments at their last meeting, which suggested the matter would move more slowly after criticism from some that the process had already been rushed.
Tornek stood on his front lawn as he addressed a group of protesters who railed against police violence after a Pasadena police officer fatally shot a Black man near La Pintoresca Park on Saturday, Aug. 15.
“We’ve been working on this for two months,” Tornek said.
“(Councilman) John Kennedy and I have written it, we’ve changed it, we’ve revised it. We’re trying to get the City Council to adopt it on Monday, and I hope that you will support it,” the mayor said.
“I know it doesn’t do everything that you’re asking for,” Tornek added, “but I think it does a lot and it represents the real change that you have been asking for.”
Tornek was preemptively responding to criticism the council has received over this particular proposal. Many have questioned the relative independence of the proposed independent auditor who reports to the City Manager — the same chain of command as the Police Department.
Vice Mayor Tyron Hampton — who favored a more assertive model of police oversight that was rejected by his colleagues, including Tornek — has suggested the auditor could report to the City Prosecutor’s Office, which reports directly to the council.
Still, regardless of the organizational structure, the auditor could only write reports. They would not have the authority to make recommendations to the Police Department, and they wouldn’t be able to weigh in on personnel decisions, like firings or other punishments.
Tornek told the crowd he was heartsick over McClain’s death “and I would like to extend my condolences to the family.”
A young boy who had been in the crowd of protesters on Saturday night that was sprayed with a chemical irritant by Pasadena police spoke to the mayor while standing on his lawn on Wednesday evening.
“Do you care about Black people?” the boy asked.
“Yes, I care about Black people,” Tornek said.
There were shouts from the crowd: “Prove it.”
Tornek paused for a moment. “I’m trying,” he said. “I’m trying to prove it. Judge me by what I do.”
