Properly Subversive/Sherman R. Frederick
The idea of establishing a committee to better facilitate the relationship between law enforcement and the community is a grand idea. It became a reality in San Rafael, Marin County’s largest town, when the City Council approved the bylaws for the panel.
The city rightly made this an advisory group only with the purpose of bringing the community together to, essentially, talk things out as it relates to how the city’s police relate to the people served.
Some, however, want the panel to do more. They want this group to become a hammer capable of bashing perceived police misconduct.
One person told the council that PAAC’s powers should not be just “advisory,” but have power to investigate and punish. The same person said it should be mandatory that at least one person on the panel have had a “less than positive” experience with the San Rafael Police Department.
Those are counterproductive ideas. Thankfully, the City Council ignored them.
If PAAC succeeds it will not only provide valuable input to the San Rafael Police Department, but also bring “the community” (especially meaning the growing “immigrant community” in San Rafael) into a more trusting relationship with the police to make the overall San Rafael community a safer place.
(Sherman R. Frederick writes an opinion column for Marinscope and this website.)
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