The Community Police Oversight Board (CPOB) for the City of La Mesa has been in operation since early 2021 as a result of the diligent efforts of a small group of community advocates who believe in the importance of building trust, improving transparency, and providing a liaison between the citizens and our Police Department.
This process has proved to be very rewarding and productive thanks to the collaborative efforts of Police Chief Ray Sweeney, the La Mesa Police Officers Association, and the members of the Community Police Oversight Board.
As the former Chair and current Vice Chair of the Community Police Oversight Board, I have learned many positive aspects of effective leadership from our Chief of Police Ray Sweeney. It is through his leadership and collaborative efforts that La Mesa has the oversight body that is the envy of cities across the county.
All civic leaders should strive to emulate our Police Chief’s leadership skills which include the following:
- Treat community members with respect – Chief Sweeney actively engages with the public even when there is extreme pressure placed upon him such as that following the 2020 riot. He listens to the concerns brought forward by community members and works hard to respond to the people he serves with respect and honesty. He approaches tough questions head-on and makes every effort to make sure the person asking the question receives an honest and thorough response.
- Follow through on promises – When promises are made to the CPOB, we can always count on Chief Sweeney to follow-through. He doesn’t say one thing in public and then another thing behind the scenes. He is a man of his word.
- Represent the City with integrity – The Chief is always willing to support and protect the people of this community. He cares about those in need and encourages his officers to take the time to de-escalate every encounter they might face in an effort to find the appropriate resources and support. He represents the Police Department and the City well.
- Be proactive – The LMPD learned from the May 2020 riots that a proactive response plan is crucial to more effective outcomes. Chief Sweeney immediately developed a plan for improvement to more effectively respond to safety concerns in City. His response to the aftermath of the riot was immediate and healing.
- Respond to situations in a legal and ethical manner – Chief Sweeney not only considers the legal aspects of his decisions but also the ethical. When he acts on issues, he listens to all points of view prior to making an informed, legal, and ethical decision.
All these leadership qualities make the success of the Community Police Oversight Board in La Mesa possible. We feel heard and appreciated.
Since its inception, CPOB has worked hard to develop a citizen complaint process that is readily available to the people who come in contact with the LMPD personnel. As these complaints are received, they are reviewed by the police department, by the CPOB, and by the independent police auditor (outside auditor hired to report out to the CPOB). A final report is created and made available to the public on the CPOB website. While the department had typically received between seven to twelve complaints a year, it is worth noting that there have been no (zero) community complaints submitted in 2024 to date. This is very significant because, even though the complaint process is more readily available and easier to use, there has been a decrease in citizen complaints against officers. The officers in the field are following the Chief’s and Captains’ lead to instill peaceful resolutions to problems and concerns whenever possible.
The recent approval of the CPOB’s Mediation Process to provide citizens and officers with a trained professional to assist in mediating concerns, misunderstandings, or misperceptions will also greatly benefit the City and Police Department by reducing legal actions and investigative reviews. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Chief, the Police Officers Association, and the current CPOB Chair Leroy Johnson, this Mediation Process is now a reality.
In addition, the Homeless Outreach and Mobile Engagement (HOME) program is another example of how the LMPD has reached out to our community members to provide the necessary support and services to assist people who are down on their luck. Sometimes all that’s needed is a helping hand and caring support to get them back on track. The CPOB greatly supports this effort.
The La Mesa CPOB and Police Department have formed a community of collaborative and supportive public servants. Together we reach out to our neighbors who are in need of public safety support and services. Together we appreciate and even value the diversity within our community as we continue to grow in knowledge and understanding because of our unique differences.
We are in this together as we continue to grow into the community we envision.
Editor’s note: This piece was written by Dr. Janet Castaños, vice chair for the City of La Mesa’s Community Police Oversight Board.
