Join the Petition Drive for an IPA!

PETITION GATHERING FOR AN INDEPENDENT POLICE AUDITOR (IPA) IS ALREADY UNDERWAY! … TIME IS SHORT!!

For years the Central California Criminal Justice Committee has worked tirelessly for an Independent Police Auditor with the support of many community organizations, and now the Mayor and the Chief of Police. These years of work will boil down to a critical City Council meeting that will determine the fate of the Independent Police Auditor project and the dream of establishing an Independent Police Auditor modeled after the San Jose IPA.

An Independent Police Auditor will:
- Produce an independent verification of internal investigations: there will be an office to ensure that the police no longer have to police themselves.
- Shifts the expenses of the city from paying damages, to preventing civil liberties violations. Example: In 2002, the City of Fresno paid over $1.6 Million in damages and settlements for civil rights and excessive force complaints. In the same year, the San Jose IPA reduced the number of civil rights complaints to ZERO through implementing policy changes and departmental review.
- Ensures good community relations between the FPD and Fresno residents: the IPA would work with community groups to hear their concerns.

HERE IS THE FIRST STEP: NAN is gathering petitions to show the city council how important this issue is to the City of Fresno, and our solidarity with the vision of the Central California Criminal Justice Committee. Here’s how you can help:

1. Go to http://www.fresnoalliance.com/cccjc or http://www.peacefresno.org and download the petition for an Independent Police Auditor. Please sign it and get your family and friends to sign it. This is the time to cross out of our comfort zone and go directly to people we cross paths with in our everyday life. As you gather signatures, send the petitions to the Fresno Center for Non-Violence so they are received by Jan 12th.

2. Volunteer! We are taking volunteers who are willing to help collect signatures during petition drive days we will be organizing very soon. If you would like to make sure your contacted, drop me a line. Also, if you have a group of friends and family that would like to work together, contact us for logistical support in your efforts, please use the contact information included below.

Without melodrama, I can honestly say that this is a “Now or Never” time to push for an Independent Police Auditor. It is going to take an effort from the community to help bring about this reform, which will benefit everyone who lives and works in our city. It’s time to ensure that good officers stay on the street, and bad officers leave the department. Time to ensure that the policies that guide the actions of the police department are in the best interest of the community.

For more information, go to: http://www.fresnoalliance.com/cccjc

Contact the National Action Network at: ndegraff [at] hotmail.com