The Coalition for Police Accountability Files Motion to Intervene in OPD Federal Oversight

On April 2, Attorney Pamela Price representing members of the Coalition for Police Accountability, a broad based group representing Oakland’s diverse communities, filed a Motion to Intervene with federal Judge William H. Orrick in the class action case that arose out of the Riders’ scandal. That case resulted in the Negotiated Settlement Agreement [NSA] which was intended to be a process to reform the Oakland Police Department.

The NSA which was initiated in 2003, was to last no more than five years. Sixteen years and many police chiefs later, the Oakland Police Department still has not been able to comply with the tasks imposed by the court. The City has spent more than $29 million paying the court’s monitor and compliance director plus legal fees to plaintiffs lawyers. Despite this, OPD is backsliding on tasks to complete the agreement.

OPD’s execution style shooting of Joshua Pawlik, a sleeping homeless man, last spring and the resulting botched investigation and cover up by the police chief convinced members of the Coalition that another approach had to be taken to move the department forward. As a result, nine members of the group have joined in the Motion to Intervene at federal court.

Rashidah Grinage, leader of the effort to add an independent police commission to the Oakland city charter, noted, “The NSA process has not worked and it can’t work without meaningful community participation and engagement in the implementation of the mandated reforms. The Coalition is hopeful that Judge Orrick will agree and grant its Motion.”