San Jose Police Auditor, Mexican Consulate To Meet Over Complaints
SAN JOSE (CBS/BCN) - San Jose's independent police auditor and the consul general of Mexico signed a memo of understanding Wednesday to promote outreach to the Mexican community.
KCBS' Melissa Culross Reports:
The memo was signed Wednesday morning at the independent police auditor's office. In attendance were independent police auditor LaDoris Cordell, Consul General David Figueroa Ortega, Mayor Chuck Reed, City Council members Sam Liccardo and Kansen Chu, and acting police Chief Chris Moore.
The partnership will allow for a staff member of the independent police auditor's office to visit the Mexican Consulate once a month to hear complaints and concerns from the community regarding the police misconduct complaint process.
Ortega said the collaboration would have a positive impact on the Mexican community, some of whom cannot speak English or have difficulty trusting law enforcement.
"They cannot only be aware of their right to express, but also to increase their trust in the San Jose Police Department," he said. "In the end, this joint effort will be beneficial to institutions, authorities, and the people of this city."
The memo resulted from Ortega's concern that some members of the community could be hesitant to express their concerns to the Police Department or independent police auditor's office.
Reed said the additional outreach would strengthen the department's relationship with the city's diverse communities.
The independent police auditor's office carries out objective reviews of police misconduct investigations, makes recommendations regarding Police Department policies and procedures, and conducts public outreach and education.
The Consulate General of Mexico in San Jose provides consular protection and assistance to Mexican nationals who reside in Santa Clara, San Benito, Santa Cruz, and Monterey counties.
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