Passionate Community Outcry "Reinstate Council Chair Alicia Roman!" at Community Law Enforcement Oversite IOLERO April 3rd Meeting
By: Thomas Bonfigli A lifetime community member of Sonoma County
On April 3rd I attended the meeting of the Community Advisory Council (CAC) of the Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Oversight (IOLERO for short) It was truly a great feeling to see so many wonderful community members and veteran activists, some of whom I have not seen, nor had the privilege to interact with, for quite some time. This evening's featured quite an agenda, with the unilateral removal by Jerry Threet, director of IOLERO, of Alicia Roman, as well as a discussion about our Sheriff's Office cooperating with Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the exchange of information of suspects who are arrested or detained by them.
With regard to the latter, it had been the hope of many that the sheriff himself would show up to address the proposed inaugural recommendation which has been crafted after a LOT of hard work and being put forth for considertion for adoption by our Sheriff, but no such luck: He was once again a No-Show. In fact, his numerous absenses from the numerous Law Enforcement Task Force meetings, coupled with this most recent reluctance to come and face the members of the CAC, qualifies him for perennial status in this respect.
With regard to the former - Ms. Roman's dismissal as Chair of CAC - many, MANY activists and concerned community members DID, IN FACT show up, and many gave outstanding speeches. And, of course, yours truly, who just simply couldn't allow this unwarranted travesty slide by without comment and fully warranted criticism.
And I will add that in my opinion, Mr. Threet, your continued recalcitrance and refusal to reinstate Ms. Roman to her previous position as a voting member AND as Chair of the CAC represents a major loss for the community members of Sonoma County and, in time, will come to serve as a major impediment strewn across the path of true law-enforcement reform.
But at least the remaining members of the CAC had their eyes opened and their collective sense of purpose and mission, as well as the gravity and urgency of the task before theem, re-awakened and re-energized. ..."And perhaps that will inspire them to never lose sight of their ultimate goal as well as their duty to the community which made it possible for them to serve on this board."
The Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach (IOLERO) was established by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on September 15, 2015. IOLERO was borne out of the tragic shooting death of a 13 year old Andy Lopez by Sheriff’s Deputy Erick Gelhaus in Sonoma County, in 2013. Read More
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