Pasadena Police: Mired in Corruption?

In 20 years, Pasadena has overcome much of its gang-infested image to become one of the premier cities of California. As Pasadena has become known for its cultural and architectural landmarks, as well as its renowned Tournament of Roses Parade, local crime rates are at its lowest since a police-enforced crackdown on gangs and crime in the 90s.

But has the drop in street crime only masked the corruption lurking within the city’s own police department? According to a report in the LA Daily Press, Pasadena Police is facing allegations that members of its own force have engaged in kidnapping, threats, withholding of evidence in trials, and other abuses while going after gang members and other criminals.

Recent allegations were spurred by the shooting death of Kendrec McDade in March of 2012.  Two Pasadena officers gunned down 19-year-old McDade as he reached for his pants waistband, even though the teen was unarmed, according a City News Service report. A public outcry claimed the shooting of the black McDade was racially motivated and suspicions have been raised since no charges have been filed against the officers in McDade’s death.

In a February report in the Pasadena Star-News, an attorney for a defendant in a homicide case called the Pasadena Police Department “as bad as a gang.”

Attorney Andrew Stein’s remarks stemmed from a trial of a 2007 homicide, which Stein alleged that Pasadena detectives failed to turn over exculpatory evidence in the case. Stein claimed that Pasadena officers have been involved in similar illegal behavior for months, if not years.

Various agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Departments and the Pasadena police internal affairs unit are expected to release results of investigations into police misconduct, according to the Daily Press.  In February, Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogard and Police Chief Phillip Sanchez said they would also launch independent audits of cases within the Detective Bureau.

Randy Ertll, executive director of El Centro de Accion Social, told the Daily Press:

"We need an independent body to look at these issues - police corruption, misconduct, fatal shootings. There needs to be a feeling of safety, so that people don't get shot by police or gang members, because certain areas are not safe in Pasadena.
"It's deceiving: we have the Rose Parade image, but the reality is different."

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