CM PRESS # 580

MIAMI'S MAYOR ASKS FEDS TO INVESTIGATE CITY'S POLICE
#                  #                       #
FRIENDS FOR FULLERTON'S FUTURE SAYS THEY'VE FIGURED OUT THE NAMES OF FIVE OF THE SIX COPS INVOLVED IN THE KELLY THOMAS BEATING AND WILL SOON HAVE THE SIXTH NAME

The Fullerton Police Department has refused to release the names of the cops involved, but Friends For Fullerton's Future says they have five of the names.  And, they give them in the link above.

The way the public can keep police departments from going rogue is to prevent them from using their usual tricks of saying they can't release information because of an "ongoing investigation," and by not releasing  the names of cops involved in troubling incidents. Remove the secrecy and let the public see what the cops are doing and which cops are doing what.

You can bet the folks at FFF will now be demanding all the records on the cops they've named.  Any past complaints of brutality, etc. will probably come to the surface very quickly now.
#                    #                         #
Bobby Young promoted to Costa Mesa finance director

[The Important thing to the CM PRESS in this news is that this is the second top level hiring of a person who actually lives in Costa Mesa.  The other one is our new police chief.  Improvers have long been active in trying to get the City to hire local people.]

Chief Executive Officer Tom Hatch today promoted Bobby Young, the City’s budget and research officer, to the position of finance director.

Young had been performing most of the duties of the finance director—including preparing the City’s annual budget and negotiating with employee associations—since September 2009, when the position was left vacant because of budget challenges.

“We’re very pleased Bobby accepted the position,” Hatch said. “He’s done excellent work for the City and earned respect both inside City Hall and in the community. We interviewed many quality candidates, but Bobby’s knowledge of the City and his track record of excellence made him my top choice.”

Young, a Costa Mesa resident, has worked in government finance for 15 years, starting as an auditor of local government and nonprofit agencies. He was hired by the City of Costa Mesa in 2001 as the accounting supervisor and was promoted in 2007 to budget and research officer.

In 2005, Young was named the City’s Employee of the Month for his contributions to revamping Costa Mesa’s annual audit and Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).

He’s also involved in community organizations, serving currently chief financial officer and board member of Leadership Tomorrow, a local nonprofit, and often volunteering as a team leader for Neighbor for Neighbor events.

Young received a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting from Cal State Fullerton. He and his wife, Kathleen, have two children.
#               #                          #
"Please, please, God. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Dad, dad...."

Then silence as 135 lb Kelly Thomas was beaten to death by cops in Fullerton.  What was Kelly's crime?  He was mentally ill.  He couldn't understand what was happening to him.  He was confused.

LINK

Every police department has to get rid of their comply-or-die, rogue cops and needs strong leadership to root out cops with psychological problems before they hurt someone.

Costa Mesa needs to do more in this regard.

------------------------

Here's more from Friends for Fullerton's Future. LINK

Friends for Fullerton's future is pointing fingers at Fullerton Police Chief Michael Sellers in the Kelly Thomas beating death.

Sellers was one of the people who Costa Mesa recently used to pick a new police chief for our city.  Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

-----------------------

#                   #                       #