In June, it was reported that then Davis Police Chief Jim Hyde used public resources to launch a campaign against the Davis Human Relations Commission and specifically its chairperson, Cecilia Escamilla Greenwald.
A public records request reveals that Hyde enlisted Lt. Dorothy Pearson to recruit supporters for police department who would attack the HRC and its chairperson.
In early January in an e-mail exchange between Hyde and Lt. Dorothy Pearson:
Chief Jim Hyde: “FYI, calling in my cards. Are any of the military supporters willing to speak at public comment time … on the 17th at city council in support of the police department? HRC is pushing for there (sic) own police review commission.”
Lt. Dorothy Pearson: “I am already circling the wagons! I am trying to get as many people as possible to attend and possibly speak.”
On Jan. 12, Lt. Dorothy Pearson thanks James Hechtl. “The Chief called me last night after the meeting. He was singing the Military Family’s praises. … I can’t thank you enough for your help. I also sent Bob Glynn a thank you e-mail and told him that you would keep the group posted on upcoming strategies.”
Hechtl responds, “What kind of availability do you and the Chief have this afternoon (Thur). I want to meet with both of you with (sic) and discuss some strategy.”
Hechtl and Glynn proceed to write numerous letters attacking Escamilla Greenwald.
James Hechtl writes, “Ms. Greenwald and Ms. Garcia apply their racist views to every possible issue that confronts them. They look at the world through their prism of hate. … The mere fact that they support numerous frivolous and hate-based lawsuits against the city should be enough to invite them and the rest of the Human Relations Commission to practice their trade in a more appropriate city. I recommend Johannesburg, South Africa.”
(Dr. Jann Murray-Garcia is a Davis resident, parent, pediatrician and president of BECA (a Davis civil rights group) who worked with the commission on researching and drafting a report on racial profiling and recommending a proposed civilian police oversight review commission. )
Bob Glynn writes on May 5, “Davis must rid itself of this antiquated, racist commission and its bully chairperson, Cecilia Escamilla Greenwald.”
What particularly catches my eye however is a letter to the editor from James Pearson dated February 22, 2006, who is the husband of Dorothy Pearson.
It is revealing because it gives us insight into their views about citizen complaints about the police department.
“I have yet to read an account of police misconduct that didn’t fall into one of these categories: 1) uncorroborated anecdote, 2) a self-interested attack by a plaintiff suing Davis or 3) Aacalculated (sic) step by a would-be politician (who says she is not running for office).”
Let us put this into context. Dorothy Pearson is now in charge of investigating complaints against the Davis police officers. Her husband in February expresses an extremely negative view of those who complain about the police. The last statement is a thinly veiled attack against Escamilla Greenwald despite the fact that she has never run for political office.
It is extremely disturbing that the husband of the officer in charge of internal affairs would express such a view. It seems highly unlikely that this letter went out without his wife’s tacit approval.
It seems to me that the officer in charge of such an investigative unit should have at least the pretense of impartiality.
A description of the ombudsman puts the primary investigative power into the hands of the internal affairs department:
“We must be clear that the police ombudsman provides a complementary level of oversight to police actions; the position does not replace them. The police ombudsman is not meant to circumvent the Police Department. The position does not normally do investigations in lieu of the police doing them.”
In this case, the person doing the investigations seems to have a rather low opinion of the motivations of those who make complaints against the department.
—Doug Paul Davis reporting
This blog is such a valuable resource! Articles like this one combat voter political amnesia, a potentially lethal infection of the body politic. Again, let me say Doug.. that you are performing a remarkable service to our community.Readers,help get the word out. Peoples Vanguard of Davis should be on everyone’s Favorites list.
This blog is such a valuable resource! Articles like this one combat voter political amnesia, a potentially lethal infection of the body politic. Again, let me say Doug.. that you are performing a remarkable service to our community.Readers,help get the word out. Peoples Vanguard of Davis should be on everyone’s Favorites list.
This blog is such a valuable resource! Articles like this one combat voter political amnesia, a potentially lethal infection of the body politic. Again, let me say Doug.. that you are performing a remarkable service to our community.Readers,help get the word out. Peoples Vanguard of Davis should be on everyone’s Favorites list.
This blog is such a valuable resource! Articles like this one combat voter political amnesia, a potentially lethal infection of the body politic. Again, let me say Doug.. that you are performing a remarkable service to our community.Readers,help get the word out. Peoples Vanguard of Davis should be on everyone’s Favorites list.
Doug –
I agree with Davisite. The People’s Vanguard is such a valuable resource to our community! We certainly don’t read the information that you provide us in the Enterprise. They wouldn’t dare ruffle the wrong feathers and report the facts on controversial stories.
I make a bet that the Enterprise in a week or two (if at all) will write a “pleasant, welcoming, congratulatory” article on the new IA at the police dept. They won’t raise the concerns that you have raised or ask the questions that you have asked. Thank you Doug.
BTW – I read the front page of the Enterprise this morning and they are barely talking about the Buzayan family suing the city, the police dept., etc. If I remember correctly you covered this story a couple of weeks ago didn’t you?
I’m with you Davisite…I’m spreading the word and making sure that everyone knows to have the People’s Vanguard on their “favorites” list.
Doug –
I agree with Davisite. The People’s Vanguard is such a valuable resource to our community! We certainly don’t read the information that you provide us in the Enterprise. They wouldn’t dare ruffle the wrong feathers and report the facts on controversial stories.
I make a bet that the Enterprise in a week or two (if at all) will write a “pleasant, welcoming, congratulatory” article on the new IA at the police dept. They won’t raise the concerns that you have raised or ask the questions that you have asked. Thank you Doug.
BTW – I read the front page of the Enterprise this morning and they are barely talking about the Buzayan family suing the city, the police dept., etc. If I remember correctly you covered this story a couple of weeks ago didn’t you?
I’m with you Davisite…I’m spreading the word and making sure that everyone knows to have the People’s Vanguard on their “favorites” list.
Doug –
I agree with Davisite. The People’s Vanguard is such a valuable resource to our community! We certainly don’t read the information that you provide us in the Enterprise. They wouldn’t dare ruffle the wrong feathers and report the facts on controversial stories.
I make a bet that the Enterprise in a week or two (if at all) will write a “pleasant, welcoming, congratulatory” article on the new IA at the police dept. They won’t raise the concerns that you have raised or ask the questions that you have asked. Thank you Doug.
BTW – I read the front page of the Enterprise this morning and they are barely talking about the Buzayan family suing the city, the police dept., etc. If I remember correctly you covered this story a couple of weeks ago didn’t you?
I’m with you Davisite…I’m spreading the word and making sure that everyone knows to have the People’s Vanguard on their “favorites” list.
Doug –
I agree with Davisite. The People’s Vanguard is such a valuable resource to our community! We certainly don’t read the information that you provide us in the Enterprise. They wouldn’t dare ruffle the wrong feathers and report the facts on controversial stories.
I make a bet that the Enterprise in a week or two (if at all) will write a “pleasant, welcoming, congratulatory” article on the new IA at the police dept. They won’t raise the concerns that you have raised or ask the questions that you have asked. Thank you Doug.
BTW – I read the front page of the Enterprise this morning and they are barely talking about the Buzayan family suing the city, the police dept., etc. If I remember correctly you covered this story a couple of weeks ago didn’t you?
I’m with you Davisite…I’m spreading the word and making sure that everyone knows to have the People’s Vanguard on their “favorites” list.
Doug –
We must hold our elected officials and those they put in positions of power accountable. Who put Pearson in charge of IA? Was it the council? The city manager? Kelly Stachowitz the secretary/assistant to the city manager, turned deputy city manager? Or acting police chief Steve Pierce?
We “cleaned House” by taking back Congress. We “cleaned house” by taking back the Senate. Now it’s time to “clean house” in Davis and take back the Davis City Council.
Doug –
We must hold our elected officials and those they put in positions of power accountable. Who put Pearson in charge of IA? Was it the council? The city manager? Kelly Stachowitz the secretary/assistant to the city manager, turned deputy city manager? Or acting police chief Steve Pierce?
We “cleaned House” by taking back Congress. We “cleaned house” by taking back the Senate. Now it’s time to “clean house” in Davis and take back the Davis City Council.
Doug –
We must hold our elected officials and those they put in positions of power accountable. Who put Pearson in charge of IA? Was it the council? The city manager? Kelly Stachowitz the secretary/assistant to the city manager, turned deputy city manager? Or acting police chief Steve Pierce?
We “cleaned House” by taking back Congress. We “cleaned house” by taking back the Senate. Now it’s time to “clean house” in Davis and take back the Davis City Council.
Doug –
We must hold our elected officials and those they put in positions of power accountable. Who put Pearson in charge of IA? Was it the council? The city manager? Kelly Stachowitz the secretary/assistant to the city manager, turned deputy city manager? Or acting police chief Steve Pierce?
We “cleaned House” by taking back Congress. We “cleaned house” by taking back the Senate. Now it’s time to “clean house” in Davis and take back the Davis City Council.
I believe those decisions are made by the acting police Chief Pierce.
I thank Davisite and Michelle for thier comments. We need to get the word out to people about what their government is doing. I do not think people yet have a sense as to just how bad this system is right now.
I believe those decisions are made by the acting police Chief Pierce.
I thank Davisite and Michelle for thier comments. We need to get the word out to people about what their government is doing. I do not think people yet have a sense as to just how bad this system is right now.
I believe those decisions are made by the acting police Chief Pierce.
I thank Davisite and Michelle for thier comments. We need to get the word out to people about what their government is doing. I do not think people yet have a sense as to just how bad this system is right now.
I believe those decisions are made by the acting police Chief Pierce.
I thank Davisite and Michelle for thier comments. We need to get the word out to people about what their government is doing. I do not think people yet have a sense as to just how bad this system is right now.
Doug, I look at the actions of James Pearson differently now I know the relationship to Lt. Pearson. This information is helpful in figuring out credible opinions. It is understandable that he would try to defend his wife. Just as David Greenwald was driven to action to defend his wife, Cecelia Escamilla Greenwald when she was under attack.
The email history also shows the extent that the DPD felt under siege and needed to “circle the wagons.” I know how this feels and experienced having to reach out to less desirable relationships for aid in a defense. Getting the Military families rallied to their cause and discussing the plan via email was a gross error in public relations and civic responsibility and shows much about Hyde. The attack on Cecilia was aggregeous.
However, Dorothy Pearson handled a complaint of mine at one time and I was satisfied with the response, so I’m willing to give her a chance under new leadership at the DPD.
Doug, I look at the actions of James Pearson differently now I know the relationship to Lt. Pearson. This information is helpful in figuring out credible opinions. It is understandable that he would try to defend his wife. Just as David Greenwald was driven to action to defend his wife, Cecelia Escamilla Greenwald when she was under attack.
The email history also shows the extent that the DPD felt under siege and needed to “circle the wagons.” I know how this feels and experienced having to reach out to less desirable relationships for aid in a defense. Getting the Military families rallied to their cause and discussing the plan via email was a gross error in public relations and civic responsibility and shows much about Hyde. The attack on Cecilia was aggregeous.
However, Dorothy Pearson handled a complaint of mine at one time and I was satisfied with the response, so I’m willing to give her a chance under new leadership at the DPD.
Doug, I look at the actions of James Pearson differently now I know the relationship to Lt. Pearson. This information is helpful in figuring out credible opinions. It is understandable that he would try to defend his wife. Just as David Greenwald was driven to action to defend his wife, Cecelia Escamilla Greenwald when she was under attack.
The email history also shows the extent that the DPD felt under siege and needed to “circle the wagons.” I know how this feels and experienced having to reach out to less desirable relationships for aid in a defense. Getting the Military families rallied to their cause and discussing the plan via email was a gross error in public relations and civic responsibility and shows much about Hyde. The attack on Cecilia was aggregeous.
However, Dorothy Pearson handled a complaint of mine at one time and I was satisfied with the response, so I’m willing to give her a chance under new leadership at the DPD.
Doug, I look at the actions of James Pearson differently now I know the relationship to Lt. Pearson. This information is helpful in figuring out credible opinions. It is understandable that he would try to defend his wife. Just as David Greenwald was driven to action to defend his wife, Cecelia Escamilla Greenwald when she was under attack.
The email history also shows the extent that the DPD felt under siege and needed to “circle the wagons.” I know how this feels and experienced having to reach out to less desirable relationships for aid in a defense. Getting the Military families rallied to their cause and discussing the plan via email was a gross error in public relations and civic responsibility and shows much about Hyde. The attack on Cecilia was aggregeous.
However, Dorothy Pearson handled a complaint of mine at one time and I was satisfied with the response, so I’m willing to give her a chance under new leadership at the DPD.
“However, Dorothy Pearson handled a complaint of mine at one time and I was satisfied with the response, so I’m willing to give her a chance under new leadership at the DPD.”
That is good to know. Although I remain skeptical about the ability of the department to monitor its activities, I hope with the watchful eye of Mr. Aaronson that will improve.
“However, Dorothy Pearson handled a complaint of mine at one time and I was satisfied with the response, so I’m willing to give her a chance under new leadership at the DPD.”
That is good to know. Although I remain skeptical about the ability of the department to monitor its activities, I hope with the watchful eye of Mr. Aaronson that will improve.
“However, Dorothy Pearson handled a complaint of mine at one time and I was satisfied with the response, so I’m willing to give her a chance under new leadership at the DPD.”
That is good to know. Although I remain skeptical about the ability of the department to monitor its activities, I hope with the watchful eye of Mr. Aaronson that will improve.
“However, Dorothy Pearson handled a complaint of mine at one time and I was satisfied with the response, so I’m willing to give her a chance under new leadership at the DPD.”
That is good to know. Although I remain skeptical about the ability of the department to monitor its activities, I hope with the watchful eye of Mr. Aaronson that will improve.