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Police review board needs to be on ballot (03/22/2002)

6/18/2020

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The Star-News (Chula Vista)
​In reply to the letter of Mr. B Phillips published Feb. 22 (The Star-News), Mr. Phillips is way out in left field and has no concept of how this "political ballgame" is being played. Obviously, Mr. Phillips would prefer that I play "softball" with the "Good old boys" Mayor George Waters, councilmen Ron Morrision and Mitch Beauchamp and their chief of policle Skip Di Cerchio. 

Being of Irish blood, I can't play softball, but I can play hardball. Mr. Phillips is correct when he stated, "The courts have spoken on an elected review board." We are not challenging the legality issue. What we are saying is that a citizens police review board with independent investigation power and subpoena power is permissible and legal and needs to be on the ballot so the people of National City can decide for themselves. 

In defense of the sleazy accusation that I use language that would make a construction worker blush, I would suggest that Mr. Phillips ride along with some of those wannabe gangbuster cops employed as National City police officers and he will hear some language that will make a gangster rapper blush. 

Surely Mr. Phillips, who I suspect is related to officer Bill Phillips of the National City Police Department, would prefer that I stand on the street corner yelling "God bless N.C.P.D." The people of National City who have witnessed and been victimized by this predominantly white racist police force for more than 30 years would hardly take anyone serious if they were to utter such nonsense. 

One can't bring about social change when fighting a war agaisnt police aggression and oppression by talkingnicely about the oppressions of civil liberties. Police abuse and brutality has no color barriers. Anybody, regardless of his or her race, can become a victim. 

Police abuse and brutality is practiced mostly by white cops patrolling and occupying a minority community in which they have no understanding of the culture of the people they are policing and could care less. 

Mr. Phillips is correct again when he stated that (I am) outraged because several levels of police reserve and regualr are represented on the task force. Everyone is outraged because it's a conflict of interest. What Mr. Phillips fails to comprehend is that these officers were not appointed as advisers for the task force, but as actual members, which allow them to vote with the task force on any recommendations, which may be quated to a conflict of interest. 

Terry Hanks
National City
Terry Hanks identifies himself as chairman of the National Committee Against Police Abuse & Brutality. 
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