May 9, 2024

It’s official: the Santa Monica Police Department botched its response to the civil unrest on May 31, 2020.

A blistering independent After Action Report released Thursday asserts that SMPD’s internal dynamics were “strained in early 2020 in ways that negatively influenced the response” to the looting of over 100 businesses. 

The 117 page report compiled by OIR Group also concludes that “turnover at the highest levels of the organization resulted in a leadership team whose members lacked tenure at their respective positions and were out of sync with the Chief.”

Among other findings:

  • The Department was slow to anticipate the burgeoning potential for protest and/or unrest in the City as the reaction to George Floyd’s death grew across the U.S.
  • The fact of the Chief being out of the City until the late morning of May 31, in conjunction with ambiguous delegation and lack of managerial cohesion, undermined the quality of decision-making and adequacy of preparation on the night of May 30.
  • The level of planning, resources, and leadership on the morning of May 31 was deficient in light of the known or knowable circumstances.
  • It was a mistake for the Chief to send two captains (including the putative “Incident Commander”) into the field that day to meet with protesters instead of maintaining clear, centralized lines of decision-making.
  • The Chief and other City officials struggled to find the right balance between acknowledging shortcomings and providing reassurance in the aftermath of May 31, particularly as criticism grew. 

The City of Santa Monica was the site of what was hoped to be a peaceful protest that day, but as police were severely outnumbered and without a plan, widespread vandalism and looting broke out, causing millions of dollars in damages.

According to the report, “the vandalism and property damage, the losses to business, the divisive handling of protesters, and the undermining of confidence in people’s basic security were collectively substantial. And each of these was deeply and understandably troubling to the people who live and work in the City. 

Led by Michael Gennaco, a former federal prosecutor and nationally recognized authority on police oversight, OIR spoke with 15 members of the SMDP in the course of its research.

“Numerous representatives of SMPD whom we met seemed genuinely pained by the experience of May 31,” the report states. 

“But a common theme was their regret over having ‘failed’ the City and having lost the confidence of a community that they care about.”

In October 2020, embattled Police Chief Cynthia Renaud stepped down from her post after just two years on the job.  She was replaced by former Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks.

It is expected that the Santa Monica Council will discuss the OIR report at its next meeting on Tuesday, May 11.

In the meantime, Mayor Sue Himmelrich has issued the following statement through the City’s media spokesperson:

“OIR Group’s independent analysis of May 31, 2020, is an important milestone in providing the transparency and accountability the Santa Monica community deserves. We welcome the after-action report and remain steadfastly committed to learning from it. Going forward, the newly formed Public Safety Reform and Oversight Commission will play a role working with the Police Department to ensure OIR Group’s recommendations are implemented. The Council also looks forward to understanding the changes our Police Department has already made in response to the events of May 31, 2020, what recommendations remain, and how we can support our officers in our continued commitment to provide public safety for all.”

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