It is very sad that the city pays a large fee to this supposed watchdog named OIR Group. I recommend reviewing their staff backgrounds which have none having any business or police experience, have no idea what it is like to wear the uniform, be sworn to protect citizens, to confront someone that is purposely about to do them or someone else harm.

The participation of the OIR Group, state AG and local DAs that don't prosecute are the reason our good men and women of the PA PD are so frustrated. The city should terminate the contract today and put the money to better use.

The "watchdog group" and "their staff backgrounds" is more transparent than "Ocam's Razor" seems to think. Michael GENNACO is the name of the independent auditor, and here are his credentials.

Web Link

The "watchdog group" and "their staff" is one person. Michael makes up the team. His email is also listed on the site.

I spoke to him when I served a partial term on the Human Relations Commission in Palo Alto. He struck me as very experienced, thoughtful, professional and he had his heart in the right place. He was generous with his time, and patiently answered all my questions. This is anecdotal, and I realise an n=1, but it is a direct experience that I am sharing.

I don't understand what the issue is. Is the article about proper record keeping or whether unholstering a service weapon was appropriate? If the latter, the incidents described seemed very appropriate. A police officer can not defend themselves very well with a holstered gun.

9/12/2023



Hi Mike & Steve:

See my comments in this piece( see at the very bottom of my comments) re the importance of recording the race of the person who members of the PAPD pull a gun on. Also consider in making your decision to release the racial demographics o

Hi Mike & Steve:

See my comments in this piece( see at the very bottom of my comments) re the importance of recording the race of the person who members of the PAPD pull a gun on. Also consider in making your decision to release the racial demographics of those who guns were pulled on, in your just released report, the recent trend of California law acknowledging the importance of releasing just such information in order to work towards eliminating racial bias in the entirety of our criminal injustice system: See the RJA, Racial Justice Act:
Web Link In addition please see RIPA, Racial Identity and Profiling Act:
Web Link

Finally, viewing both the current state of the law in California on compelling more transparency on racial bias issues, as well as California's robust PRA, public records act, in combination with the Palo Alto Police Departments long and despicable history of racially discriminatory policing, I am hereby requesting the racial demographics of the six individuals who had guns pulled on then
by the PAPD as outlined in your most recent OIR report. I look forward to your response.

Aram James


415-370-5056


Web Link

Web Link

***The OIR Group is based in Los Angeles and is made up of multiple members including Michael Gennaco.

**The OIR group currently has a 5 year 7.5 million dollar contract to oversee the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department