Investigate the SCPD Before They Investigate Me

As noted below, tonight is the forum to see whether the City Manager rubberstamps Kevin Vogel as new police chief.

Kevin, though a nice guy, has a rather checkered history. He's the guy who authorized the surveillance and "investigation" of the DIY Last Night celebration in 2005. When that was exposed by the regional (not the local) ACLU and activist Wes Modes, he was assigned to "investigate" his own investigation.

understandHe ably found everything okay, as did Mayor Matthews, City Manager Wilson, and the rest of the PD-whitewashing city administration.

The police auditor however, balked, and suggested it just wasn't quite right for Vogel to investigate himself and give himself a clean bill of health.

Speak up now or pick up the pieces later.



from http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_16039293?IADID=Search-www.santacruzsentinel.com-www.santacruzsentinel.com

City hosts forum about chief search

The city will hold a community forum Sept. 22 to discuss the qualities, values and vision residents want in Santa Cruz's next police chief.

The city will appoint a new chief following the Sept. 1 retirement of Howard Skerry, who led the department for seven years. Kevin Vogel is serving as interim chief and is a candidate for the permanent appointment by the city manager.

The forum hosted by the city manager's office will be open to the public and Spanish translation will be provided. It will be from 7-9 p.m. in the Police Department Community Room, 155 Center St.

Residents also may participate in an online survey about the chief search. The survey opens today and continues through the end of the month. Visit to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VDFFBJJ
for the English version or http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VDTPWPZ for the Spanish version.