Filed Date: March 5, 2001
Closed Date: March 2, 2006
Clearinghouse coding complete
In 2000, California became the first state to statutorily authorize its attorney general to address issues regarding police misconduct. On March 5, 2001, the Attorney General of California (Bill Lockyer) filed a complaint and stipulated judgment in Riverside County Superior Court. This stipulated judgment resolved issues uncovered by the Attorney General during a nearly two-year investigation of the Riverside Police Department ("RPD"). That investigation was sparked by the 1998 shooting death of Tyisha Miller, a 19-year old black woman, who was shot by RPD officers. It uncovered a pattern or practice of misconduct and racially discriminatory law enforcement within the RPD.
Pursuant to the stipulated judgment, the RPD agreed to implement a series of reforms which included: changes to the citizen complaint procedures, increased training and supervision of officers, installation of audio and video recorders in patrol cars, and creation of a community-oriented policing program. The Attorney General appointed Joseph Brann, a nationally known police expert, to serve as the monitor. Monitor Brann issued several reports during the five-year monitoring period.
After reviewing Monitor Brann's final report, the Attorney General determined that the RPD had fulfilled its obligations and improved its policies and practices. On March 2, 2006, Judge Sharon Waters granted the Attorney General's request for the formal dissolution of the stipulated judgment.
Summary Authors
Dan Dalton (1/16/2007)
Lauren Yu (8/23/2021)
DOJ Investigation of Riverside Police Department, No Court (1999)
Cunnison, Stephen D. (California)
Miceli, Victor (California)
Ichinaga, Jon (California)
Lockyer, Bill (California)
Brann, Joseph (California)
Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 2:46 p.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: California
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: March 5, 2001
Closing Date: March 2, 2006
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
The people of the state of California alleging racial and gender profiling in motor vehicle stops made by the Riverside Police Department.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
City of Riverside (Riverside), City
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Content of Injunction:
Expungement of Employment Record
Other requirements regarding hiring, promotion, retention
Provide antidiscrimination training
Implement complaint/dispute resolution process
Order Duration: 2001 - 2006
Issues
General/Misc.:
Incident/accident reporting & investigations
Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)
Discrimination Area:
Discrimination Basis:
Affected Race(s):
Affected Sex/Gender(s):
Policing: