After civil unrest in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, police accountability was thrust to the forefront of city politics and officials pledged to examine how the commission can be improved.
Thomas Gonzales was a former CPCC investigator who sued the city over his firing, saying he was acting as a whistleblower. He died Tuesday at the age of 74.
After decades of not providing officer statements to CPCC commissioners those statements will now be provided starting Jan. 1.
Over the years, city officials have proudly pointed to the CPCC as evidence of Long Beach’s commitment to police accountability and transparency. But the truth is that the CPCC has become largely a cautionary tale in these days of renewed calls for systemic police reform in Long Beach and beyond.
