Santa Monica Police To Host Discussion About Race And Policing

SANTA MONICA, CA — Santa Monica's Public Safety Reform and Oversight Commission will host a community discussion about race and policing this week.

The discussion will be held during the commission's regularly scheduled teleconference meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

This panel will feature speakers with expertise in Black and Latino history in Santa Monica, and a civilian oversight expert to share best practices on inclusive and equitable policing.

Panelists for the March 10 Race and Policing discussion include:

• Kikanza Nuri-Robbins, MDiv, EdD – HR consultant who helps people and organizations that are in transition – or ought to be. She has been an advocate for justice, equity and inclusion for her entire career, serving mission-driven organizations across the country.
• Dr. Álvaro Huerta – Religion and Public Life Organizing Fellow at the Harvard Divinity School. Dr. Huerta is also an Associate Professor in Urban & Region Planning and Ethnic & Women’s Studies at Cal Poly Pomona. Dr. Karen S. Gunn – Served the Los Angeles area for over 40 years in in higher education and organizational consultation and is highly regarded as a trainer, facilitator, motivational speaker and community volunteer. She holds certifications in Executive Coaching (International Coach Federation), Mental Health First Aid, Intercultural Conflict Resolution, Cultural Competency Training, Train-the-Trainer programs.
• Dr. Michele Wittig – Santa Monica resident since 1970. In the late 80’s, she joined the local NAACP branch and remains active in its work on educational equity and policing reform. In 2015, she launched the Santa Monica Coalition for Police Reform (CPR) and continues to convene its monthly meetings, as well as its quarterly meetings with the Santa Monica City Manager and Chief of the Santa Monica Police Department.
• Michael J. Gennaco – As a principal of OIR Group, Mr. Gennaco provides services in police oversight and prior to this work, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney, Chief of the Civil Rights Section, and was responsible for prosecuting police officers for excessive force and other Constitutional violations.

Watch this panel discussion virtually at https://bluejeans.com/540059081/0079. For more information about the panelists and to read their full biographies, visit the Public Safety Reform and Oversight Commission website at santamonica.gov/public-safety-reform-and-oversight-commission.