Perea, Brand must address cops

A key issue that Henry Perea and Lee Brand must address in this year’s mayoral race is the Fresno Police Department. Accusations of excessive force, especially the shooting of unarmed people, in particular, and poor service, in general, are widespread.

These problems are likely the product of an institutional culture together with poor management. Policing is stressful and dangerous; mistakes happen despite the best intentions. But we do not routinely read about California Highway Patrol officers, or Fresno County deputies or Clovis Police officers routinely shooting unarmed people.

Would such events be common or happen at all if Steve Magarian, Richard Pierce or Margaret Mims was chief of the Fresno Police Department? What does the next mayor propose to do?

This story was originally published August 15, 2016 at 12:13 PM with the headline "Perea, Brand must address cops."