Police reforms spark controversy in several valley communities

As the brother of George Floyd took his case for police reforms to Capitol Hill Wednesday, several valley communities are also now debating controversial changes – some of which are already being implemented.

Coachella city leaders are calling to cut their contract with the sheriff's department – and a heated dispute played out between the Palm Springs Police Officers' Association and the city's mayor pro tem.

"i'm disappointed and honestly shocked over the Police Officers' Association's opposition to this letter," said Christy Holstege with the Palm Springs City Council.

In a letter directed to the county board of supervisors urging them to conduct a review of sheriff's department policies, Holstege cited "a long history of ... racist city policies and policing" in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley.

The Police Association fired back in a letter of their own, writing that they will not "stand idly while those city leaders vilify our officers and our department."

President of the association Joe Cook spoke with News Channel 3 by phone.

"That didn't sit well with us," Cook said. "I think it's currently not an issue, or hopefully in the future, that we have to address here."

Holstege Wednesday night chalked it up to a "misinterpretation" of her letter, and doubled down that the city needs to address what she called a history of racial discrimination.

"I certainly don't believe that all of our officers are racist or that our department is," Holstege said. "I'm concerned that their response means that they're not open to having any open and public conversations about racism or our policies in the past."

Meanwhile, reform in the valley is already taking shape.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department suspended its use of the carotid restraint, similar to the chokehold used by NYPD officers on Eric Garner in 2014.

The city of Coachella is looking for a bigger change from the Sheriff's Department though.

"At this point, we don't believe that the sheriff's department is doing its job," said Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez.

After Sheriff Chad Bianco fiercely opposed a review of his department's policies, Coachella city council is now moving toward cutting its contract with the department.

Hernandez cited rising costs of the sheriff's department contract and the need for dialogue with the community.

"Obviously with the sheriff, he's an elected official – he can do whatever he wants," Hernandez said. "But for us, it's time to move in that direction."

At its council meeting Wednesday night, Coachella city staff examined what moving to its own police force would mean for its budget – determining upfront costs between $10 million and $15 million dollars, money that could take 5 to 6 years for the city to save up.

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