Francine Kirich, director of the Office of Police Oversight for the City of Long Beach, told the San Rafael Police Advisory Committee on Dec. 17 that transparency "is the foundation of trust and effectiveness," urging the panel to align community expectations with police practices through data, clear policies and consistent feedback loops. Kirich recommended routine publishing of stop data, complaint outcomes and training records and said oversight should emphasize learning, not blame.

Legal counsel Mark Wilson of Burke Williams outlined California’s disclosure framework for police personnel records, explaining when records become public under recent reforms. Wilson said the general rule has long been that "police officer records are confidential," but that the Right to Know Act and related provisions require disclosure when there are sustained findings in narrow categories — for example, use of force that causes great bodily harm, discharge of a firearm, bias based on a protected class, or unlawful searches or arrests. He emphasized the trigger is a sustained finding after the employing agency’s investigatory process and any Skelly procedures are complete.

The presentations led to detailed committee questioning. Members asked whether disclosure requires a public-records request and how fast records must be produced. Wilson and other staff explained most disclosures respond to a Public Records Act request, though agencies must separately report certain serious misconduct to POST (California’s Peace Officer Standards and Training agency) within 10 days of discovery. Wilson said agencies typically release full investigative files after discipline is sustained, and that POST maintains an online list of decertified officers.

Committee members pressed on practical steps for San Rafael: who decides whether a complaint is sustained (the police chief makes the final finding after an investigator and division commander review), whether outside investigators are ever used (yes, sometimes), and how discovery in criminal cases or civil suits can require limited disclosure through judges. City Attorney Rob Epstein described the narrow circumstances where courts order personnel-file review in camera for criminal defense motions; he said such judicial orders are rare.

The presentations also touched on internal culture change. Kirich said oversight should include community engagement beyond hearings — surveys, door‑to‑door outreach and forum formats that let people speak privately — and early engagement during officer training to set expectations. Police staff present described internal wellness and peer-support programs and said officers are often placed on paid administrative leave when serious misconduct is alleged while investigations proceed.

Next steps: Committee members asked staff for materials cited in the presentations (studies on trust, examples of data dashboards and POST resources) and signaled interest in using the January special meeting to plan concrete transparency measures the PAC can recommend to the city and SRPD.