Richmond Council Meets New Cops
as Citizens Decry Police Racism
By Joe Rogers, September 17, 2002 11:14 PM
RICHMOND — The Richmond Police Department presented its four newest officers to the City Council last night, amid stinging citizen complaints of police brutality stemming from this year’s Cinco de Mayo celebration.
Andres Soto, a 42 year-old hospital official who claimed he was racially harassed, beaten, and wrongfully arrested during the festival, characterized the police as “the biggest gang in Richmond” shortly after the new officers shook hands with members of the City Council, including Mayor Irma Anderson.
“I want to welcome these new peace officers, who will help make our city safer,” said Anderson as the four men approached the council seats to the sound of applause.
After the council had debated the fine points of implementing a “customer satisfaction survey” to get citizen feedback on the performance of city agencies, several residents immediately expressed their dissatisfaction with their treatment at the hands of the police.
The Soto family and others expressed caution, the desire for reconciliation, and even outright contempt for the police department.
Andres Soto arrived in the council chamber with two sons, 24 year-old Che and 23 year-old Allejandro, all three fresh from a Monday court date where all charges against them in connection with the May 5 incident were dropped.
“We were vindicated in court, and fittingly it happened the day after Mexican Independence Day,” said the elder Soto during his allotted two minutes before the council.
Soto says police beat him and sprayed him and his family with pepper spray while trying to shut down a rowdy celebration of Cinco de Mayo, a Mexican holiday commemorating that country’s victory over Napoleons’ forces in 1862.
The Police Commission is still conducting its internal review of the incident. The City has also begun an independent investigation separate from the police department.
Allejandro Soto suggested to the Council that hiring officers who live in Richmond might improve the department’s relationship with the community.
Of the new officers, only Steve Purcell was identified as a Richmond resident. Purcell is the son of retired police officer who served thirty-one years on the Richmond force. The two others live in Vallejo.
