Sacramento to approve response to grand jury’s ‘window dressing’ criticism
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Sacramento’s City Council is set to approve a formal response to a Grand Jury’s finding that Sacramento’s Community Police Review Commission is largely symbolic and essentially “window dressing.”
The council will vote to “Pass a Motion authorizing the Mayor to sign a response to the Grand Jury report entitled “Sacramento Community Police Review Commission: Window Dressing or Progressing,” according to a city staff report posted in the online agenda for Tuesday’s 2 p.m. meeting.
“The Sacramento Citizens Police Review Commission is charged with advising and making recommendations to the city council regarding police policy, procedures, and best practices, including those related to community relations, hiring, and training best practices,” according to a city staff report.
In June, a Sacramento County Grand Jury found a “lack of police or City Council obligations to respond to recommendations coupled with the Council’s failure to act on the commission’s recommendations ensures that the commission has no meaningful input or impact.”
The Grand Jury cited a lack of funding, support staff and training that hampered the commission’s ability to substantiate its recommendations.
In a letter dated Sept. 8, 2026, and signed by Mayor Kevin McCarty, the city formally disagreed with all but one of the report’s findings.
The mayor agreed with the finding that the city’s code does not require commissioners to receive training on oversight procedures, applicable law, and policing issues, undermining their ability to serve as an effective advisory.
The mayor’s letter also noted that city has already implemented most of the grand jury’s recommendations.
The mayor’s letter to the presiding judge of the Sacramento County Superior Court can be found here.
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