The city of Fresno has not had an independent reviewer of police misconduct for more than six months, and a number of unanswered questions remain on the status of news cases.
The city’s inaugural hire for the Office of Independent Review, John Gliatta, retired last August from the position he took when it was first created in 2017 under then-Mayor Lee Brand.
The city advertised for the position around the same time with the deadline for applications at the end of August.
But, more than six months later, the city does not have anyone in the position, and officials have not answered questions about what happens in the meantime for the investigations that were lingering or that have sprung up since then.
Fresno Police Department spokesperson Lt. Larry Bowlan on March 13 directed questions about news cases to City Hall. The mayor’s office spokesperson Sontaya Rose did not respond to questions about the status of the search nor how the city will handle the new cases or those left pending by the open position.
The position is unlike many city jobs, and may call for candidates with specialized skills. Gliatta, for instance, was a former FBI agent who had 27 years of experience. The creation of the office was touted as a way to increase police transparency and improve trust between police and the community.
During his time in Fresno, Gliatta issued quarterly reports on his double-checking of cases in which police were accused of misconduct. He also reviewed all police shootings and many use-of-force cases.
His last report was issued nine months ago and the cases left open as well as newly assigned cases remain pending, at least as far as the public is aware.
It’s unclear how many new complaints or cases that would have been audited by the independent reviewer have been opened since it became vacant.
Newly hired Fresno police auditor John Gliatta, right, talks to reporters after he was introduced Wednesday by Mayor Lee Brand, left, in August 2017. Gliatta will speak at a luncheon Monday. TIM SHEEHAN Fresno Bee file
The Fresno Police Department receives hundreds of complaints a year that are investigated to varying degrees by the Internal Affairs unit. Much of that information is not available to the public under the Police Officers Bill of Rights.
The Independent Reviewer released limited information in the reports, which included some details of accusations, what the Internal Affairs found and what the Independent Reviewer found.
The subject of the vacancy came up Wednesday during a town hall-style meeting police held on military-grade equipment and weapons. An attendee noted the open position has lingered and a report has not been issued since July.
Fresno Deputy Police Chief Burke Farrah said during the meeting he was not clear on what will happen for cases left so far unseen by an independent reviewer, but said police continue to follow their internal policies and are under potential review by the state Police Officers Standards and Training, a regulating body.
“Whether that person catches up on their work that’s done in the back and whatnot, I don’t know,” he said during the meeting. “But our policies remain the same. And not only are we accountable to our city manager, our mayor, our council (but) California POST we have to report to as well.”
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Reporter Thaddeus Miller has covered cities in the central San Joaquin Valley since 2010, writing about everything from breaking news to government and police accountability. A native of Fresno, he joined The Fresno Bee in 2019 after time in Merced and Los Banos.