Raw emotions at task force meeting on Lopez shooting

Dismay, anger, sorrow, frustration and fear were among emotions expressed Thursday night during a public forum organized by county officials in the wake of Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch’s recent move clearing the sheriff’s deputy who shot and killed 13-year-old Andy Lopez of any criminal wrongdoing.

The forum, billed as a “listening session,” drew about ?100 people and was organized by Supervisor Shirlee Zane and a subcommittee of the county’s Community and Local Law Enforcement Task Force, which was formed last year in response to the fatal shooting.

“As a parent, I am concerned,” said Mario Castillo of Sonoma, a father of a 14-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl.

Castillo said he fears whether his “kids are going to be safe out in the streets.”

Laura Gonzalez, a Santa Rosa School Board trustee, said she objected to Ravitch’s conclusion that Gelhaus “honestly and reasonably” feared for his life when he fired at Lopez.

“I don’t think its reasonable that 13-year-olds are killed by cops,” Gonzalez said, adding that strong steps need to be taken to ensure police are familiar with the people in neighborhoods they patrol.

“I want police who patrol those areas to know what are the de facto playgrounds,” she said.

Several speakers called for a number of measures, including independent citizen review of law enforcement, “real” community policing and changing law enforcement culture they say views many Latino kids as gang members in war zones. Others called for steps that would increase Latino representation, including adopting district elections in Santa Rosa.

The 21-member Community and Local Law Enforcement Task Force is reviewing options for a an independent citizen review body; considering options for community policing; and reviewing and recommending whether the coroner’s office should be a separate elected office from that of the sheriff.

The task force also is charged with bringing additional community feedback to the Board of Supervisors by the end of 2014. Thursday’s meeting was organized by the Community Engagement and Healing subcommittee. .

Judy Rice, who heads the subcommittee, said a number of people who have attended the meetings have expressed concerns about feeling disenfranchised, and members of the Latino community have expressed fear and mistrust toward law enforcement.

The forum drew a number of activists from the Justice Coalition for Andy Lopez. Some wore white T-shirts with Lopez’s image with the words “Rest in Peace Andy Lopez.”

Ana Salgado of Santa Rosa, who said she has been active in several Andy Lopez protests, said she appreciated the move to engage the community but said greater efforts needed to be made to reach out to local Latinos who are to afraid to speak their minds.

“They are hurting, but they don’t feel like they have the freedom to express their concerns,” Salgado said.

Others called for Gelhaus to be taken off the county payroll.

“Let’s get Gelhaus off the payroll one way or another,” said local attorney and civil rights advocate David Grabill.

Zane said the meeting accomplished its goals, to “create a safe place for people to share their grief.” “People need to be allowed to grieve before we can build bridges,” she said.