Making History, Santa Barbara Adopts New System of Civilian Police Oversight
Councilmembers Hail ‘Momentous’ Unanimous Vote; Last-Minute Drama Clouds Meeting
In what can only be described as a watershed moment for Santa Barbara, the City Council voted unanimously to adopt a new system of civilian oversight for its police department.
The decision came amid an ongoing nationwide reckoning over police accountability sparked by the murder of George Floyd in the spring of 2020 and after two years of intense local debate around the need for a citizen-led method of checks and balances.
Councilmember Meagan Harmon, one of the loudest and most consistent voices on the dais on the issue, called the vote “truly momentous.” “We have created a framework that is the single most significant step toward meaningful civilian oversight in our city’s history,” she said. “That is a big, big deal.”
