CMD Shooting Under Scrutiny: BoT Approves Outside Investigators
Crime scene tape was placed around the sign for Santa Monica College Center for Media and Design campus in Santa Monica Calif., after an employee working for Santa Monica College was shot at 9:50 PM leaving them hospitalized in critical condition, on Monday, October 14th, 2024. (Jake Crandall | The Corsair)
Not two months after the on-campus shooting that killed Custodial Operations Manager Felicia Hudson, the Santa Monica College (SMC) Board of Trustees tensely ratified a proposal seeking outside investigations into the incident. On Dec. 12, the Board’s monthly meeting meandered between topics and end-of-year achievements, but centered on the first Major Item of Business, entitled “Professional Services Agreement for Critical Incident Analysis of October 14, 2024 Shooting.”
The proposal was delivered to the Board by Chris Bonvenuto, Vice President of Business and Administration; and Daniel Phillips, Director of Safety and Risk Management. Dr. Margaret Quiñones-Perez, longtime trustee, was commanding the meeting for the last time as Chair.
Before the motion, Quiñones-Perez summoned SMC’s Chief of Police Johnnie Adams from the public watching area to accompany Bonvenuto and Phillips at the podium.
Bonvenuto recapped the request from the College to “immediately identify and engage a consultant who specializes in critical incident analysis” after Oct. 14.
Goals of the proposal include “the needs to look at SMC’s response protocols, evaluating broad systemic or other factors that could have played a role in the event, identify key lessons learned, and make recommendation for actual items to improve protocols.”
A committee led by Phillips received propositions from Healy Group; Pax Group, LLC; Strategic Initiatives Global Partners, LLC; 21CP Solutions, LLC; and OIR Group.
The selections were streamlined upon review. Eventually, continual probes and interviews into two of the favored companies in the running narrowed consideration to OIR Group.
Supplying “independent police oversight and review,” according to their website, OIR Group was chosen for its “tailored and collaborative approach,” per the “Professional Services Agreement…” written proposal. The proposal deemed expense an integral factor, listing OIR as “the most cost-effective of the proposals received.”
Prompted by Dr. Sion Roy, trustee and cardiologist, Bonvenuto and Phillips described OIR’s experience with collegiate investigations, including California State University, Stanislaus and California State University, San Jose.
“It’s kind of a benefit that they are a local organization that’s out of Long Beach,” said Phillips.
Trustee Dr. Nancy Greenstein asked for additional description of the proposed services. Phillips provided an outline.
“First, looking at what had happened, evaluate the incident, go through interview processes with the various groups that were involved,” he said. “Then… work with departments such as HR and Maintenance and Operations to get an idea of how those departments work on a day-to-day basis, how communication is between the departments.”
The Department of Human Resources is invoked as the incident on Oct. 14 was characterized as an act of “workplace violence.”
According to Phillips, OIR will scan departments for “gaps or recommendations,” and develop a report with enactable “action items.”
Dismayed, Quiñones-Perez turned to Adams.
“I have a problem with this, the way this is being handled,” said Quiñones-Perez. “My problem with it is I don’t understand why it’s not under our Chief of Police.”
She described sensing oddity with the origins of the proposal: “I don’t understand why it’s coming from (the Risk Management) department.
Who’s supposed to know about what happens on campus and keeps us protected is our PD department. We’re not a ‘campus police.’ We’re PD department. I just wanna know why it’s not there.”
Adams quickly moved to clarify his involvement, stating his decision-making contributions were uncredited, but thorough.
To deep-dive into potential consultants, “I was actually at a college conference and spoke to about 20 chiefs,” said Adams. “They shared at least three of the recommended groups.
We had a committee that was working on it. …We then personally interviewed the last two (firms) to determine which one would probably be a better fit for Santa Monica College. And that’s where we came up with this recommendation.”
“I had to ask the question,” said Quiñones-Perez. “If I’m asking the question, other people are going to ask the same question: ‘why isn’t your PD part of it?’”
An additional participant was revealed in the college’s President and Superintendent, Dr. Kathryn Jeffery. “The item is actually submitted by me,” said Jeffery. “In fact, we were at the police department where we created the team… part of reviewing all the documents. So I’ll take ownership.”
Quiñones-Perez requested the proposal receive amendment reflecting the contributions of Jeffery and Adams. At the time of publication, the proposal reflects collaboration across four departments, including Campus Police, Risk Management, Business and Administration, and the Department of the Superintendent/President.
With clarifications in, the proposal was moved by Roy and seconded by Greenstein. Roy is recently appointed Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, and Greenstein appointed Chair, replacing Quiñones-Perez.
The last legislative collaboration in their current positions prompted reflection.
Lingering tensions from the Major Item of the evening diffused as Jeffery praised her colleague’s commanding abilities.
“As always, it’s a pleasure to work with you in your role as the Board Chair,” Jeffery said, turning to direct the statement to Quiñonez-Perez at her left. “You ask lots of questions… You ask great questions and make us think about what we’re doing and that’s good. That’s good for all of us.”