DA Price Creates Public Accountability Unit
Following the police-involved death of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, Tennessee, and her campaign promise of accountability, Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price announced the creation of a Public Accountability Unit (PAU) last Tuesday.
The division is expected to investigate and prosecute wrongdoing by law enforcement and public officials. DA Price has said she asked several local police chiefs and Alameda County Sheriff Yesenia Sanchez to return evidence for six officer-involved shootings and two prison deaths, with the intention of reopening the cases for further review to determine whether charges should be filed or not.
“This unit and its work are the start of the reckoning Alameda County has asked for holding people accountable for their misconduct.”
"This unit and its work are the start of the reckoning Alameda County has asked for holding people accountable for their misconduct," DA Price said in a statement.
The eight cases include Cody Chavez involving Pleasanton Police in 2022; Caleb Smith involving Hayward Police in 2021; Joshua Gloria involving Fremont Police in 2021, Agustin Gonsalez involving Hayward Police in 2019; Mack Jody Woodfox involving the Oakland Police in 2008, and Andrew Moppin-Buckskin involving the Oakland Police in 2007.
The deaths of Mario Gonzalez, who was in the custody of the Alameda Police Department in 2021, and Vinetta Martin, who died at Santa Rita Jail in 2021, will also be reopened.
Three of the cases were reviewed and dismissed by former District Attorney Nancy O'Malley.
"These reports were released at the 11th hour, just weeks before I took office. As the top prosecutor, I want to review each case thoroughly to ensure justice has not been forgotten," DA Price said.
"I've made sure that my Office has attempted to reach out to each of the families of the deceased. The healing process cannot begin until we do our due diligence."
Due to the age of some of the cases, the statute of limitations may have run out for certain charges, such as involuntary manslaughter, which has a 3-year window.
Additional details were not released as some of the cases under review are still being investigated.