COMMUNITY ullerton bserverCALENDAR Page 12-15 FFULLERTON’S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS •est.1978 (printed on O20% recycled paper) Volume 34 #4 • EARLY MARCH 2012 Report Clears Names of Kelly Thomas and Police Dept. Public Info Officer Two Fullerton police officers have been charged with murder and manslaughter in the beating death of Kelly Thomas and will go to trial March 28. Independent Investigator Mike Gennaco was hired by the city to take a look at the police department and its actions surrounding the incident. He presented the first of three reports the Office of Independent Review is work- ing on at a special 4:30pm City Council session Feb. 21st. The 6-page report focused on the information released by the police dept., how information was dissemi- nated, and facts clearing up accusations made by some members of the public. The investigation concluded that Kelly Thomas did not steal anything and was not responsible for injuries to police officers and that there was “No evidence of intent by the police depart- ment to deceive or falsify.” Gennaco said that Kelly Thomas did have in his possession a backpack, ID, ART WALK: A view of Friday Art Walk at the Hibbleton & PAS galleries on West Santa Fe. PHOTO CHUCK OLDFIELD and mail that did not belong to him giving police reason to detain him. WHO’S RUNNING? by Brian Prince Continued on page 4 Walking the Walk Candidates are lining up to run in the June 5th Recall Election. The slate so Downtown Fullerton Art Walk celebrates 2 years! far: Jane Rands and Greg Sebourn have Friday, March 2, 2012, 6-10pm at The Museum Plaza pulled papers for all three seats and will I can remember a few months after my Downtown Fullerton Art Walk was born. It have to choose one by the March 9th wife and I opened PÄS Gallery, our friend was the first First Friday which fell on deadline. AID and one of the Hibbleton Gallery owners, March 5, 2010. It was a smashing success. Glenn Georgieff, Roberta Reid and TED ON CA Jesse La Tour, came around with a clipboard I remember being interviewed on camera Travis Kiger have filed to replace T GE P A and asked if we were interested in starting an by Rita Garcia of KCAL-9. We had DJs, a Councilmember Jones should he be recalled. Rumors are that Doug Chaffee ANDARD U.S. Art Walk in downtown Fullerton. We were live painter, hot food and wall to wall art PRESOR POST ERMIT NO. 1577 (who lost to McKinley by a handful of ST FULLER ecstatic. At the time there were collaborative lovers. Artists greeting other artists. People P art events between Hibbleton, Buffalo getting to know each other and becoming votes in the last election) may also be Exchange and BTNC, but Jesse was talking friends over art. The energy was alive. And considering a run. larger-scale—something that would show- that was just in our corner of this unique The June ballot will list the question: case the growing Fullerton art community downtown. I was able to walk around and a “Shall candidate’s name be recalled from and bring all walks of life together. He similar vibe was happening elsewhere the office of City Council Member?” showed me a list of businesses and galleries around downtown. Below that will appear a list of the can- along Harbor Blvd. and surrounding streets Fast forward two years and 24 art walks, didates running for that particular seat. who had already expressed interest, and he community pride is on the rise, connections Go to the Clerk’s page under mentioned a lot more he was going to ask. have evolved and the positivity has gone “Departments” at cityoffullerton.com That was late in 2009. viral. There's a new love for art these days in and hit on “Elections” for a great UESTED After a few months of planning and meet- downtown Fullerton. overview of the process and updates on ing with art-minded businesses, the Continued on page 12 who has filed to run. CALL REQ TISE VER Hazing, Bullying, Whatever You Call It: UNACCEPTABLE VER VICE D The only details that are agreed on are •Fullerton Joint Union High School him when he tried to stand up. It hap- BSER A O that it happened at 2:30 in the morning on District Boardmembers reportedly were pened in Arrowhead on a balcony of the O SER an out of town overnight Troy High told that an incident of hazing took place building where the team was staying. T 714-525-6402 Wrestling Team trip. while the team was on an overnight trip to THE •A district team reportedly investigated •A caller who wishes to remain anony- Big Bear. What the hazing involved was the incident for the second time on IN mous contacted the paper and said that not described. Eight boys were given 5 day Tuesday, Feb. 21, and spoke to nine boys, while on an overnight athletic team trip to suspensions and one was transferred to parents and coaches, and concluded that another school. The police were notified the incident was a game and that there ADDRESS Big Bear 9 boys stripped a boy naked, wrapped him in saran wrap, stuffed a rag in but said they did not have jurisdiction. As were no victims. There was no saran wrap, his mouth, put duct tape over that and a result, Administrative Regulations have rag in mouth, or duct tape. When the team threw him outside at 2:30am for five min- been modified to require that at least one got back to Fullerton the principal contact- utes. The caller said that this is not the first district-approved adult chaperone stay ed police. The boys each received a five-day incident; there have been others and that awake at all times of the night to supervise suspension because even “light hazing” is the coach was aware. and ensure that the students are in bed and not tolerated. No one was transferred. •Resource Officer Cpl. Kandler of the not “misbehaving.” In addition, “anti-bul- Whatever happened rose to the serious- Fullerton Police Dept. was notified of the lying education programs will be empha- ness of contacting police, suspending the incident on Jan. 12, 2012. But because the sized more and increased with all district participants, and adding overnight regula- students and staff members.” ON hazing happened in San Bernardino Sheriff tions. It seems clear that current anti-bul- T VER Dept. jurisdiction the victims were directed •A teacher who talked to the coach and lying/hazing measures are not adequate X 7051 to contact SBSD. Police were told that two of the boys said that the boys were just and there may even be an accepted culture ON CA 92834 T there were three victims; one had a gag put having fun and there was no victim. of hazing. Assuming everyone is telling the BSER According to that version of the story five truth as they see it, this is not the time to PO BO in his mouth; one was saran-wrapped; and ULLER O boys wrapped a volunteer in saran wrap F one was put outside in the cold. All were end, but the time to start, a serious investi- FULLER said to have “volunteered” for the hazing. from the waist down and then laughed at gation. The behavior is not acceptable. Page 2 FULLERTON OBSERVER COMMUNITY OPINIONS EARLY MARCH 2012 Police Ride Along Great I had the pleasure to go on a that they were well trained in ridealong with Corporal David such situations. They were Fullerton on Friday Feb 10, 2012 from always polite and informative. 7pm to 10pm and it was per- There was a situation once Observer haps one of the best experiences where a senior citizen was being that I have ever had on a Friday loud and obnoxious at a senior The Fullerton Observer Community Newspaper, founded by Ralph and Natalie Kennedy and a night. After the bad press that citizen home and I don't know group of friends in 1978, is staffed by local the PD has received relentlessly how the two officers remained as citizen volunteers who create, publish, and for the past several months, this calm as they did. These officers distribute the paper throughout our community. single ridealong restored my were very professional, This venture is a not-for-profit one with all faith in the police and I am I am writing this to you so you ad and subscription revenues plowed back into maintaining and improving our today a very satisfied person can perhaps acknowledge and independent, non-partisan, non-sectarian who feels very secure living only publicize this picture of the community newspaper. a block or so away from the Police Department as well. At Our purpose is to inform Fullerton residents police station. the very least, it would help res- about the institutions and other societal Cpl. David has a very friendly idents of Fullerton to feel closer forces which most impact their lives, so that they may be empowered to participate Confused Voter attitude and might I add the to their Police Department and in constructive ways to keep and make these I have lived in Fullerton promptly or adequately to admirable ability to multi-task. not judge them based on a few private and public entities serve all residents for forty three years. I signed the death of Kelly Thomas at While riding along with him I isolated incidents.