Richmond police union direct action highlights low staffing as council meeting boils over

A Richmond City Council meeting erupted in tension Tuesday night as dozens of police officers and their supporters rallied to protest low staffing and what they described as political attacks, while friends and relatives of a young man fatally shot by police demanded accountability and transparency.

The rally, organized by the Richmond Police Officers Association, brought officers to Richmond City Hall ahead of the council meeting. Union members say the department is facing historic lows in staffing, forcing officers into exhausting overtime and reactive policing that they argue leaves both neighborhoods and officers less safe.

“This city cannot afford politics when it comes to public safety,” said RPOA President Ben Therriault during public comment. “When council members attack their own officers with half-truths and rhetoric, it drives talent away and erodes trust.”

Therriault warned that officers will continue showing up at council meetings until changes are made.

“It’s a beautiful thing to see, to have cops come in here and show you what direct action looks like,” Therriault said. “Nothing crazy, no signs, but you’re going to have to see it. There are going to be cameras in here, and it’s not going to go away.”

As the evening wore on, the meeting grew increasingly tense, with the most heated moments coming from the public gallery. Friends and relatives of Angel Montano, who was shot and killed by Richmond police on August 4, repeatedly called out from the audience.

The disruption forced Mayor Eduardo Martinez to call a brief recess as councilmembers attempted to regain control of the meeting.

During public comment, Jesus Pedraza, a close friend of Montano, gave an emotional statement about the shooting and the community’s fear.

“We call the police for help. We don’t call the police to get our brothers killed,” Pedraza said. “Angel’s life wasn’t justly taken. I’m simply asking you all for transparency. Look at it through our eyes. The fear is real. Think with your hearts, think as citizens of Richmond.”

Another speaker, Leslie Becerra, named Officer Nicholas Remick, who has been involved in two fatal shootings this year.

“Officer Remick shot and killed my friend Angel Montano and also killed another Richmond resident, Jose de Jesus Mendez, six months prior,” Becerra said. “How are we supposed to call the police for help when there’s a real fear they might kill our loved ones?”

Multiple officers addressed the council about the department’s struggles to recruit and retain personnel. Sgt. Miles Bailey, who oversees recruitment and training, warned that surrounding cities are attracting applicants away from Richmond.

“Potential officers from across the Bay Area are looking at Richmond and deciding not to apply here,” Bailey said. “If we can’t recruit new officers, response times will get slower, crime will grow, and our community will ultimately pay the price.”

Detective Alyssa Alvarado of the Special Victims Unit said low staffing is driving experienced officers out.

“We are burning out our veteran officers,” she said. “Forced overtime, low staffing, and the feeling that City Hall doesn’t support us are driving officers away. Every time an experienced officer leaves, Richmond loses years of training, hard-earned street knowledge, and community trust.”

The union’s rally also demanded Officers Nicholas Remick and Colton Stocking be reinstated. Both officers were involved in Montano’s fatal shooting and, according to the union, have been cleared by department psychologists and remain in good standing.

“They need to be returned to work immediately,” Therriault said. “It’s not policy, it’s politics. Even if you do your job by the book, City Hall may still sacrifice you for appearances.”

Also on the agenda

Several residents also spoke in favor of another item on the agenda, a proposal to revise how the city responds to officer-involved shootings and in-custody deaths.

The item would create a new set of communication protocols to improve transparency after serious incidents involving police. Under the proposal, responsibility for public messaging would shift from the Richmond Police Department to the City Manager’s Office.

The new procedures call for publishing official statements within one day following any incident where police use lethal force or someone dies while detained.

Councilmember Sue Wilson said that the proposal includes three main actions: issuing a neutral press release within 24 hours of an officer-involved incident, ensuring that any released body cam footage is only redacted as required by law and not further edited to shape a narrative, and providing mental health services for families and witnesses affected by such incidents.

“What we are really seeking to do is to provide just neutral information that the community can have in order to rebuild trust," Wilson said. "I think one of the ways that people really trust us as a city is that there’s these unbiased professional and community oversight bodies, and we should tell people about that, because that goes a long way towards repairing some of the damage that’s inherent in these situations.”

The council did not take final action on Item O-3 Tuesday night after running out of time and failing to garner enough votes to extend the meeting. The item will be picked up at a later meeting.

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