Santa Cruz Police 'Will Enact Improvements,' Chief Said

SANTA CRUZ, CA — Santa Cruz Police Chief Andrew Mills said he hopes to see change in policing and called for the public to share their suggestions.

Mills said Sunday on Twitter that he has been meeting regularly with Mayor Justin Cummings and black leaders in the community to discuss what short-term and long-term improvements can be made in the police department.

The city and police department "will enact improvements," Mills said. "If you have serious suggestions, let us hear them."

Mills announced June 3 that the department banned carotid restraints, or chokeholds that cut off blood flow to the head. Mills credited police in Watsonville and San Diego with paving the way.

"It is risky for people susceptible to excited delirium," he wrote.

On Saturday Mills posted about a meeting with Cummings and local black leaders. Though Santa Cruz is a progressive city, people still call to report people of color suspiciously walking in their block or selling CDs, Mills said.

"Fixing walking while black calls is part of fixing the police," he said.

Thoughtful people want change in policing. I do. @MayorCummings and I meet weekly the black leaders to chart a path forward immediately and in the long run. @CityofSantaCruz and @SantaCruzPolice will enact improvements. If you have serious suggestions, let us hear them. pic.twitter.com/PFLi6Bk58v
— Andrew Mills (@ChiefAndyMills) June 14, 2020

One of the most progressive cities in the nation, yet people call 911 on people of color for “suspiciously” walking in their neighborhood or selling CDs. Fixing walking while black calls is part of fixing the police. #BLM #911 #UnreasonableFear #SantaCruz #BlackLeadersForChange pic.twitter.com/yIOJzXBIEf
— Andrew Mills (@ChiefAndyMills) June 13, 2020