Retired prosecutor Karyn Sinunu-Towery was recently appointed as the Acting Independent Police Auditor (IPA) for San Jose, following the sudden departure of Shivaun Nurre, the previous IPA, as reported in the Mercury News. Sinunu-Towery, a seasoned legal mind who retired from her position as Santa Clara County Assistant District Attorney in 2013, stepped into the role following Nurre's unanticipated exit, which left city officials stunned and critics in an uproar.
With a legal resume spanning over 30 years, Sinunu-Towery brings a wealth of experience to the role of IPA. She's perhaps best known for her work in the Northern California Innocence Project after her retirement as ADA, by which she entered the world of police oversight with a focus on the exoneration of wrongfully convicted individuals, according to a San Jose Spotlight article. However, her appointment as Acting IPA has raised eyebrows, with critics concerned that a career prosecutor-turned-police watchdog poses a conflict of interest, leading some to question the integrity of the civilian oversight agency.
As Raj Jayadev, co-founder of the police watchdog and civil rights group Silicon Valley De-Bug, expressed his concerns via Mercury News, stating, "The idea of appointing a career prosecutor whose job it is to incarcerate people, and work side by side with police, to now monitor and hold police accountable is preposterous."
Sinunu-Towery has responded to the criticism by reiterating her track record of prosecuting police officers and public officials, as well as emphasizing her commitment to integrity and fairness in her temporary role as IPA. Her experience includes prosecuting high-profile cases such as the wrongful murder conviction of Rick Walker, which she highlights in her 2016 op-ed article for Mercury News, a story that ultimately became a catalyst for her work with the Innocence Project.
The IPA's primary function is to monitor and review misconduct investigations conducted by the internal affairs unit of the San Jose Police Department. Established in 1993, the Independent Police Auditor's office provides policy recommendations, collects public complaints about police conduct, and ensures that allegations of officer misconduct are addressed promptly and thoroughly, as reported in a San Jose Inside article.
While the search for a permanent replacement for Nurre continues, Sinunu-Towery has reassured the community by stating that her primary objective is to maintain the status quo and ensure that the office continues its essential work. In her own words, "Like any interim leader, I want to keep the ship steady and moving forward," as she expressed in her interview with the Mercury News. Her appointment has further highlighted the need for a nationwide search for a qualified individual to fill the high-stakes role of IPA in San Jose, a community that depends on the ability of the civilian watchdog to provide policy recommendations and transparency in policing practices.
Despite the controversy surrounding Sinunu-Towery's appointment as Acting IPA, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan showed his support for her, stating that she "will bring stability and continuity" to the office while the search for a permanent IPA continue.
