By Antonio R. Harvey | OBSERVER STAFF WRITER

Don Casimere, the director of the Office of Police Accountability for the city of Sacramento, announced his resignation Friday.

Director of the Office of Police Accountability Don Casimere announced his retirement on Friday. He is shown here presenting the OPA annual report in 2004.

At an afternoon press conference at City Hall, Casimere cited he was “leaving for a number of reasons,” though none of the issues had to do with the position itself.

“Most of them are personal,” Casimere said. “And most of them involve my family. I will do what’s in the best interest of my family and I have made this decision based on that.”

At the press conference, held in the city council chambers, Casimere was flanked by several community and civic leaders including NAACP Sacramento President Betty Williams, retired U.S. Marshall Jerry Enomoto, and OBSERVER Publisher Dr. William H. Lee.

Bob Thomas, the city manager who made the formal announcement, said he was “disappointed” in Casimere’s departure since the director of OPA and his staff worked so hard to see a reduction in complaints.

“Don has indicated his decision to return back to the city of Richmond and I think he did for the right reason,” Thomas said. “He wants to be closer to his family and he wants to make sure the economics work for him in terms of his career and his family.”

The Office of Police Accountability was created to improve police-community relationships by independently accepting, monitoring and investigating citizen complaints of misconduct.

The OPAs’ role was expanded to overseeing the accountability of the city’s fire department last year. Casimere was appointed to the position and took office on August 14, 1999.

“I can honestly say that the last six years of my career here has been epitome…the top of my professional career,” Casimere said during the press conference. “And I hold that in the large part through the confidence of City Manager Bob Thomas who has faith in me, and the leadership of the mayor and city council.”

Casimere, who was the investigative officer for the Police Commission for the city of Richmond is heading back to the Bay Area, where most of his family resides.

Casimere’s son, Don, daughter, Heather, and brothers were in attendance at to hear the announcement.

Thomas said the director of OPA’s position should be filled in “four or five months” and Casimere will have a hand in finding a qualified applicant.

“We are going to take our time,” Thomas said. “We are going to find an individual who can take this organization to the next level and I’m going to rely on Don Casimere’s advice as we go through the process of interviews.”

Thomas said there will be an “open application” for anyone interested in the position, though the office’s responsibilities will entail a great wealth of experience in law enforcement. A hiring panel will consist of members of the community including Enomoto, Williams, Lee, and four other individuals from the Sacramento community.

“We need somebody in the business,” Thomas said of hiring a director for OPA. “We want someone with experience and who is not going to learn on the job.”

The OPA is a rare entity in the state of California, an institution that Mayor Fargo wants to continue in order to keep harmony between the police and fire departments and the community of Sacramento.

“I think that what you see in our community is a very diverse community that we are proud of,” Mayor Fargo said. “What we have here is a recognizant, a mutual respect and some credibility. I also think that other city and counties would be wise to look at what we have been able to gain in this city, and look at this as a model department that should be established in other cities counties around the state and nation.”

Casimere will present 2004 OPA annual report at the City Council Meeting on Tuesday, April 19.

“Don’t miss it,” Casimere said. “This (report) is going to be a bestseller.”