Fresno Selects New Police Auditor - KMPH FOX 26 | Central San Joaquin Valley News Source

Fresno Selects New Police Auditor

Fresno City Manager Mark Scott on Tuesday announced that Rick Rasmussen, currently the administrator of Salt Lake City's Civilian Review Board, has been selected as the director of the City of Fresno's Office of Independent Review.

Rasmussen started work with the City of Fresno on Tuesday, Sept. 4.

As director of the Office of Independent Review, Rasmussen will work independently of the Police Department chain of command to provide City policymakers and the public with an objective, third-party analysis of internal investigations to ensure those investigations are conducted in a thorough, fair and unbiased manner, the city said in a news release.

"Rick Rasmussen has earned a reputation across the country as one of the leaders in his field," Scott said. "His commitment to transparency and communication helped restore public confidence in Salt Lake City's Civilian Review Board, and those qualities, along with his integrity and problem-solving ability, will be critical to the success of our Office of Independent Review in Fresno."

Rasmussen has served as administrator of Salt Lake City's Civilian Review Board since March 2008. The 14-member board investigates allegations of misconduct by members of the Salt Lake City Police Department. In addition, Rasmussen serves as deputy director for emergency operations and planning and gang coordinator for Salt Lake City.

Rasmussen also is a retired supervisory special agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. While with the FBI, he designed, staffed and implemented the FBI Olympic Security Plan for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.

Rasmussen, 56, will work 20 hours per week in the position during fiscal year 2013. He will continue to work for Salt Lake City until his transition to Fresno.

Scott said Rasmussen's first priority will be to meet with community groups and familiarize himself with Police Department officials and processes.

Rasmussen earned a bachelor's degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy. His salary will be $6,400 a month, the city said in its news release.

Rasmussen succeeds Eddie Aubrey, who left the job in 2011. The police auditor position was later eliminated.