Norma O. Berrellez

Berrellez supported bylaws changes preserving Riverside’s police-review commission’s ability to start death investigations before receiving police criminal casebooks. She also opposed adding a department-policy restriction that could narrow complaint-review authority below the City Charter. The commission unanimously adopted the revisions in December, including an updated fallback media spokesperson.

December 14, 2022Supports Public Safety and Crime Control

Source: riversideca.legistar.com

Berrellez supported bylaws changes preserving Riverside’s police-review commission’s ability to start death investigations before receiving police criminal casebooks. She also opposed adding a department-policy restriction that could narrow complaint-review authority below the City Charter. The commission unanimously adopted the revisions in December, including an updated fallback media spokesperson.

December 14, 2022Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties

Source: riversideca.legistar.com

Berrellez supported opening Riverside’s first-stage review of Joseph Tracy’s death. She supported requesting body-camera video, surveillance video and photographs from the Riverside County Sheriff and Hemet Police Department. The motion passed with one other commissioner abstaining.

February 26, 2025

Source: riversideca.legistar.com

Berrellez supported Riverside’s final public report on Felix Marquez’s death, case P21-0012809. It recorded her finding that Officers Mann and Cuevas acted within policy. The report made no formal policy recommendations, while suggesting continued de-escalation and less-lethal training.

January 22, 2025

Source: riversideca.legistar.com

Berrellez joined a unanimous vote to receive Riverside’s 2024 racial-profiling report, which covered police stops made in 2022. The vote directed staff to present its data and policy recommendations to the Safety, Wellness and Youth Committee.

January 22, 2025

Source: riversideca.legistar.com

Berrellez won Alvord Unified’s 2024 Trustee Area 4 short-term election with 2,645 votes, or 43.76 percent, in a four-candidate race.

November 5, 2024

Source: voteinfo.net

Riverside’s final report on Jehlani Black’s death, case P21-0006980, recorded Berrellez supporting the finding that Officer Mercado acted within policy. The commission completed its public-report review in July. The report made no formal policy recommendations.

July 24, 2024

Source: riversideca.legistar.com

Berrellez voted to approve Riverside’s revised procedures for reviewing deaths connected with police actions. They covered fact-finding, policy review, individual findings, public discussion, optional recommendations and a majority-approved public report. They set a nine-month review goal after receipt of the criminal casebook.

January 24, 2024

Source: riversideca.legistar.com

Berrellez submitted one of two rationale worksheets recorded in Riverside’s final report on Aaron Luther’s death. The report found the officer acted within policy and was approved for public release in December. It corrected an earlier version describing a unanimous finding vote.

December 13, 2023

Source: riversideca.legistar.com

As Riverside’s police-review chair, Berrellez appointed Phil DeBrier, Abel Huerta and Violet Gutierrez to the outreach committee. She appointed Eileen Teichert, Huerta and DeBrier to the policies-and-procedures review committee. The commission agreed to the appointments.

July 26, 2023

Source: riversideca.legistar.com

Berrellez served as the taxpayers’ organization representative on Alvord Unified’s Measure J Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee. It reviewed whether bond proceeds funded voter-authorized projects, without selecting projects or approving construction contracts. Minutes document her participation in June 2023, July 2024 and October 2024. The unpaid seat was vacant by January 2025.

June 20, 2023

Source: s3.amazonaws.com

Berrellez was elected chair of Riverside’s Community Police Review Commission in March 2023, after serving as vice chair since March 2021. The commission elected her chair again in May 2024.

March 22, 2023

Source: riversideca.legistar.com

Berrellez served as interim principal of South Pointe Middle School in Walnut Valley Unified. The district identified her in that role during its November 2 student and volunteer recognition meeting.

November 2, 2022

Source: wvusd.org

Berrellez accepted appointment as chair of Riverside’s Community Police Review Commission Audit Policy Ad Hoc Committee, replacing its previous chair.

September 22, 2021

Source: riversideca.legistar.com

Walnut Valley Unified appointed Berrellez interim assistant principal at South Pointe Middle School for the 2021–22 school year. The district identified her as a retired Corona-Norco Unified administrator.

August 31, 2021

Source: wvusd.org

Berrellez moved approval of eight Riverside police-review recommendations to the City Council. These covered public outreach, an agency contact database, commissioner–council contact, and updates on council police items. They also covered routine chair–police chief meetings, discussion of major police policies, and an outreach goals committee. Her motion passed unanimously. The report anticipated using the existing budget.

August 25, 2021

Source: riversideca.legistar.com

Berrellez was appointed chair of Riverside’s police-review outreach committee, alongside Abel Huerta and Phil DeBrier. The committee supported public outreach about the commission’s work.

April 28, 2021

Source: riversideca.legistar.com

Berrellez supported Riverside’s final public report on Arthur Cornejo Levario Jr.’s death, case P18-135608. She had also supported the December 2020 finding that officers acted within policy. The report made no policy recommendations.

March 24, 2021

Source: riversideca.legistar.com

Berrellez chaired Riverside’s 2020 Community Police Review Commission Bylaws Review Ad Hoc Committee. The commission approved its recommended edits in December, covering officers, meetings, investigations and hearings. Fellow committee member Eileen Teichert introduced the edits.

December 9, 2020

Source: riversideca.legistar.com

Berrellez supported publication of Riverside’s report on Ernie Saldivar’s death. It followed the commission’s September finding that police acted within policy. The final report made no policy recommendations.

December 9, 2020

Source: riversideca.legistar.com

Berrellez worked for the Tucson Police Department and U.S. Marshals Service before joining Riverside’s Community Police Review Commission. She also managed personnel at Disneyland and worked as a teacher, coordinator and school administrator in Corona-Norco Unified. The commission’s annual report says she retired from the school district in July 2016.

June 24, 2020

Source: riversideca.gov

Berrellez moved to find police actions within policy in Riverside’s review of Marcelino Arthur Garcia’s death, case P17-032034. Her motion also approved publication and passed unanimously. She was absent from August’s final-report approval; that report made no policy recommendations.

June 24, 2020

Source: riversideca.legistar.com

Berrellez supported publication of Riverside’s report on David Eugene Russell II’s death, case P18-136590. The report found the officers acted within policy and made no policy recommendations. She was absent from the earlier September 2019 finding vote.

January 22, 2020

Source: riversideca.legistar.com

Berrellez moved to advance Riverside’s review of L. Kennon’s death, case P17-196932, with a finding that police acted within policy. Her motion also approved public publication and passed with all votes in favor.

January 22, 2020

Source: riversideca.legistar.com

Berrellez was sworn in as Riverside’s Ward 6 representative on the Community Police Review Commission. It reviews complaints against police officers and deaths connected with police actions.

February 27, 2019

Source: riversideca.legistar.com