Merrick Bob, Advocate for Police Oversight, Has Died at 79
Merrick Bob, a significant figure in the contemporary police surveillance movement that began in Los Angeles, has died at the age of 79.
Bob, whose health had been declining in recent years, passed away Thursday evening at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, as confirmed by his two children, Matthew and Jonathan, on Friday.
A longtime resident of Los Feliz for over 40 years, Bob was a father of two and a grandfather to four. He was not only fluent in multiple languages but also held a reputation as a pioneer in advocating for civil oversight in law enforcement.
His career spanned several years and highlighted significant issues within major police departments, from Los Angeles to Seattle. In 2003, after suffering from a rare autoimmune condition called Guillain-Barré syndrome, he managed to continue making an impact without the use of his hands or feet.
“He always had this way of connecting with the world,” Jonathan shared in a joint interview with his brother. “I think his experiences during the Civil Rights Movement really shaped his belief in justice and helped him understand the perspectives of often overlooked groups.”
From 1993, Bob served for two decades as a special advisor to the LA County Board of Supervisors. Throughout this time, he delivered comprehensive reports on various issues, including persistent violence and excessive force in county jails, pushing for numerous reforms.
In 2014, however, the board decided to establish an inspector’s office, leading to Bob’s dismissal. This decision followed criticisms from him and Michael Jennaco of the Independent Review Office regarding inadequate responses to prison issues that had become high-profile scandals.
Two years ago, a federal judge appointed Bob as an independent monitor for the Seattle Police Department’s consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice, a role he held until 2020. He resigned amid national protests against police brutality following the death of George Floyd.
In 2001, he founded the Police Assessment Resource Center, a nonprofit that offers evidence-based guidance on effective and accountable policing.
Prior to this, Bob worked as a deputy advisor to the Christopher Commission, which examined police force usage in Los Angeles after the 1991 Rodney King incident. The commission’s report called for then-LAPD chief Daryl Gates to resign, revealing significant issues of excessive force within the department.
Bob graduated from Dartmouth College in 1968 and earned his law degree from Berkeley three years later. He was acknowledged by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the city’s top 50 lawyers, having worked in private practice from 1973 to 1996.
However, according to his sons, it was Bob’s kindness that left a lasting impression on many he encountered.
“No matter who you were, he would engage with you and build a genuine connection,” Matthew noted. “You could find him sharing lunch with a former police chief one day and then with a handyman the next.”
Bob is survived by his children, grandchildren, and his ex-wife, Aviva Koenigsberg Bob, a former judge with whom he maintained a close relationship.
A funeral service for Bob will take place at 10 AM on September 5 at Mount Sinai Hollywood Hills, located at 5950 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles, California.
