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This very public scrutiny has had a profound impact on the morale of the police <br />departmenb which has suffered tremendously. Some officers have demonstrated <br />timidity and become circumspect in their actions with members of the community. <br />As the review team heard from some officers, "If a minority is pulled over on a <br />traffic Stop, no action is taken," for fear of being the subject of a complaint. The <br />police department, to some extent, has been rendered ineffective, paralyzed by the <br />fear of being second-guessed. <br /> <br />The cumulative effect is a community in crisis with respect to public safety and <br />security. The City of Eugene and the EPD face an enormous challenge in turning <br />around the current situation. The recommendations contained in this current report <br />are comprehensive and far-reaching. Implementation will require a long-term <br />commitment to change in order to rebuild public trust in the EPD. And while <br />considerable attention needs to be devoted to establishing better relations with the <br />greater Eugene community, the police force itself must also be given leadership, <br />clear direction, and support. The problems Eugene faces are not simply a matter of <br />better public relations. The police have an obligation to make sure their actions and <br />activities do not provide the ammunition that can be used against them. Without <br />internal changes within the EPD, the external relations with the greater Eugene <br />community are unlikely to change. <br /> <br /> 12 <br /> <br /> <br />