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IV. Issues <br /> <br />Prior to presenting findings and recommendations, the review team wishes to <br />present some key issues and themes that emerged during the course of their review. <br />These themes serve as a foundation for the findings and recommendations that <br />follow in Section V. <br /> <br />Issue No. 1: The Eugene Police Department is fundamentally a sound department, <br />and the men and women of the department are committed to providing quality <br />service to the residents, visitors, and businesspersons of the City of Eugene. They <br />want to improve the image of the police department in the community. As with any <br />organization, there is a small percentage of employees who fail to adhere to the <br />values of that organization and the Eugene Police Department is no different. The <br />leadership of the Eugene Police Department must capitalize on this commitment. <br /> <br />Issue No. 2: There exists in the community misinformation, lack of information, <br />distortion of factual information, rumors and innuendos, and prejudicial <br />information that can and does distort fact. The review team provides <br />recommendations that will reduce the potential for misinformation to spread and <br />cause additional conflict in the community. <br /> <br />Issue No. 3: There exists polarity in the range of perceptions offered by the <br />community and police personnel about the role of the city council, city manager, <br />and police leadership. As one focus group participant indicated, "There is no gray or <br />middle ground in Eugene. We deal in extremes." As the mayor indicated in her State <br />of the City Address, "We take on all major (and minor) issues with a certain amount <br />of zeal." The review team believes that this polarization causes additional division in <br />the community. Better communication strategies recommended by the review team <br />will lessen the divide. <br /> <br /> 13 <br /> <br /> <br />