Item B: Meeting w/Police Comm. - Laserfiche WebLink

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Suggestions: · Want complaints to be taken by neutral party at neutral site (independent intake) · Publicize how process works and sincerely encourage participation in complaint process: "we want you to help us do our jobs better" attitude · Educate community on what types of behavior/performance/actions EPD wants public to report · Need system that is respectful and complainants believe they will be listened to · Treat all complaints as complaints, not as inquiries or something else · Complaint form/submission suggestions: o Simplify complaint form and make it just for complaints and questions, not commendations o Include process overview, what to expect and timeline on form - easy to understand c> Make complaint form and submission available on City web page c> Suggest officers carry complaint forms or mechanisms for comments in cars · Ensure that any retaliation by officer against complainant is treated very seriously · Want information in Spanish about complaint process in schools, retail businesses, other places that serve Latino population · Need to address issue of when and how anonymous complaints can be accepted · Intake process should include screening mechanism to eliminate spurious complaints and consistency differentiate between serious and minor issues · Require signed statement from complainant when serious allegations are filed INVESTIGATION Concerns: · Belief that immediate supervisors should not investigate their employees (conflict of interest) · Experience that timeline was not followed · Received misleading information as to action department would take · Concern that background check on complainant is first step of process - prevents people from participating in process · Perception of one-sided and biased investigations · Concern that if policy is not violated, officer discourtesy is ignored - investigations are narrowly focused and not thorough enough to uncover performance and attitude issues · Union involvement protects officers · Facts of case are lef~ out or documented in misleading ways - whole story is not presented to make complainant have less credibility and protect officer · Lack of notification about status of investigation · Sometimes "Tell Us About It" form is only method for collecting information from complainant - personal interview of complainant should be standard practice · IA sergeant is put in awkward position of assuming investigatory duties during assignment, then moves to another assignment with supervision responsibilities that might be in conflict