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

Home Browse Search

In December 2004, two committees were formed to research and develop preliminary recommendations specific to complaint intake and case adjudication review. These meetings, of which there were sixteen total, were structured so as to involve community members more fully in the committee's deliberations. A new agenda item, entitled "Community Dialogue" was included at each meeting where members of the public could sit at the table and enter into a discussion with the committee on the agenda topics. Commissioners and members of the public who participated in these sessions voiced appreciation for the community dialogue portion of the meetings. An outreach task group was also formed to organize a series of public forums to solicit input on the police complaint system and facilitate other community education and outreach efforts on this project. The task group coordinated a dozen events over the past year, with over 175 community members participating. Three other committees/task teams were active over the last year, each of which facilitated public input and participation in the discussions related to video cameras in patrol vehicles, police uniform standards, and community policing efforts in the downtown core. Lastly, the commission supported a public outreach effort focused on the Latino and Spanish-speaking communities to share information on the newly developed Social Security Number policy. It allocated $5000 of its contingency funding to the Human Rights Commission to develop and coordinate a professional services contract for this purpose. The Human Rights Commission contracted with Centro LatinoAmericano, which organized a series of information sessions at various churches with large Spanish-speaking congregations. Human Rights Commission and EPD representatives led the discussions, which were well attended and received. A report detailing this effort is will be delivered separately to the City Council from the contractor. B. Police Policy Review In Car Video Policy The In-Car Video/Audio Recording Policy Committee was formed at the September 2004 Police Commission meeting to assist the police department in creating a policy for the use of in-car video equipment. In-car video and audio recording systems can provide objective evidence to document traffic and criminal violations, can enhance officer safety, and assist in the timely resolution of inquiries and complaints from community members. For these reasons, both the commission and the department feel that it is important to add such equipment to EPD patrol vehicles. The Eugene Police Department will be the first law enforcement agency in Oregon to acquire digital recording technology for patrol vehicles. The In-Car Video Committee was charged with reviewing background information, identifying key policy issues, consulting with staff and stakeholders such as the City Prosecutor, and providing feedback to the department on policy drafts. The committee focused on policy issues related to when video/audio would be captured, protecting the integrity of the data, and access to and use of the recordings. Many of these policy issues are tied closely to the specific equipment selected by the department, as well as the personnel and financial resources needed to acquire and maintain the equipment and data. As such, the committee provided a draft policy to the Police Commission for conceptual approval in January, recognizing that a number of issues would need to be revisited once the funding was secured and the equipment selected. Upon discussion, the commission asked the committee to consider several items related to the acquisition and implementation of in-car video and 2005 Annual Report Page 2 of 8