Agenda Packet 6-19-19 Work Session

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4 To this end, the Office of the Police Auditor (OPA) was integral in examining the issues at hand and in presenting the cases each month. As you will see in the case summaries and reviews set forth in this report we, the CRB, could not do our job as well as we do if it were not for the excellent work by Internal Affairs and the Police Auditor’s office. The Auditor’s Office and EPD saw about a 10% increase in complaints compared to 2017. We see no one variable that causes increases or decreases to occur; however, an approximately ten-year span shows complaint trends of 330-390 annually. Many of the complaints are customer service oriented. We are hopeful that with proposed increases in funding and staffing, EPD may be better able to address the customer service demands of our community. In the spring of 2018, the City welcomed new Police Chief Chris Skinner. Chief Skinner engaged on several occasions with the CRB and we appreciate his energy, knowledge and abilities to move the Eugene Police Department forward in reaching the goals and objectives for 21st century police departments. We also appreciate the services of Interim Chief David James who served as Interim Chief after the departure of Chief Pete Kerns in early 2018. Training and the use of body-worn cameras have improved the ability of Internal Affairs and the Auditor’s office to more precisely see the events unfold in a situation where there is a question about an officer’s conduct. Members of the CRB also watch the recordings and listen to the audio. Our reviews are improved by this technology. However, we are cautiously aware that the cameras record from a limited perspective (that of the officer). A person who believes that they were not treated properly is describing their experience from the opposite or adjacent perspective of the officer’s camera. This year we continued to see the benefits of the BlueTeam software program which allows for tracking of uses of force allowing both EPD and OPA the chance to know quickly when a use of force has been used and can be reviewed without delay or the need for a citizen complaint. This does require that the Auditor and Deputy Auditor review approximately 180-200 more incidents in addition to the complaints received. BlueTeam review and the accompanying report, plus the body-worn cameras enhance and provide clarity to the review process. In addition to service complaints and case reviews, the CRB engages in continuous learning associated with police practices, civil rights, constitutional-based policing practices, and interactions with vulnerable communities. Just as each case brings forth a new issue, so too does the continuing learning by board members of community services that impact the job of the EPD. The efforts in continuous learning prove beneficial to the Board’s overall approach to its mission by ensuring a comprehensive understanding of relevant processes and community factors influencing various decision makers and affected parties. The Board also considers and discusses current policies and practices and whether revisions seem appropriate. These policy concerns are sent to the Police Commission and the Police Chief through the CRB’s appointed representative to the Police Commission. We also welcome an observer from the Human Rights Commission, and as much as possible have a member who attends their monthly meeting. June 19, 2019, Work Session – Item 2