Item B: Police Auditor/Civilian Review Board Update

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publicize our existence, and to listen to the concerns of various constituencies. This has been very valuable. We continue to visit groups, though at a slower pace because the Auditor’s office is short- staffed. We also work with and coordinate efforts with other City agencies and programs. For example, our work in reviewing an allegation of excessive force in which a flashlight was used to strike and injure, a teenager has resulted in our proposing to the Police Commission a policy change on the use of flashlights. The Auditor provided research on the issue and on what other jurisdictions have done in making the switch to lighter, brighter flashlights that would meet the needs of officers but that would discourage their use as primary impact weapons. At each of our regular meetings, we provide a time for public comment. Since June, almost all public comment has been focused on two incidents: IA08-122 (the so-called “secret” case) and IA08-123 (the so-called “May 30Taser” case). We named IA08-123 as our first-ever Community Impact Case, because of the intense public interest (143 column-inches in the Register Guard in one month). The public, we believe, is legitimately concerned about both these cases and they go to the heart of the CRB’s mission of increasing transparency and public confidence. When ex-Chief Lehner adopted a policy suspending administrative investigations until all criminal proceedings had been exhausted, the CRB expressed its concerns. With the goal of correcting the precedents set over the past few months, the CRB worked with and encouraged the Auditor to continue to press for renewed access to records, to monitor investigations, and to participate in interviews as anticipated under the ordinance. The CRB wishes to express its gratitude to the City Manager, Mayor, Council Members, and the City Attorney for the work leading up to the City Manager's recent announcement that he was instructing the AIC Chief of Police to rescind these previous policies and to work within the boundaries of the ordinance. While it may at times have been an uncomfortable and unwelcome process, the protracted public debate and increased scrutiny of the system has had a positive effect in that more people in Eugene now understand what is at stake and why oversight is important in our community. Commitment to the oversight system and upholding the Ordinance is vital if we are to see overall improvement in police performance and a building of the public’s trust and confidence in the department. With the changes in staffing at EPD, we are hopeful that the system will get back on track and that the AIC Auditor and AIC Chief will be able to work well together. We look forward to working with AIC Chief Pete Kerns. Finally, the CRB wishes to extend an open invitation to individual Council members to attend our monthly meetings and learn more about the Eugene oversight system. We would certainly welcome your feedback and would be glad to answer any questions you may have. But most of all, we want you to judge for yourselves how well the system is working. It is still a work in progress, but with each passing month, we are discovering ways to improve the system. It is a civilian system and as the elected representatives of the community, your observations and input would be of great benefit. Thank you for your continued support. Norton Cabell, Chair Kate Wilkinson, Vice-Chair Richard Brissenden Munir Katul Ann-Marie Lemire November 10, 2008