Item B: Update on Implementation of Measure 20-106

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_........__Police COf!l.p'!~.int System and 91yilian Oversig~_~..~ecomrnendati,?ns II. Project Overview At the March 11, 2004 Pollce Commission meeting, Chief Lehner requested that the commission consider a review of how complaints and internal investigations were handled by the department. The Chief was concerned that the department's current procedures for handling and investigating complaints did not meet professional standards. The 2004 audit of intemal atTairs cases confimled some of these concerns, specifical1y identifying deficiencies in the quality and timeliness of complaint investigations, Several commissioners noted that this project seemed to fit naturally into the group's on-going discussion of strategies to improve police/community relations. Furthermore, the conunission was highly sensitive to the breach in public trust that occurred when hvo former Eugene police officers were convicted for criminal misconduct that occUlTed over a period of years while on duty. The commission decided to take on a review of the police complaint system, adding a re- examination of civilian oversight models that might be appropriate for Eugene to its effort Commissioners agreed that this was a timely and necessary project given that recent events had cast doubt over the reliability ofthe current internal affairs procedures to tTeat all parties involved in a complaint fairly, and to hold people accountable for inappropriate conduct in a timely manner. A thorough review of existing policies and procedures, coupled with an examination ofmode1s of civilian oversight, could help rebuild credibility in the department's complaint system and improve police/community relations. In June 2004, the cornmission developed a work plan for the upcoming year that was devoted almost entirely to this project That same month, Chief Lehner presented a set ofintenm improvements the depaltment's complaint process in response to the auditor's report, noting that more suhstantive changes would be occur foHowing receipt ofthe commission's recoffi111endations. The commission realized that this project would be an undertaking unlike any of its past efforts, requiring an infusion of resources to meet community expectations for a thorough and timely revie"w. The commission proposed a IS-month process v,,;1h the following main components: review current Eugene Police Department (EPD) policies and procedures for filing complaints and conducting intemal investigations; examine other models of civilian oversight in place nationally; conduct a robust public outreach effort to solicit a broad range of ideas and suggestions for improvements to the complaint system; and develop recommendations to improve the internal affairs process, including options for incorporating additional civilian oversight in the system and re~ evaluating the conunission's role as a policy review body. The commission requested contingency funds in the arnount of $65,000 to assist in this effort. The funds \vere primarily used for additional staff support to the project (0.5 FIE) and to contract with the Police Assessment Resource Center for a report on national models of police oversight On July 28th, 2004, the City COlmcil approved the commission's work plan and contingency fund request. '" .: