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<br />_.__..____m~olice Complaint System ar:'.~m9_~vilian Oversight Rec~~~endations <br /> <br />Next Steps <br />The Police Commission's report is intended to be a comprehensive description of its proposed <br />complaint system. However, as a conceptual model, the commission recognizes that multiple <br />procedural refinements wiiI be necessary prior to implementation. <br /> <br />One area that will need considerable attention is the design of a robust data collection and case <br />tracking/reporting system that can be utilized by both the auditor's office and the intemal atTain, unit to <br />Hag persO!mel, policy and training issues. This database should support a rigorous initial assessment <br />and continual evaluation to identify where adjustments are needed so that the complaint system <br />maintains relevance to CUlTent needs and expectations and meets established outcornes for <br />effectiveness. Complaint records retention procedures should be reconsidered as part of the <br />system design. <br /> <br />The commission also recommends that the data collection and reponing system be designed to <br />facilitate the seamless integration of an early intervention system in the future. The <br />implementation of a formal early warning system to identify ofticers who may need intervention <br />and assistance is one that the commission believes holds promise and is related, but adjunct, to <br />the immediate revisions to the eomplaint process. This is a topic that merits a thoughtful and <br />coliaborative process that involves police department managers, hmnan resources staff and the <br />EPEA, and could be included as a project in a future police commission work plan. <br /> <br />'fhe Police Commission's proposed oversight model mitigates many of the major legal and <br />contractual obstacles that ,,:vould have required resolution prior to impiementation. Nonetheless, <br />if the Council moves forward with the model as proposed, there are issues that will require <br />negotiation \vith the EPEA, revolving mainly around maintaining confidentiality of records and <br />public meetings. <br /> <br />Other outstanding issues identified at this time that the Police Commission can address, if <br />re.quested, include: <br />o Whether the board should have the ability to audit a random selection of closed cases in <br />addition to those that are brought before it by the complainant? <br />o Better defining the relationship between the review board, the auditor and the Police <br />Commission, i.e" does the role of the commission alter in ,my significant svay? <br />() Hiring decisions around the auditor position including: <br />o should the auditor be hired as an at-will employee? <br />o should there be specific removal procedures to protect him/her from unpopular <br />decisions (i.e., requiring a super-majority vote of council?) <br />o should the auditor be hired prior to tlnalizing the enabling ordinance and policies <br />so that s/he can assist in formulating the operating procedures for the auditor's <br />office and review board? <br />o Should the commission participate in developing the hiring process and criteria <br />for selection of the auditor? <br />o To what extent should the commission be involved in the design of a system evaluation <br />tool and actual assessment of the oversight system after implementation? <br /> <br />27 <br />