Item A: Police Oversight System - Roles and Expectations

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Police Complaint System and Civilian Oversight Recommendations Next Steps The Police Commission’s report is intended to be a comprehensive description of its proposed complaint system. However, as a conceptualmodel, the commission recognizes that multiple procedural refinements will be necessary prior to implementation. One area that will need considerable attention is the design of a robust data collection and case tracking/reporting system that can be utilized by boththe auditor’soffice and the internal affairs unit to This database should support a rigorous initial assessment flag personnel, policy and training issues. and continual evaluation to identify where adjustments are needed so that the complaint system maintains relevance to current needs and expectations and meets established outcomes for effectiveness. Complaint records retention procedures should be reconsidered as part of the system design. The commission also recommendsthat the data collection and reporting system be designed to facilitate the seamless integration of an early intervention system in the future. The implementation of a formal early warning system to identify officers who may need intervention and assistance is one that the commission believes holds promise and is related, but adjunct, to the immediate revisions to the complaint process. This is a topic that merits a thoughtful and collaborative process that involves police department managers, human resources staff and the EPEA, and could be included as a project in a future police commission work plan. The Police Commission’s proposed oversight model mitigates many of the major legal and contractual obstacles that would have required resolution prior to implementation. Nonetheless, if the Council moves forward with the model as proposed, there are issues that will require negotiation with the EPEA, revolving mainly around maintaining confidentiality of records and public meetings. Other outstanding issues identified at this time that the Police Commission can address, if requested, include: Whether the board should have the ability to audit a random selection of closed cases in o addition to those that are brought before it by the complainant? Better defining the relationship between the review board, the auditor and the Police o Commission, i.e., does the role of the commission alter in any significant way? Hiring decisions around the auditor position including: o should the auditor be hired as an at-will employee? o should there be specific removal procedures to protect him/her from unpopular o decisions (i.e., requiring a super-majority vote of council?) should the auditor be hired prior to finalizing the enabling ordinance and policies o so that s/he can assist in formulating the operating procedures for the auditor’s office and review board? Should the commission participate in developing the hiring process and criteria o for selection of the auditor? To what extent should the commission be involved in the design of a system evaluation o tool and actual assessment of the oversight system after implementation? 27