Item A: Police Oversight System - Roles and Expectations

Home Browse Search

Police Complaint System and Civilian Oversight Recommendations II. Project Overview At the March 11, 2004 Police Commission meeting, Chief Lehner requested that the commission consider a review of how complaints and internal investigationswere 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 internal affairs cases confirmed some of these concerns, specifically identifying deficiencies in the quality and timeliness of complaint investigations. Several commissioners noted that this project seemed to fit naturally into the group’son-going discussion of strategies to improve police/community relations. Furthermore, the commission was highly sensitive to the breach in public trust that occurred when two former Eugene police officers were convicted for criminal misconduct that occurred 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 of the current internal affairs procedures to treat 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 of models of civilian oversight, could help rebuild credibility in the department’s complaint system and improve police/community relations. In June 2004, the commission developed a work plan for the upcoming year that was devoted almost entirely to this project. That samemonth, Chief Lehner presented a set of interim improvements the department’s complaint process in response to the auditor’s report, noting that more substantive changes would be occur following receipt of the commission’s recommendations. The commissionrealized 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 review. The commission proposed a 15-month process with the following main components: -review current Eugene Police Department (EPD) policies and procedures for filing complaints and conducting internal 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 commission’s role as a policy review body. The commission requested contingency funds in the amount of $65,000 to assist in this effort. The funds were primarily used for additionalstaff support to the project (0.5 FTE) and to contract with the Police Assessment Resource Center for a report on national models of police th oversight. On July 28, 2004, the City Council approved the commission’s work plan and contingency fund request. 2