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immediate recommendations that addressed some of the specific concerns brought to the commission's <br />attention, and identify policy and training issues to be worked on in the future. Throughout the <br />different discussions, commissioners focused on the following overarching policy issue: <br /> <br /> Are community expectations for police employee conduct and performance sufficiently <br /> delineated in policy and addressed through training, and are there other opportunities to <br /> improve interactions between police and community members ? <br /> <br />With the exception of the policy work related to the use of Social Security Numbers, the outcomes of <br />this project are outlined below. <br /> <br />· Roundtable Discussion Pilot Project <br /> In partnership with the Eugene Police Department Diversity Committee, members of the Police and <br /> Human Rights Commissions designed a pilot program involving a series of roundtable discussions <br /> between police officers and community members to share perspectives and build positive <br /> relationships. The designers sought to create an environment where open dialogue between a small <br /> group of community members and police personnel on common values and concerns could be <br /> established with the goal of fostering trust and improving mutual understanding and respect. A <br /> project description, ground rules and confidentiality agreement, seed questions, and plans for <br /> participant selection were created for review and approval by the Police Commission. Prior to <br /> piloting a discussion group, the project was postponed indefinitely at the request of several <br /> community members who, while in support of the concept, advised that the timing for initiating <br /> this project needed more careful consideration. <br /> <br />· Publicperceptions of Police Employee Performance and Conduct <br /> The Police Commission held a work session to review local survey data that measured residents' <br /> perceptions of police performance and demeanor, as documented in the 1995 and 1999 Police <br /> Services Household Survey and 2001 Call-Taker and Patrol Officer Customer Service Quality <br /> Survey. The work session provided an opportunity for commissioners to assess the value of <br /> surveys in gauging public satisfaction with police services and performance (the survey data <br /> indicated a high level of public satisfaction with police performance and conduct) and to consider <br /> if there are other strategies that can be utilized in lieu of, or in concert with, a survey to measure <br /> public perception of its police department. <br /> <br />· Interactions Task Team <br /> In October 2003, members of the Police and Human Rights Commissions met with police <br /> command staff to voice their concerns regarding an apparent increased strain on police/community <br /> relations. They requested the department's assistance in identifying potential causes for this <br /> tension and in lending its expertise and leadership in finding solutions that would improve <br /> interactions between police and the public. As a result of this discussion, the police department <br /> assigned representatives from different ranks in the organization to work with commissioners to <br /> develop short-term recommendations that would make a positive impact on police/community <br /> relations. The team created a list of almost fifty suggestions and grouped them into four <br /> categories: 1) complaint process, 2) workload/resource issues, 3) internal/external communication, <br /> and 4) relations with the public. <br /> <br /> 2004 Annual Report Page 3 of 10 <br /> <br /> <br />