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<br />Executive Summary <br /> <br />This is the Office of the , covering <br />January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011. <br /> <br />The Office of the Independent Police Auditor (OPA) was established by charter amendment in 2005 to <br />provide an external mechanism for the independent receipt, classification, and routing of complaints <br />against sworn and non-sworn employees of the Eugene Police Department (EPD); contract for outside <br />investigations when necessary; and provide monitoring of the EPD internal investigations of allegations <br />authorized the auditor to: make recommendations regarding adjudications, policies and training to the <br />Police Chief; prepare reports concerning complaint trends and police practices; and act as a liaison and <br />staff support for a civilian review board. The Police Auditor is hired and supervised by the Eugene City <br />Council. <br /> <br />Since the original charter amendment, enabling ordinances were crafted and a second charter <br />amendment was added which provided that Council was required to hire a Police Auditor, staff a civilian <br />voters could approve substantive changes to the authority and duties of the Police Auditor and CRB. <br /> <br />Eugene has an oversight system based on the parliamentary model of oversight, in which a professional <br />and experienced police oversight auditor is employed by the legislative branch, the City Council. Under <br />process. To enhance the system, Council appoints a civilian review board which gives a community <br />perspective on the police complaints process. This combination creates a sound structure for police <br />accountability when implemented effectively, fairly and without bias. <br /> <br />We intake all complaints against police employees, including complaints generated internally. We <br />independently, impartially and thoroughly monitor the investigation process; identify ways to improve <br />the complaint process; provide recommendations to the police chief and police commission on policies, <br />training and trends; and provide staffing and counsel to the civilian review board on cases and policy <br />issues. Our office monitors the overall integrity and fairness of the administrative investigative process, <br />and in the course of such examination, reviews how citizen complaints are investigated and resolved. <br /> <br />2011 represented the fourth full year of the office taking complaints, initiating complaints, reviewing <br />investigations and providing policy recommendations. The Civilian Review Board membership has <br />stabilized and they provide a thoughtful, frank and representative mix of community members <br />dedicated to improving policing in the community and gaining community trust. <br /> <br />We continue to strive to bring about a sense of understanding, consistency and normalcy to the process. <br />We recognize that customer service and resolution of citizen complaints through thorough, fair and <br />complete investigation and monitoring of allegations; and resolution of service and policy level <br />complaints are the cornerstones of our existence. The customer service aspect of our responsibilities <br />consumes a significant portion of our workload. We spend hours working with complainants to navigate <br />and understand the complaint process; and assist them in understanding the roles of the courts, their <br />rve as listeners for people with <br />problems that have nothing to do with the police. At the same time, identifying and advocating for <br />structural changes in EPD policies, supervision and police interactions has been a priority for us. <br />1 <br /> <br />