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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem B: Annual Meeting with Police Commission ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Work Session: Annual Meeting with Police Commission Meeting Date: July 23, 2007 Agenda Item Number: B Department: Eugene Police Department Staff Contact: Jeannine Parisi www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-5852 ISSUE STATEMENT This work session is a joint meeting with members of the Police Commission to discuss the commission’s annual report and approve its work plan for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008. An ordinance modifying sections of the city code concerning the Police Commission is also proposed. BACKGROUND Each year, the City Council meets with the Police Commission to review its annual report and approve a work plan for the upcoming year. The Police Commission FY07 Annual Report describes the commission’s accomplishments and challenges in completing the tasks delineated in the previous work plan (see Attachment A). One of the activities completed last year was a re-evaluation of the Police Commission’s role and structure in relation to the Police Auditor’s Office and Civilian Review Board. The commission thoroughly reviewed its membership and operating procedures as prescribed in city code and suggested the following modifications: ?Discontinue the member recommended by the Police Chief and convert it to a ninth at-large position. Most commissioners agreed that public perception concerns outweighed any real or symbolic benefits attributable to the position, and that there were more effective avenues for the Chief’s position to be considered. ?Add a paragraph formalizing the relationship between the Police Auditor and Police Commission on matters of police policy, practice or training review. ?Include language clarifying the role of the member appointed from the Civilian Review Board to the commission. Additionally, several housekeeping revisions were recommended, such as replacing the word ‘citizen’ with ‘civilian’ as appropriate. Attachment B contains the modifications proposed by the Police Commission, which have been reviewed by the City Attorney and formatted as a draft ordinance. Attachment C is the commission’s proposed FY08 work plan, adopted at its July 12 meeting. In large part, the plan is a continuation of activities begun in the past six months. Major work plan items described are to: ?Continue Taser policy development, assist in the design of a pilot project to evaluate Tasers as a new less lethal weapon, and review pilot project results; L:\CMO\2007 Council Agendas\M070723\S070723B.doc ?Recommend advanced training curricula and promising police practices for intervention with people in mental health crisis; ?Participate in the police policy manual update and standardization process; and ?Identify interim improvements for police response to domestic disturbances. The commission has selected two new projects for FY08. The first is a short-term activity to evaluate site criteria, location options and programmatic functions for a new police patrol facility. With City Council approval, a small task group will develop site selection criteria, select preferred locations and consider which programs will operate out the new facility. The goal is to present a recommendation to the full commission in September, thereby maintaining the current project schedule. The second project is more significant in scope. In June, the Police Commission held a work session on the Magellan Comprehensive Staffing Needs Report which entailed a preliminary review of the report’s findings and staff recommendations for next steps. The commission also discussed what role it might have in facilitating a community conversation on police service levels and formulating policy recommendations around long-range staffing decisions. The following tasks, consistent with the commission’s charge to assist the City Council in balancing police resource priorities with community values, were proposed: ?Participate in an in-depth review of the Magellan Report to better understand the inputs and variables that generate the results; ?Develop recommendations on the staffing analysis based on reliability of data inputs and weighting of different variables used in the model; ?Assist in identifying policy issues and decision points regarding police service levels and public safety outcomes; and ?Facilitate public education and input on police service priorities and the staffing levels necessary to meet those priorities. The Police Commission recognizes the magnitude of the long-range staffing initiative and encourages City Council to redirect these activities as necessary to best support this project. RELATED CITY POLICIES The City Council-adopted vision and goals include two statements relevant to this item: 1)Safe Community – a community where people feel safe, valued and welcomed, and; 2)Effective and Accountable Municipal Government – a government that works openly, collaboratively, and fairly with the community to achieve measurable and positive outcomes Additionally, the commission’s proposed work plan includes activities related to the City Council continuing goal for City Hall and patrol facility construction and the new police staffing initiative. COUNCIL OPTIONS The Police Commission is requesting the City Council to approve a work plan for the current fiscal year. The City Council may: 1.Approve the Police Commission FY08 work plan as proposed; 2.Amend the work plan and approve the plan as amended; L:\CMO\2007 Council Agendas\M070723\S070723B.doc 3.Direct the Police Commission to modify the work plan and present the revised version to the City Council for approval at a later date. Further, the commission has forwarded a proposed ordinance modifying the city code relevant to the Police Commission. The City Council may: 1.Accept the ordinance as presented and schedule a public hearing; 2.Recommend further revisions to the ordinance; 3.Take no action on the ordinance. CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION The City Manager recommends that the council approve the Police Commission FY08 work plan as proposed and schedule a public hearing on the ordinance presented in Attachment B. SUGGESTED MOTION Move to approve the Police Commission’s FY08 work plan. Move to schedule a public hearing on an ordinance concerning the Police Commission. ATTACHMENTS A. Police Commission FY07 Annual Report B. An Ordinance Concerning the Police Commission and Amending Sections 2.013 and 2.368 of the Eugene Code C. Police Commission FY08 Work Plan FOR MORE INFORMATION Staff Contact: Jeannine Parisi Telephone: 541-682-5852 Staff E-Mail: jeannine.parisi@ci.eugene.or.us L:\CMO\2007 Council Agendas\M070723\S070723B.doc City of Eugene POLICE COMMISSION Annual Report FY 2006 – 2007 Eugene Police Commission Mission Statement Our mission is to recommend to the City Council, City Manager, Police Department, and the people, the resources, preferred policing alternatives, policies, and citizens’ responsibilities needed to achieve a safe community. We strive to create a climate of mutual respect and partnership among people that helps achieve safety, justice and freedom for all people in Eugene. 777 Pearl St, Room 105 Eugene, Oregon 97401 (541) 682-5852 FAX (541) 682-8395 www.eugene-or.gov/policecommission I. Introduction This staff report is submitted to the Eugene City Council to document the activities of the Police Commission during Fiscal Year (FY) 2007. The annual report describes how the commission has met the expectations of the City Council, as delineated in its work plan, has responded to issues of community concern, and has furthered its mission and objectives. The charge of the Police Commission, described in City Ordinance 20136, can be distilled into three main components: 1)improve communication between the police and the community, thereby decreasing misunderstandings about policies and practices and helping to build consensus around preferred policing alternatives for the city; 2)identify policy and resource issues related to preferred policing alternatives, and to assist the City Council in balancing police resources with community priorities; and 3)provide input on police policies and procedures that reflects community values. The City Council approved the FY07 Police Commission work plan on August 14, 2006. On- going activities included supporting the City’s efforts to launch the civilian oversight system and monitoring the department’s progress in strategic plan implementation. New projects selected for the year were to: 1) participate in a multi-year effort to update the department’s policy manual, and; 2) develop a foundation for a strategic response to family violence incidents. In January, the commission initiated two new projects in response to an emerging community concern around police response to people in crisis. A separate committee was convened to focus specifically on model policy review and subsequent modification of department use of force policies, and included a re-examination of less lethal weaponry options. Another committee was formed to review training models and best practices for police response to people experiencing mental health crises. When coupled with the existing work plan commitments, these new activities added a significant workload to the group. The commission’s ability to meet the responsibilities delineated in the FY07 work plan and address new obligations are described in the following sections. II.Accomplishments and Challenges A. Improving Communication and Understanding of Police Practices and Resource Issues One of the most important Police Commission functions is to provide a forum for discussion on a range of policing issues in a public meeting setting. This year’s meeting schedule provided numerous opportunities for community involvementin the commission’s work. In addition to the eleven regular monthly police commissionmeetings, in FY07, the commission sponsored twenty-three committee and task group meetings and participated with City Council members in the Perspectives in Profiling training overview. Several informational work sessions were conducted throughout the year, which broadened opportunities for public participation and understanding of other policing issues. For example, in October, commissioners received a progress update on several downtown public safety initiatives previously endorsed by the Police Commission. Discussion topics included staffing increases for DEI guide services and a safety analysis of the downtown core from a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) perspective. Other work sessions sponsored included the Public Safety Coordinating Council’s Report Card on the criminal justice system,a progress update on the AIRS conversion project, department use of force statistics for 2004/2005, the FY08 police department budget proposal, and a status report on implementation of the In-Car Video system. A review of police legal and policy standards for police use of deadly force was particularly well-attended. Internal affairs case summaries, which help illustrate the types of complaints received and their resolution, were provided on a quarterly basis. This information continued to be reported in the Register-Guard,and was compiled into an annual summary for inclusion in the 2006 Internal Affairs case statistics report. Further, a joint session of the Police Commission and the newly appointed Civilian Review Board was scheduled, during which both groups discussed the 2006 Internal Affairs annual report. The commission also continued to receive department strategic plan quarterly reports. Through these reports, the commission monitored implementation of the 2005 ICMA/PERF report recommendations, the most significant of which were reflected in the strategic plan. While allowing adequate meeting time for these information-dense documents was challenging, commissioners asserted that the reports were very beneficial in providing a window into department operations. As in past years, the Police Commission looked at the proposed police department FY08 budget and reviewed salient portions of the City Manger’s budget request. While fairly generalized, these overviews are intended to inform commissioners of the city’s financial environment and department’s funding sources and expenditures, and to create an opportunity for comment on resource priorities. At the June 2007 meeting, the commission held a work session on the Magellan Comprehensive Staffing Needs report. Subsequently, a more in-depth analysis of this report was proposed for the new work plan. If approved, commission participation in this project may create a more viable and effective role for the commission to fulfill its charge in assisting the City Council balance resource decisions with community priorities. B. Civilian Oversight Model Implementation Assistance While the commission had, in large part, handed off the civilian oversight model to the City Council and the Police Auditor, the group did continue to support system implementation by refining the oversight model and addressing unresolved issues. One such issue was training for members of the civilian review board. A training curriculum was strongly recommended to help the community volunteers selected to serve in this capacity be successful in their role. The commission advised that the training provide exposure to relevant police operations, policy, and legal topics from a law enforcement perspective as well as from instructors outside the policing Page 2 of 8 2007 Police Commission Annual Report profession. A recommendation for topics to include in a civilian review board training curriculum was forwarded to the police auditor in October. In a related project, a task group met with the city attorney and police auditor to review draft definitions crafted for inclusion in the new oversight ordinance. Based on comments at that meeting, the definitions were revised and incorporated into the draft ordinance, which was presented in its entirety at the November Police Commission meeting. Members submitted suggestions to the proposed language, but the group took no formal action on the oversight ordinance. The commission did offer its assistance with other steps necessary to implement the model, such as reviewing complaint intake and classification procedures. Ms. Beamud shared these protocols with the group in January. For the third year in a row, Police Commissionrepresentatives attended the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE) conference last September. The 2006 NACOLE conference, held in Boise, Idaho, was an exceptional opportunity for the commissioners to broaden their exposure to current issues in civilian oversight and to network with leading experts in the field. Maurie Denner and Angie Sifuentez who attended the conference, were not only able to learn about topics relevant to their work, they had an opportunity to meet with the newly hired police auditor prior to her formal employment with the City of Eugene. As another element of its work around oversight model implementation, the Police Commission re-examined its role and structure in relation to the Auditor’s Office and Civilian Review Board to streamline processes and promote compatibility between the three entities. Discussions around commission membership and functions occurred over the course of several meetings. As a result, several minor modifications to the commission’s enabling ordinance were forwarded to the City Council for its consideration. However, the Police Commission agreed that full implementation of the oversight model, with an opportunity for evaluation, was necessary before suggesting any substantive changes to the commission’s operating procedures. C. Challenges Two new endeavors planned for last year’s work plan did not gain the momentum expected and are being carried over into FY08. The commission formed a five-member policy screening team to assist in the monumental task of updating the entire police policy manual. The team met with staff to devise procedures for selecting policies for its review and for integrating its comments into the department’s policy revision and approval process. It was agreed that members would receive electronic drafts of all police policies being updated as part of the department’s policy manual transition process. For each draft policy, the committee members would: 1) provide individual comment to department staff on the draft policies, and 2) identify policies that may be of interest to the full commission and/or would benefit frommore public discussion prior to adoption. The Policy Screening Team has received the entire Lexipol draft policy manual and Oregon Accreditation standards as background information, but due to staff commitments on other projects (primarily legislative affairs), there have been no draft policies available for team review. In January, the commission revisited its work plan in an attempt to balance existing commitments with new priorities. Unwilling to postpone the family violence project entirely, the Page 3 of 8 2007 Police Commission Annual Report commission agreed to scale-back activities associated with this item. A small task group formed to ascertain if any practical improvements to police policy or procedures could be made to provide better response to domestic violence incidents in the short-term. The team met with representatives from WomenSpace, the Child Advocacy Center, the District Attorney’s Office and the EPD violent crimes unit to discuss the current policy and share ideas for procedural improvements. No major policy deficits were found; however, the committee has compiled preliminary recommendations addressing training, equipment and procedural changes. It should be noted that the committee embarked on this review concurrent with Lane County budget forecasts that projected devastating program cuts.It is likely that the financial instability of key stakeholders impacted their participation in this project as service improvements seemed an unlikely outcome. Due to work load constraints, the commission was unable to schedule a work session to determine how alcohol-related calls for service impact police department resources and service delivery to the public. Of on-going interest is whether changes to the Special Response Fee ordinance would effectively reduce the number of such calls. The Police Commission remains committed to being involved in future conversations on this topic, possibly as part of the broader conversation on the police staffing initiative.The group had also planned to examine police policies relevant to the complaint handling process that were modified to incorporate the roles of the Auditor’s Office and Civilian Review Board. These policy changes are a subject of bargaining, currently underway. When available, these policies will be treated as a priority item for commission attention. III. Work Plan Adjustments In response to community concerns about the tragic incident involving a police confrontation with a mentally ill person in crisis, Police Commission leadership scheduled a work session on use of deadly force policies and procedures.Following the work session, the commission passed two motions for future action on this topic. The first supported an advanced timeline for the department to explore Tasers as a new less lethal weapon and the commission’s involvement in policy development to establish Tasers at the appropriate level of force. The second motion was for the commission to review options for advanced training and best practices for dealing with people experiencing mental health crises. The first motion was considered an extension of the commission’s planned policy review work around use of force policies. However, it was recognized that thorough deliberations on a new Taser policy and consideration of associated public comments was a substantial undertaking not previously anticipated when the work plan was adopted. The second motion represented was an entirely new project requiring re-balancing of work plan priorities as mentioned earlier. Fortunately, neither the police manual update nor the complaint handling policy modification projects were initiated, enablingsignificant progress on these new items. Page 4 of 8 2007 Police Commission Annual Report A. Use of Force/Taser Policy Committee – Progress to Date A new policy review committee was formed, separate from the policy screening team, to focus on policies associated with police use of force. The committee’s first project was to assist the department in developing a Taser policy to be used during a pilot project to test deployment of this weapon as a new less lethal option. The committee was also charged with updating the department’s existing use of force policies, using the Lexipol model policies as a foundation for revisions. The Use of Force/Taser policy committee received a packet of background materials on electro-muscular control devices (e.g., Tasers) in February and in April, held its first meeting to discuss the pilot project. After receivinga series of sampleTaser policies and the department’s first policy draft, the committee was ready began its policy development work in earnest. The original draft underwent significant revision over the next four meetings in response to committee members’ suggestions for language they believed better reflected community standards. Additional policy modifications were prompted by comments from the ACLU and from staff as procedural decisions related to the pilot project were made. th At the June 18 meeting, the committee agreed that the draft policy was ready for wider public dissemination. The draft included several ‘outstanding issues’ where committee members had not yet come to consensus on preferred policy language. The committee felt th that these items were particularly ripe for public discussion and set a date of June 27 for a public forum. The committee further decided to structure the forum in a way that it believed would foster dialogue and focus public commentary. The format included a general overview of the committee’s work followed by a break-out into round table discussion areas with an opportunity for participants to rotate through the topic areas. Four topics were identified for roundtable discussion areas and topic experts were contacted to host each area as follows: Medical/health risks – Dr. James McClelland, Oregon Cardiology and Dr. Rick Lindquist, McKenzie Willamette ER; moderated by Commissioner Tamara Miller Law enforcement – Lt. Scott Fellman and Sgt. Kevin McCormick; moderated by Commissioner John Ahlen Civil Liberties and Human Rights – Dave Fidanque and Claire Syrett, ACLU; moderated by Commissioner Joe Alsup Draft Taser Policy – facilitated by Commissioners John Brown and Charlie Zennaché Topic-specific handouts and the draft policy were available for review, while moderators collected input on charts at each table. Comment cards were also provided for participants to provide written input. About 50 people attended the forum and there was extensive media coverage of the event. However, based on strong sentiments that the public expected an opportunity to simple provide testimony on the topic, it was announced that Police Commission would also hold an extended public comment period at its July 12meeting. Page 5 of 8 2007 Police Commission Annual Report The committee has identified a series of next steps for its work on the draft Taser policy and other use of force policies. It also plans to participate in evaluating the results of the pilot project to develop recommendations for future deployment of Tasers. Action on the draft policy is planned for the September 2007 Police Commission meeting and review of the pilot project results is anticipated for the Spring of 2008. B. Mental Health Crisis Response Committee - Progress to Date The Mental Health Crisis Response Committee embarked on an ambitious project to evaluate training models and best practices applicable to Eugene related to interventions with people experiencing mental health crisis. Given themulti-faceted nature of this topic, the committee attempted to contain this review to models that focus on crisis response/intervention by police and agencies that partner closely with law enforcement. It began its work with a substantive literature review and then conducted a series of meetings with stakeholders to gather information on current services provided, protocols and practices for provision of those services, constraints, and other trends. These discussions were structured to create opportunities for focused community dialogue on issues around police interactions with people in crisis, seeking ideas for improvements from mental health consumers/advocates, public safety partners, and the experience of police officers. The committee has coordinated the following stakeholder presentations: Feb. 15 -9-1-1 Center - CAHOOTS (“Crisis Assistance Helping Out On the Streets”) March 7-NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) andASSERT (Approved Steps to Supplement Emergency Responder Training) -Children & Adolescents Mental Health Crisis Response Program March 21 -Sacred Heart Emergency Crisis Team April 4-Lane County Jail (Medical Team) -Mental Health Court April 18-Eugene Police officer panel -Parents: Jeffery & Denise Salisbury May 2 -Lane County Mental Health May 16- Legal Advocates and Consumer Panel June 6- Clackamas County Crisis Intervention Team Training June 20- Human Rights Commission Subcommittee on Mental Health Panel Based on the models reviewed and stakeholderinput, the committee has begun to synthesize the wealth of information collected to formulate preliminary recommendations. Given continuing concerns that existing critical services will suffer further reductions, the group will also prioritize options for feasibility and seek champions to carry forth other strategies. In spite of attempts to limit the committee’s review to police-oriented models, response to people in mental health crisis is necessarily a systemic issue and the role of police is not easily compartmentalized. Therefore the committee’s recommendations may include not only suggestions for police training and policy, but also promising models to enhance police partnerships with medical and social service providers. The committee has committed to an aggressive timetable to share its recommendations with the full Police Commissionin October, prior to membership transition. Page 6 of 8 2007 Police Commission Annual Report IV. Organizational Changes and Next Steps This past year, the commission experienced the first major membership transition since its inception. In anticipation of four known vacancies, a small group of commissioners reviewed applications, met with candidates, and forwarded a recommendation to the Mayor for the applicants who would help maintain a membership that is representative of our community and would bring the pertinent skills to the position. Commissioner John Ahlen reapplied for a second term and was unequivocally supported for continuing service. At the October meeting, out- going commissioners Tracy Olsen, Tim Laue, and Floyd Prozanski were thanked for their service. At the November meeting, newly appointed commissioners Joe Alsup, Tamara Miller, and Charles Zennaché were welcomed to the group. In addition to these at-large membership changes, Human Rights Commission member Neil Van Steenbergen completed his term as liaison to the Police Commission and Hugh Massengill was appointed to this position. In January, George Poling began his service as the second City Council liaison, and Charles Hare was appointed to fill the remainder of the term vacated by George Bennett. The five commissioners who will have completed two full terms of service were honored at the Eugene Police Awards Ceremony in May and received Partnership Awards with the following inscription: As a foundingmember of the Eugene Police Commission who has completed two full terms of service, you have dedicated countlesshours of yourpersonal time to foster positiverelationships between thepolice and the community. You have far exceeded the requisite participation at monthlymeetings by providing leadership onmultiplecommittees and task forces, participating in police trainings and ride- alongs, andhelping participantsin community forumsbetter understandthe complexities of modernpolicing. Your extraordinary efforts have established the Police Commission as a diligent, trusted and effective resource for advancing police policies and programs thatarefair, consistentwith professional practices, and The FY07 work plan was intended as a transitional reflective ofcommunity values. Thenearly plan for new members to gain exposure to current twenty policies updated during your tenure policing issues and gradually acclimate to represent a mere fraction of the lasting commission procedures. A number of impact your contributions will have on the informational items were periodically scheduled to department and our community. For this help members get ‘up to speed’ on issues relevant invaluable work, rendered in the true spirit to future work, such as budget and staffing issues, of partnership and public service, you have oversight model implementation, and police use of the department’s deepest gratitude. force. Relative to the last item, the entire Page 7 of 8 2007 Police Commission Annual Report commission participated in a full day scenario-based training covering ‘shoot/don’t shoot’ situations. This training was not only an excellent hands-on learning experience, it provided an opportunity for team-building for the new group. While the original work plan was somewhat modest in its design, the two motions passed in January propelled the group into a much moredemanding pace, with three committees meeting routinely in addition to the work underway at the full commission level. New commissioners assumed both a steep learning curve and a time-intensive meeting schedule, while “seasoned” commissioners quickly assisted with the transference of institutional knowledge and responsibility. For example, the commission has established a transitional leadership team in preparation for the completion of CommissionersDenner and Sifuentez’ terms. Joe Alsup was elected as Vice Chair, effective July 1, and Tamara Miller was elected Chair-elect, effective November 1. The commission held a process session and workplanning meeting in June, in large part to trouble-shoot any procedural issues encountered by new membersover the past few months and to transfer workplan ownership to those who would be responsible for its implementation. Two central themes emerged throughout the day. First, a more organized board member training was recommended for all new City Council appointees to provide consistent information about volunteers’ roles, responsibilities and procedures. The second theme revolved around work plan management to meet the obligations delineated in the plan using a thorough, deliberative and inclusive process while retaining some flexibility to address emerging issues. The proposed FY08 work plan recognizes this intent by bringing the projects initiated last year to fruition and limiting new activities to a few high priority items. Even so, the commission’s involvement in police policy development, best practice review, and resource discussions will keep the group very engaged for the foreseeable future. A common thread between the two themes is the strong commitment to maintaining a highly productive and effective policy body with a future-oriented focus that seeks continual improvement and addresses potential obstacles.The Police Commission will be considering new procedures to better engage the public in an informed dialogue on public safety and police policy issues. It is encouraging a city-wide orientation session for the benefit of all new board members and will be seeking other opportunities to establish positive working relationships and facilitate group cohesiveness. Further, there will be a major effort to attract new volunteers who can become quickly emerged in the on-going work and bring forth new ideas to further the group’s efforts. As shown in this Annual Report, thecommission has shown due diligence in meeting its work plan objectives and devising strategies to overcome the challenges encountered along the way. Page 8 of 8 2007 Police Commission Annual Report ATTACHMENT B ORDINANCE NO. ___________ AN ORDINANCE CONCERNING THE POLICE COMMISSION AND AMENDING SECTIONS 2.013 AND 2.368 OF THE EUGENE CODE, 1971. THE CITY OF EUGENE DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The Police Commission entry set forth in the table in Subsection (1) of Section 2.013 of the Eugene Code, 1971, is amended to provide: 2.013 City Council - Boards, Commissions and Committees. (1) Except for boards, commissions or committees established pursuant to ordinance, state statute, or intergovernmental agreement, the following are the presently constituted boards, commissions and committees of the city with the number of members and names of the appointive authority indicated thereafter, together with the term and the authority for such board, commission or committee: Police Commission No. of Members: 2 city councilors 1 member from the human rights commission 1 member from the [citizen] civilian review board, [if in existence] [1 member recommended by the police chief] [8]9 citizens Appointment Process: Mayor nominates, council appoints Term: City councilors, human rights commission member, [citizen] civilian review board member, [member recommended by police chief,] during their respective terms. 4 years - citizen members[*] Authority: EC 2.368 [*Of the terms of the citizen members commencing in 1998, four shall be appointed for a four year term and four shall be appointed for a three year term.] Section 2. Section 2.368 of the Eugene Code, 1971, is amended to provide: Ordinance - 1 ATTACHMENT B 2.368 Police Commission. (1) Created. The police commission is hereby created to act as an advisory body to the city council, city manager, and police chief regarding police policy issues. (2) Membership. The commission shall have 13 members, consisting of two city councilors, one member who is also a member of the human rights commission, one member who is also a member of the [citizen] civilian review board, [if in existence, one member recommended by the police chief,] and [eight] nine citizen members selected from the public so as to represent a diverse range of interests and experiences with due regard to the geographic distribution of the membership. [If the citizen review board is not in existence, the commission shall consist of 12 members.] The citizen members of the commission shall be selected from, but are not limited to, several but not necessarily all of the following groups: youths, students of the University of Oregon and Lane Community College, persons with a demonstrated interest in law enforcement, social services providers, educators, members of community or neighborhood groups, persons engaged in private business, persons with a diversity of ethnic and cultural affiliations, and persons with diverse economic backgrounds and interests. (3) Appointment and Terms of Office. Members shall be nominated by the mayor and appointed by the council. The [eight] nine citizen members shall serve for four-year terms, except for the first appointees who shall serve for the following terms[: four members shall be appointed initially for three-year terms, and four members shall be appointed initially for four-year terms]. The councilor members shall be appointed annually as part of the process for appointing elected officials to other committees, and shall serve during their terms as councilors. The members from the human rights commission[, citizen] and civilian review board[, and the member recommended by the police chief] shall serve during their term on such commission, committee or board, or for four years, whichever is less. In any event, all members shall be limited to two consecutive terms. A vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments, and the appointee shall hold office for the remainder of the unexpired term. A member who is absent for more than three consecutively scheduled meetings without having been excused by the chair of the commission may be removed by the council and the vacancy filled. (4) Powers and Duties. (a) In general, the police commission exists to work toward the following outcomes for the community: 1. To increase communications between police and the community, leading to a greater understanding of the preferred policing alternatives for this city; 2. To identify police policy and resource issues related to preferred policing alternatives; Ordinance - 2 ATTACHMENT B 3. To decrease misunderstandings regarding the nature of adopted police policies, practices and approaches; 4. To provide input on police policies and procedures that reflect community values; and 5. To assist the city council in balancing community priorities and resources by advising it on police resource issues. (b) The police commission shall develop a mission statement and a yearly workplan, to be reviewed and approved by the city council, which will articulate how the listed outcomes will be achieved. (c) In seeking to accomplish its mission, the police commission may: 1. Review and make recommendations on police policies, practices and priorities for consistency with community values; 2. Provide input on service and resource needs for community safety; 3. Work on police-related projects as directed by the council; and 4. Provide a forum for addressing public concerns related to police policies and practices. (d) The police commission shall not undertake the review of allegations and inquiries related to the actions of individual police officers. (e) The police commission may receive periodic reports from the police auditor regarding complaint trends that the auditor believes indicate a review of police practices or training methods may be warranted. (f) The member appointed from the civilian review board shall assist in redirecting any complaints received about employee conduct to the auditor’s office and in reporting on issues raised during the course of the civilian review board’s work pertinent to police policy and practices. (eg) The member appointed from the human rights commission shall serve as a liaison to that commission in monitoring police policy issues that are or may generate community concern. Section 3. The City Recorder, at the request of, or with the concurrence of the City Attorney, may administratively correct any reference errors contained herein, or in other provisions of the Eugene Code, 1971, to the provisions added, amended, or repealed herein. Passed by the City Council this Approved by the Mayor this Ordinance - 3 ATTACHMENT B ____ day of _____________, 2007 ____ day of _____________, 2007 ____________________________ ____________________________ City Recorder Mayor Ordinance - 4 City of Eugene ÐÑÔ×ÝÛ ÝÑÓÓ×ÍÍ×ÑÒ ÚÇ îððé îððè ɱ®µ д¿² ß¼±°¬»¼ Ö«´§ ïîô îððé 777 Pearl St, Room 105 Eugene, Oregon 97401 (541) 682-5852 FAX (541) 682-8395 www.eugene-or.gov ÐÑÔ×ÝÛ ÝÑÓÓ×ÍÍ×ÑÒ ÓÛÓÞÛÎÍ Ó¿«®·» Ü»²²»®ô ݸ¿·® Ì¿³¿®¿ Ó·´´»® Ö±» ß´­«°ô Ê·½» ݸ¿·® Ý¿®´¿ Ò»©¾®» Ö±¸² ߸´»² ß²¼®»¿ Ñ®¬·¦ Ö±¸² Þ®±©² Ù»±®¹» б´·²¹ ݸ¿®´»­ Ø¿®» ß²¹·» Í·º«»²¬»¦ Ø«¹¸ Ó¿­­»²¹·´´ ݸ¿®´·» Æ»²²¿½¸7 Ú±® ³±®» ·²º±®³¿¬·±² ±² ¬¸» б´·½» ݱ³³·­­·±²ô °´»¿­» ½±²¬¿½¬æ Ö»¿²²·²» п®·­·ô б´·½» ݱ³³·­­·±² ݱ±®¼·²¿¬±® и±²»æ øëìï÷ êèîóëèëî ÛóÓ¿·´æ ¶»¿²²·²»ò°¿®·­·à½·ò»«¹»²»ò±®ò«­ ©©©ò»«¹»²»ó±®ò¹±ªñ°±´·½»½±³³·­­·±² Eugene Police Commission FY 2007 -2008 Work Plan Background The Eugene Police Commission is a twelve-member volunteer body that acts in an advisory capacity to the City Council, the Chief of Police and the City Manager on police policy and resource issues. The commission’s enabling ordinance, adopted in December of 1998, requires that it develop a yearly work plan for City Council review and approval. Work plans follow a July 1 – June 30 Fiscal Year (FY) schedule. Major accomplishments over the past eight years include: Development of strategies to address street level prostitution, including adoption of the prostitution free zone ordinance (FY 2000) Crowd control and use of force policy recommendations (FY 2001) Media access policy recommendations (FY 2002) Recommendations for next steps in community policing implementation (FY 2002) Vehicle pursuit policy review (FY 2003) Recommendations to reduce speeding and red light running (FY 2003) Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and related policy review (FY 2004) Report on strategies to improve police and community interactions (FY 2004) Social Security Number policy development (FY 2005) Complaint handling and civilian oversight recommendations (FY 2005 - 2006) Patrol In-Car Video policy development (FY 2006) Assistance with oversight model implementation (FY 2006 – 2007) With the City Council’s decision to move forward with an oversight system consistent with the commission’s recommended model, and the hiring of the Police Auditor in September of 2006, last year’s work plan began transitioning away from a concentration on civilian oversight. While the previous plan did include continuing support of oversight model implementation, several new projects were added mid-year. Some of these were prescribed in the FY07 work plan, while two new activities were added in response to emerging issues. In large part, the projects begun in the prior six months will continue into the next fiscal year. These tasks, coupled with a continuing commitment to assisting the City fully implement the civilian oversight system and monitoring departmental systems changes, form the majority of the FY08 work plan. The projects proposed for the commission’s FY08 work plan are described in more detail in the following sections. A Gantt chart showing tasks associated with these projects and estimated timelines is also attached. An annual report, documenting the group’s achievements and challenges encountered in meeting its work plan commitments, is provided separately. Eugene Police Commission FY 2007 -2008 Work Plan FY 2008 Work Plan Tasks and Procedural Objectives Work Plan Objectives The Police Commission’s work plan is divided into the following main components: a) long-range staffing initiative; b) committee projects; c) work sessions and information items. A. Long-Range Police Staffing Initiative At the June 14 meeting, the Police Commission held a work session on the Magellan Comprehensive Staffing Needs Report. The work session entailed a preliminary review of the report’s findings and staff recommendations for next steps. As the City Council’s advisory body on police resource priorities, the commission also discussed what role it might have in facilitating a community conversation on police service levels and formulating policy recommendations around long-range staffing decisions. During the June 23 Police Commissionwork planning session, this topic was selected as its highest priority new project. Consequently, this item is the only new work plan item proposed for FY08. The following tasks are suggested to assist the City in the long-range staffing plan: Participate in an in-depth review of the Magellan Report to better understand the inputs and variables that generate the results Develop recommendations on the staffing analysis based on reliability of data inputs and weighting of different variables used in the model Assist in identifying policy issues and decision points regarding police service levels and public safety outcomes Facilitate public education and input on police service expectations and priorities and the requisite staffing needs to meet those priorities B. Committee Projects As noted earlier, the Police Commission embarked on several new projects this past year, all of them beginning in January 2007. The Family Violence Committee was charged with undertaking review of potential improvements to police response to domestic disturbances. In an attempt to manage workload, the commission scaled back this project instead of postponing discussion altogether. A task team was convened to identify immediate steps that could be taken to lay the groundwork for the department’s strategic initiative to “Develop a Comprehensive Domestic Violence Response.” The team has met with key stakeholders to assemble a preliminary list of short-term, relatively simple recommendations to improve police response to domestic disturbances and/or streamline procedures. The team plans to share these recommendations with the Domestic Violence Council for its input prior to presenting them for Police Commission consideration. It is anticipated that this phase of the project will be completed in the next few months. Suggestions for commission activities that address family this topic in a more comprehensive manner will be included in the team’s report as potential next steps. Also identified in last year’s work plan was a multi-year effort to assist in updating the police policy manual, utilizing the Lexipol structure as the framework for a comprehensivepolicy review process. The commission formed a ‘Policy Screening Team’to review and provide comment on policy drafts 2- Adopted July 12, 2007 - Eugene Police Commission FY 2007 -2008 Work Plan under revision. Additionally, this team would identify policies that may be of interest to the full Police Commission for discussion. With the exception of the draft Taser policy, which is under review by the Use of Force/Taser Policy Committee, no policy drafts were available for the team’s review. However, it is anticipated that this team will be very engaged this fiscal year. A priority task will to review updated policies incorporating the roles of the police auditor and civilian review board into the complaint handling process. Another policy review committee was convened to focus specifically on use of force policies for consistency with professional standards and community values. The committee’s first project was to assist in developing a Taser policy for use during a department pilot project to gauge the safety and effectiveness of Tasers in taking resistive peopleinto custody. The committee is nearing completion of its work on the draft policy and suggests the following tasks for FY08: Continue to gather public input on draft Taser policy and refine policy as appropriate Present findings and recommendations to the Police Commission on the policy and the pilot project proposal Assist the department in developing an evaluation plan for the pilot project and in reviewing the resulting data collected Develop recommendations for future deployment of Tasers Participate in assisting the departmentupdate its other use of force policies As there are nine other department policies on use of force, it is anticipated that this committee will remain active for the duration of the fiscal year. The Mental Health Crisis Response Committee, charged with reviewing training models and best practices for police interventions with people in mental health crises, began its work in January. The committee adopted an aggressive schedule to complete its research, deliberations and recommendations by October in an effort to present findings to the Police Commission before membership changes take place. The committee has conducted the bulk of its research and is moving into an option development phase of its work. Activities continuing into the next year are to: Develop preliminary recommendations, identify any additional information needs, and gather stakeholder input Prioritize recommendations and present findings to the Police Commission Strategize next steps to include coordination with appropriate bodies that can assist with the implementation of recommendations outside the purview of the police department Lastly, a task team to evaluate potential sites andfunctions for a new police patrol facility has been formed. The team will work with staff to develop site criteria, research options for possible locations, and consider which programs will operate out the new facility. Its recommendations will then be discussed with the full Police Commission. This is envisioned as a very short-term project so that the commission’s input is available for City Council consideration at its September 26 work session. However, the committee will assume other tasks associated with this project as requested by Council. 3- Adopted July 12, 2007 - Eugene Police Commission FY 2007 -2008 Work Plan C. Work Sessions and Information Items Work sessions are scheduled periodically to provide opportunities for information sharing and discussion of public safety issues that do not necessarily require Police Commission action. The commission has limited the number of work sessions to those of highest priority to conserve meeting time and enable some flexibility to address emerging issues. Issues that the commission has a continuing interest in that can be monitored without a specific work session (i.e., as part of the Chief’s Report or through a staff memo) are listed as information items. The following work sessions are planned: Review and comment on ICMA Management Review Report (September/October) Joint meeting with the Human Rights Commission (November/December) Review of Police Auditor Annual Report (January/February) One-year evaluation of patrol In-Car Video implementation (February/March) Review of Taser Pilot Project Results (April/May) Joint meeting with Civilian Review Board/Review of 2007 Internal Affairs case statistics (May/June) The commission intends to continue review of quarterly strategic plan status reports and other related activities to stay informed of the organizational changes underway to align department hiring, supervision and management practices with contemporary industry standards. Procedural Objectives The Police Commission will continue to experiencea significant transition of its membership this coming year. The group welcomed six new members last year; however the leadership team remained stable. This year, in addition to the anticipated turn-over of a minimumof five positions, the commission will have new leadership. Salient procedural objectives are to: Support the new leadership team with gradual transition of responsibilities Attract and maintain a highly qualified, dedicated and balanced membership Encourage city-wide orientation session for new board members Identify opportunities for team-building to establish positive working relationships and facilitate group cohesiveness Continue outreach, information sharing, and collaboration with Human Rights Commission and Civilian Review Board on issues of mutual interest As a result of the commission’s recent process session, the commission agreed to address a series of procedural issues over the course of the next several meetings. Clarification on protocols for e-mail discussions, options for conflict resolution, and ground rules for communication with the media were requested and will be scheduled periodicallythroughout the year. The group also committed to considering new procedures to better engage the public in an informed dialogue on public safety and police policy issues. Some areas under discussion include how the public comment period is conducted at monthly meetings, what informationis available on the commission’s website, and how to create more opportunities for community interaction with the commission and department staff on general public safety issues. 4- Adopted July 12, 2007 - Eugene Police Commission FY 2007 -2008 Work Plan Work Plan Outcomes Increase communications between police and the community, leading to a OUTCOME 1. greater understanding of the preferred policing alternatives for the city. In FY 2008, the Police Commission will: Provide a forum for community dialogue on current issues in law enforcement, to include: The ICMA assessment of the department’sprogress in meetingthe recommendations contained in the 2005 ICMA/PERF report and in implementing the strategic plan initiatives Internal Affairs case summaries and annual complaint handling statistics Patrol in-car video system project evaluation Progress towards implementation of the civilian oversight system through periodic status updates from the police auditor and the Civilian Review Board member liaison, and review of the first annual Police Auditor’s report Through open meetings and public forums: Provide opportunities for input and seek new avenues for public involvement on a variety of policing and community safety issues Solicit public input on proposed policy recommendations and involve interested community members in the decision-making process Increase accessibility of police department staff to residents Assist in informing the public on standard police practices and new procedures to increase the transparency of police operations to residents OUTCOME 2. Identify police policy and resource issues related to preferred policing alternatives. In FY 2008, the Police Commission will: Develop interim recommendations to improve police response to domestic disturbances and formulate options for future strategies for inclusion in the department’s comprehensive strategic initiative to address family violence. Determine best practices for police response to people in mental health crisis appropriate to our community and specify the critical services needed in the mental health care system to support improved police intervention strategies. 5- Adopted July 12, 2007 - Eugene Police Commission FY 2007 -2008 Work Plan Decrease misunderstandings regarding the nature of adopted police policies, OUTCOME 3. practices and approaches. In FY 2008, the Police Commission will: Assist the police department in a comprehensive review and update of its policy manual, ensuring that policies under modification that may be of particular community interest are vetted in a public meeting setting. Present the results of the commission’s analyses and recommendations to the community, using news releases, the web site, status reports to City Council, distribution of reports to stakeholders and participants, and other mechanisms as appropriate. Respond to emerging issues by schedule topic specific work sessions and requesting information updates from staff. Provide background information on oversight model design and other technical assistance to the Civilian Review Board to support a successful launch of its responsibilities. Network with other organizations and constituencies to increase collaboration and information sharing on topics of mutual interest. Provide input on police policies that reflect community values. OUTCOME 4. In FY 2008, the Police Commission will: Participate in drafting a Taser policy to be used during the pilot project and assist with the pilot evaluation of the pilot project results. Review and comment on revised police policies related to the intake, investigation and review of complaints against police employees. Assist the department in updating its existing use of force policies for consistency with contemporary professional standards and community values. Monitor the application of policies that werepreviously amended by the commission through annual reports and/or information requests to staff. Assist the City Council in balancing community priorities and resources OUTCOME 5. by advising it on police resource issues. In FY 2008, the commission will: 6- Adopted July 12, 2007 - Eugene Police Commission FY 2007 -2008 Work Plan Analyze the Magellan Comprehensive Staffing Needs Report to better understand the data inputs, to provide feedback about the reliability of the results, and to facilitate a community conversation about the study’s implications and priorities for police service levels. Develop recommendations on potential siting options and functions for a new patrol facility. Review and comment on the FY09 budget proposal to assist decision-makers in aligning resource allocations with community priorities. As delineated above, the tasks proposed for this year’s work plan are clearly aligned with the Police Commission role and objectives.The group has continued to be forward-thinking in crafting its work plans while responding to issues of local interest. Projects around police response to people in mental health crisis, the potential inclusion of Tasers as a standard less lethal weapon for patrol officers, and the alignment of staffing with public service priorities and expectations are contemporary policing issues nationwide. These issues have the attention of many Eugene residents and as such, are considered priorities for the Police Commission. While not as high profile, supporting efforts to transition the police policy manual is important foundational workfororganizationalchange. While most of the projects detailed in this work plan have been carried over from last year, these ongoing efforts will help ensure a thorough, deliberative review of the issues and promote successful outcomes that balance multiple interests. The major new activity, to assist the City Council in its consideration of the Magellan Staffing study, is a significant undertaking as proposed. The commission hopes to work collaboratively with the City Council, department staff and community stakeholders in the best way possible to address this critical public safety issue. Alternate tasks that will better support the interpretation of the Magellan report and help guide informed discussions on police service and resource decisions are welcome. Taken together, these new and on-going projects make for a full and ambitious work plan. However, the Police Commission will accommodate work plan changes as directed by the City Council or as necessary to respond to emerging community concerns. Attachments FY 2008 Police Commission Work Plan Gantt Chart 7- Adopted July 12, 2007 -