HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem A: Annual Meeting with Police Commission
ECC
UGENE ITY OUNCIL
AIS
GENDA TEM UMMARY
Work Session: Annual Meeting with Police Commission
Meeting Date: September 26, 2011 Agenda Item Number: A
Department: Eugene Police Department Staff Contact: Carter Hawley
www.eugene-or.gov/policecommission Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-5852
ISSUE STATEMENT
This is a work session with members of the Police Commission to review the commission’s work from
Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, and approve its work plan for FY 2012.
BACKGROUND
Each year, the City Council meets with members of the Police Commission to review its annual report
and approve a work plan for the upcoming year. The Police Commission FY 2012 Work Plan
incorporates a report on the accomplishments of the previous year. Major highlights from FY 2011 are
provided in Attachment A and include:
Completed review and recommendations to the Police Chief about Use of Force Policies;
Held forum and made recommendations related to the Downtown Public Safety Zone;
Engaged community in lengthy, meaningful dialogue about Monroe Street Public Safety
Station, and developed recommendations based on that input;
Learned about services and responses to people experiencing homelessness, and about street
gang violence and the Police Department’s response.
Attachment B is the commission’s proposed FY 2012 Work Plan, adopted June 9, 2011.
The major components of the work plan include:
Design of a hate crimes conference in 2013;
Conduct community survey to better gauge the level of trust, understanding and
communication between the Police Department and the community;
Review complicated issues of jail bed capacity, criminal gangs, services for juveniles, issues
related to domestic violence, the relationship between social services and criminal justice, and
identify any appropriate role for the commission.
In addition, three committees are envisioned to further the work of the commission:
Continuation of the Policy Screening and Review Committee to continue review of the policy
updates;
Continuation of the Outreach and Resource Committee to complete its work plan;
Creation of a committee to design and administer a joint hate crimes conference with the
Human Rights Commission in 2013.
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RELATED CITY POLICIES
The City Council-adopted vision and goals includes 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.
COUNCIL OPTIONS
The Police Commission is requesting that the council approve a work plan for the current fiscal year.
The City Council may:
1.Approve the Police Commission FY 2012 Work Plan as proposed;
2.Amend the work plan and approve the plan as amended;
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.
CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager recommends that the council approve the Police Commission FY 2012 Work Plan
as proposed and presented in Attachment B.
SUGGESTED MOTION
Move to approve the Police Commission’s FY 2012 Work Plan.
ATTACHMENTS
A.Police Commission FY 2011 Annual Report
B.Police Commission FY 2012 Work Plan
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Staff Contact: Carter Hawley
Telephone: 541-682-5852
Staff E-Mail: carter.r.hawley@ci.eugene.or.us
S:\CMO\2011 Council Agendas\M110926\S110926A.doc
Police Commission
CITY OF EUGENE
POLICE COMMISSION
FY 2011 ANNUAL REPORT
Eugene Police Commission
FY 2011 Annual Report
Police Commission Members
FY 2011 Membership
Tamara Miller, Chair Jim Garner
Juan Carlos Valle, Vice Chair Linda Hamilton
John Ahlen James Manning
Joe Alsup Tim Mueller
Bernadette Conover Kitty Piercy, Mayor
Mike Clark, City Councilor Frank Travis
FY 2012 Membership
Juan Carlos Valle, Chair Kaitlyn Lange
Tamara Miller, Vice Chair Jesse Lohrke
Bernadette Conover James Manning
Mike Clark, City Councilor Tim Mueller
Jim Garner Kitty Piercy, Mayor
Linda Hamilton Bob Walker
For more information on the Police Commission, please contact:
Carter Hawley, Police Commission Analyst
Phone: (541) 682-5852
carter.r.hawley@ci.eugene.or.us
www.eugene-or.gov/policecommission
777 Pearl St, Room 107 Eugene, Oregon 97401
(541) 682-5852 FAX (541) 682-8395
www.eugene-or.gov/policecommission
This is a status report of Police Commission activities from July 2010 through June 2011. Please
contact past Chair Tamara Miller at 541-686-7198, or staff with any questions.
The Police Commission’s FY 2011 Work Plan was approved by the City Council on July 21, 2010.
The items contained in the work plan are intended to address the Commission’s goals which are
called out in the Commission bylaws and the enabling ordinance, and listed below:
The Commission should
1. Increase communications between police and the community, leading to a greater
understanding of the preferred policing alternatives for the city.
2. Identify police policy and resource issues related to preferred policing alternative
3. Decrease misunderstandings regarding the nature of adopted police policies,
practices and approaches.
4. Provide input on police policies that reflect community values.
5. Assist the City Council in balancing community priorities and resources by
advising it on police resource issues.
The work plan was designed to address these issues, and did so through the following items:
Review of Police Policies and Recommended Modifications
During FY 2011, the Commission reviewed several police policies and issues, soliciting community
input and making recommendations that reflected that feedback.
Downtown Public Safety Zone Ordinance (DPSZ)
As directed in Ordinance #20419, the Police Commission sponsored a special public forum in
September 2010 regarding the DPSZ. The two-hour forum was attended by approximately 50
community members. The Commission recommended to City Council that the DPSZ ordinance
should be adopted and noted three outstanding issues that should be addressed prior to
adopting the ordinance: 1) adding some sexual offenses and tying related State statutes to the
Eugene Code; 2) consider options to mitigate the concerns related to due process; 3) consider
greater support and funding to social service agencies to aid in the overall criminal justice
system. Council subsequently adopted the ordinance and addressed items 1 and 2 in the new
ordinance.
Systematic Review of Police Policies
As the Police Department updates its policy manual, the Police Commission reviewed numerous
policies, soliciting community input, developing recommendations and advising the Police Chief
on proposed changes that reflect the community values, and input received. Much of the
preliminary work of this policy review was conducted by the following two committees:
Policy Screening & Review Committee (PSRC)
The PSRC is designed as a multi-year effort to assist the department in updating the police
policy manual, utilizing the Lexipol structure as the framework for a comprehensive review.
Through public meetings and outreach to interested stakeholders, the PSRC is able to
provide the community’s perspective on important police policies. In FY 2011, the following
policies were reviewed, and comments provided to the Chief of Police:
Policy Manual
Use of EPD Logo
Attempts to Locate
Community Service Officers
Release of Public Records
It was originally anticipated that review of Search and Seizure policy and Vehicle Pursuit
policy would be complete in FY 2011. The community interest and important issues
embedded in the Search and Seizure policy have resulted in that policy taking significantly
longer than anticipated, and deferred the review of the Vehicle Pursuit policy to FY 2012.
Because the purpose of the committee is to hear and consider the community’s perspectives
on important police policy, the committee has been attentive to soliciting different
perspectives. While the review has taken longer than anticipated, the final product will be a
policy that more thoroughly reflects the values and interests of the community. Final
approval by the Police Commission is anticipated in October 2011.
Use of Force Committee
The Use of Force Committee reviewed numerous policies related to the Department’s use of
force. With public meetings and community dialogue, the policies that were forwarded
reflected the values and perspectives of the community, which is one of the goals of the
commission. The following policies were reviewed and recommendations made:
Use of Force
Use of Force Reporting
Use of Force Review Board
O. C. Spray (Pepper spray)
Shooting Policy
Leg Restraint Device
Carotid Restraint
Control Devices & Techniques
Taser Use
Use of Force Investigation
Firearms
Patrol Rifles
Community Engagement and Outreach
Through informational presentations at monthly meetings the Commission sought community input
about a variety of topics. Very informative presentations were made about enforcement of
marijuana laws, and the criminal street gang issues in the city. One notable outreach effort involved
the solicitation of community feedback about the upcoming closure of the Monroe Street Public
Safety Station. Much of this preliminary work was undertaken by the following committee.
Outreach and Resources Committee
In FY 2011 the committee focused much of its efforts on the impact of the closure of the Monroe
Street Public Safety Station. The committee met with or solicited feedback from three
neighborhood associations, several social service agencies, other government providers and
neighbors, attending dozens of meetings to their calendar in the spring. The question they
sought to answer was what the Police Department should do in that neighborhood, in light of the
closure of the Monroe Street Station after the Police Headquarters are occupied. Their
recommendations were approved by the Police Commission in July, and forwarded to the Chief
shortly after that.
Additionally, the committee began discussions on conducting a community survey. One of the
Commission’s main charges is to increase the trust, understanding and communication between
the Police Department and the community. Through a community survey, the committee intends
to begin to gauge a baseline for the community’s trust and understanding.
Provide Public Opportunity to Learn About Police
Through information sessions, joint meetings, and monthly reports, the Commission provided
important information to the community. At every meeting, verbal reports were provided by
commissioners serving as liaisons to the Civilian Review Board and the Human Rights Commission.
Additionally, written reports were provided every month from the Police Department’s Internal Affairs
with a summary of the disposition of recently closed cases. The Police Chief also presented a report
highlighting important trends and activities within the Department. These written reports were
posted online and made available to the community.
In addition to these routine reports, below is a listing of the topics discussed at the 11 Commission
meetings held in FY 2011:
July – September 2010
Joint discussion with Civilian Review Board
2009 Internal Affairs case statistics presentation from Office of Professional Standards
Downtown exclusion zone ordinance – recommendations to the City Council
Annual report from Police Auditor
October – December 2010
Information session on riots and civil disturbances
Committee report / liaison reporting discussion
Mediation options to resolve complaints
Cross cultural competency in Eugene Police Department
Downtown public safety zone ordinance update
January – March 2011
Review and approve remaining Use of Force policies
Policies and practices surrounding serving people experiencing homelessness
Establishment and work plan development for Outreach and Resource Committee
April – June 2011
Refine process for policy review
Criminal street gang presentation and discussion
Information presented and discussed related to marijuana enforcement and activities
Summary of Status of Eugene Police Commission Activity
Fiscal Year 2011
Topic Status: In Status:
Progress Complete
Policy Screening & Review Committee (PSRC)
Use of Force Committee (UOFC)
EPD Outreach and Resource Committee
Downtown Public Safety Zone ordinance
Establish the CRB process of referring policy
review to the Police Commission
Mediation Options for Officers When Receiving
Complaints
Marijuana Citations and Resources spent on
enforcement
Cross-cultural Competency Training at EPD
Joint Meeting with HRC (including another
project on a hate crimes resolution)
Joint meeting with the CRB
Presentation of the Police Auditor’s Annual
Report
Presentation of the 2010 Internal Affairs Case
Statistics
Police Commission
CITY OF EUGENE
POLICE COMMISSION
FY 2012 WORK PLAN
June 9, 2011
777 Pearl St, Room 107 Eugene, Oregon 97401
(541) 682-5852 FAX (541) 682-8395
www.eugene-or.gov/policecommission
Eugene Police Commission
FY 2012 Work Plan
Police Commission Members
FY 2011 Membership
Tamara Miller, Chair Jim Garner
Juan Carlos Valle, Vice Chair Linda Hamilton
John Ahlen James Manning
Joe Alsup Tim Mueller
Bernadette Conover Kitty Piercy, Mayor
Mike Clark, City Councilor Frank Travis
FY 2012 Membership
Juan Carlos Valle, Chair Kaitlyn Lange
Tamara Miller, Vice Chair Jesse Lohrke
Bernadette Conover James Manning
Mike Clark, City Councilor Tim Mueller
Jim Garner Kitty Piercy, Mayor
Linda Hamilton Bob Walker
For more information on the Police Commission, please contact:
Carter Hawley, Police Commission Analyst
Phone: (541) 682-5852
carter.r.hawley@ci.eugene.or.us
www.eugene-or.gov/policecommission
Police Commission FY 2012 Work Plan
Eugene Police Commission
FY 2012 Work Plan
Police Commission Mission Statement
The Eugene Police Commission recommends to the City Council, the City Manager, the Eugene
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 between the community and the Eugene Police Department that helps
achieve safety, justice and freedom for all people in Eugene.
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 the following highlights:
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 – FY 2006)
Patrol In-Car Video policy development (FY 2006)
Assistance with oversight model implementation (FY 2006 – 2007)
Recommendations for a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) and related steering committee (FY
2008)
Policy on Taser Pilot Projects (FY 2008)
Recommendations on several significant policies including Mental Health Crisis Response and
Communication with People with Disabilities (FY 2009)
Development of a Public Outreach Committee to strengthen the relationship between the
public and the Police Department (FY 2009)
Review and recommendations on all force-related policies, including the Taser policy (FY 2010
- FY 2011)
Reviewed and made recommendations on the downtown exclusion zone ordinance (FY 2011)
Worked extensively with community around closure of Monroe Street Public Safety Station (FY
2011)
The projects proposed for the commission’s FY 2012 Work Plan are described in more detail in the
following sections.
Police Commission Goals
As spelled out in the adopted bylaws, the Police Commission has five goals, which guide the
Commission’s annual work activities. The FY 2012 work plan is organized along the goals. Under
each goal are the proposed work plan items that the Commission will work on during FY 2012.
Goal 1 – Ensure that the policies and procedures of the Eugene Police Department protect the civil
rights and liberties of everyone in Eugene.
Work Plan Objective 1.1 – Working with other commissions and boards, organize a hate
crimes conference to be held in FY 2013.
Work Plan Objective 1.2 – Create a Hate Crimes Conference Committee to address details
related to conference.
Eugene Police Commission
FY 2012 Work Plan
Work Plan Objective 1.3 – Through continued Policy Screening and Review Committee,
review policies to assure policies protect civil rights and liberties of everyone, including search
and seizure, juvenile detention, property procedures and canine policies.
Goal 2 – Promote policing that respects and reflects Eugene’s rich culture and diversity
Work Plan Objective 2.1 – Through continued Outreach and Resource Committee develop
outreach tool kit.
Work Plan Objective 2.2 – Through continued Outreach and Resource Committee, identify
increased opportunities for outreach and meaningful input between the Police Department and
the community.
Work Plan Objective 2.3 – Through continued Policy Screening and Review Committee,
review proposed EPD policies to assure they reflect and respect Eugene’s rich culture and
diversity.
Goal 3 – Increase communications, understanding and trust between police and the people in Eugene
Work Plan Objective 3.1 – Through the continued Outreach and Resource Committee,
conduct a community survey to assess the level of community trust and understanding.
Work Plan Objective 3.2 – Establish listening sessions between Eugene Police Department
staff and the community
Work Plan Objective 3.3 – Coordinate joint meetings with the Citizen Review Board and
Human Rights Commission, to increase mutual understanding and trust.
Goal 4 – Encourage problem solving and partnerships between people, neighborhoods and other
agencies and police
Work Plan Objective 4.1 – Increase understanding of gang violence in Eugene, and identify
possible role for Police Commission in policies, education, resources or outreach.
Work Plan Objective 4.2 – Increase understanding of domestic violence in Eugene, and
identify possible role for Police Commission in policies, education, resources or outreach.
Goal 5 – Provide fair opportunities for the public and criminal justice professionals to comment and
participate in the commission’s work recognizing the interconnectedness of the criminal justice system
Work Plan Objective 5.1 – Increase understanding of system serving juveniles, with
involvement from various public agencies, and identify possible role for Police Commission in
policies, education, resources or outreach.
Work Plan Objective 5.2 – Increase understanding of complex system involving jail bed
capacity, with involvement from various public agencies and identify possible role for Police
Commission in policies, education, resources or outreach.
Eugene Police Commission
FY 2012 Work Plan
Work Plan Objective 5.3 – Increase understanding of interrelation between social services and
public safety, with involvement from various public and non-profit organizations, and identify
possible role for Police Commission in policies, education, resources or outreach.
Work Plan Tasks
The Police Commission will accomplish its work through three primary means: work sessions, long-
term projects, and committees.
Work Sessions
The Police Commission routinely meets eleven times a year. At its meeting, the Commission reviews
work of the Committees, hears presentations about topics of interest, and makes recommendations to
the Chief of Police, City Manager and City Council. For FY 2012, the Commission will schedule
presentations about the following topics, to help achieve their proposed work plan.
Jail beds and the impact low supply has on crime
Gang activity in Eugene
Services for juveniles and the coordination between various juvenile-serving agencies
Social services and the relationship between services provided and the people served by
Eugene Police Department
Committees
Two committees from FY 2011 are proposed to carry over to FY 2012: Policy Screening and Review
Committee, and Outreach and Resource Committee.
Policy Screening and Review Committee (PSRC)
The is designed as a multi-year effort to
assist the department in updating the police policy manual, utilizing the Lexipol structure as the
framework for a comprehensive policy review process. This committee was first organized in
FY 2008 but did not begin reviewing policies until FY 2009. In the past fiscal year, the
committee reviewed and made recommendations on several different topic-specific policies,
including several policies related to use of force. In FY 2012 the committee will continue its
process of screening policies and making suggestions for revisions. Some of the priority
policies identified for FY 2012 include search and seizure, vehicle pursuits, canine, and
policies related to the move into the new headquarters. It is recommended that this committee
will continue until the Lexipol updates are completed, well beyond FY 2012.
Outreach and Resource Committee
The is charged with developing the tools and practices
to increase the Police Commission’s outreach within the Community, while also monitoring
and making recommendations about resources available to the Eugene Police Department.
One project currently underway that will continue into FY 2012 is the outreach related to the
Monroe Street Public Safety Station. Another project underway is a community survey that will
begin to gauge the community’s trust and understand of the Eugene Police Department. This
Committee’s work should conclude at the end of FY 2012, at which point the Committee will
cease.
In addition, a third committee is sought for FY 2012. One of the top priorities for the Commission is a
multi-year effort to work on creating and holding a hate crimes conference. The Commission would
Hate Crimes Conference Committee
like to create a to begin the work on this important topic and
coordinate with the Human Rights Commission as well as the Civilian Review Board, as they’re
Eugene Police Commission
FY 2012 Work Plan
interested and able to partner with the Police Commission. This committee would be in effect for two
years, through the end of FY 2013, or the conclusion of the Hate Crimes Conference, whichever
comes first.
Information Sessions
At its regular meetings, the Commission will convene community experts to dialogue and learn about
important issues facing the community. After the information session, the Commission will discuss
and determine an appropriate role for the Commission. Information sessions are anticipated on topics
of domestic violence, gang violence, service delivery for juveniles, and the complex issue of jail bed
capacity. Each of these sessions will bring together community experts and partners to help address
these critical problems.
Additionally, the Commission will seek to have a joint meeting with the Human Rights Commission
and the Civilian Review Board, to further work of mutual interest.
Eugene Police Commission
FY 2012 Work Plan
Timeline of Proposed FY 2012 Work
Quarter when work will take place
(x) or be complete ()
FY 2012 Work Plan Objective Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
1.1 Hate Crimes Conference x x x x
1.2 Hate Crimes Committee x x x
1.3 PSRC Committee Policy Review x x x x
2.1 Outreach Committee - Toolkit x
2.2 Outreach Committee – Improve community input x x x
2.3 PSRC Committee – Inform policies w/ community values x x x x
3.1 Outreach Committee – Community Survey x x x
3.2 Listening sessions x x
3.3 Joint meetings w/ CRB & HRC x
4.1 Gang violence x x x
4.2 Domestic violence x x
5.1 Juvenile services x x
5.2 Jail bed capacity x x
5.3 Interaction between social services & public safety x x