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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 5: Public Comment on Police Auditor ProfileECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Public Comment: Police Auditor Candidate Profile Meeting Date: May 8, 2006 Agenda Item Number: 5 Department: City Manager’s Office Staff Contact: Helen Towle www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-5110 ISSUE STATEMENT Members of the community are asked to comment on the desired characteristics and abilities of candidates for the Police Auditor. The ideal candidate is described in the recruitment brochure (Attachment A). This is an opportunity for the public to offer opinions and comments on these characteristics to assist City Council with the selection and hiring process. BACKGROUND On November 8, 2005, the voters of Eugene approved an amendment to the City Charter which authorized the City Council to hire a police auditor and appoint a civilian review board. The auditor position was posted on March 27 and closes on April 28, 2006. As the council prepares to review the applications and prepare for interviews, it will be necessary to think about the personal characteristics of the applicants in addition to the professional expertise. This public forum offers the council the opportunity to hear from the community on these candidate dimensions. The Police Auditor responsibilities include receiving community complaints about police employees and services, monitoring internal investigation to ensure objective, thorough, high- quality investigations, preparing reports on complaint trends, making recommendations for changes in policies and practices, and providing staff support to the civilian review board. One of the Police Auditor’s first tasks will be to develop the policies and operating procedures his/her office and to assist the council in the establishment of the review board. Below are the characteristics for the ideal candidate, as described in the recruitment brochure. Speakers will be asked to comment on these characteristics and traits, with specific attention to the following questions: Are there other characteristics the council should look for in candidates? Which qualities and attributes are of most importance and which are of lesser importance? This high-visibility position is characterized by the auditor’s ability to provide fair and objective oversight of the police complaint process, build credibility among diverse audiences, and instill public confidence in the complaint system. The responsibilities of the police auditor are broad in scope and require the highest degree of professional, independent judgment, personal integrity and accountability. The auditor performs work that is highly complex and often involves issues that are sensitive and confidential. The ideal candidate will possess the following characteristics and abilities: L:\CMO\2006 Council Agendas\M060508\S0605085.doc Model the highest standards of honestly and integrity. o Make sound and well-informed decisions affecting multiple stakeholders. o Commit to action when dealing with pressure and ambiguity of complex, controversial o issues and situations. Communicate effectively orally and in writing with a variety of cross-cultural o audiences. Creatively solve problems using superior analytical ability. o Respond in an objective, professional, and credible manner in highly-charged o situations. Apply impartiality and demonstrate fairness and diplomacy under the most difficult of o circumstances. Establish and maintain highly effective working relationships with diverse individuals o and groups. Fluency in Spanish is desirable. o The council is seeking a candidate who is willing to make a long-term commitment to Eugene. RELATED CITY POLICIES This public forum does not directly address any City policies. It is an opportunity for the members of the council to receive feedback and comments from the community on the candidate profile. COUNCIL OPTIONS This is a public comment opportunity. The City Council is not asked to make any decisions with regard to this forum at this time. The ad hoc committee will review any comments and feedback and will provide, if needed, further recommendations to the full City Council. CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION The City Manager has no recommendation on this item. This is a public comment opportunity. SUGGESTED MOTIONS None. ATTACHMENTS A. Police Auditor Recruitment Brochure FOR MORE INFORMATION Staff Contact: Helen Towle Telephone: 682-5110 Staff E-Mail: Helen.K.Towle@ci.eugene.or.us L:\CMO\2006 Council Agendas\M060508\S0605085.doc World’s Greatest City of the Arts and Outdoors Ý·¬§ ±º Û«¹»²» б´·½» ß«¼·¬±® THE COMMUNITY Home to 146,160 people, Eugene is Oregon’s third largest city. The community covers 41.53 square miles, with the Willamette River running through the heart of the City and the McKenzie River joining the Willamette just north of town. The City is surrounded on three sides by hills, is midway between the Pacific Ocean and the snow- capped Cascade Mountains, and offers residents an outstanding quality of life and a wide variety of recre- ational opportunities nearby, including rafting, fishing, golfing, hiking, skiing, and beachcombing. Eugene’s climate, with an average of 53 degrees, is one of the City’s attractive features. Eugene is well-known as the home of the University of Oregon. With 20,000 students and over 6,000 employ- ees, the University plays a major role in the community, as does Lane Community College. The employment base THE ORGANIZATION has become increasingly dominated by services, trade, and government, and less reliant on the timber industry. Eugene has a well-educated labor force with nearly 35% In 1944, the citizens of Eugene adopted a council/ of the adult population having completed four or more manager form of government. In this form of government, years of college. the City Council develops legislation and policies to direct the City. The City Manager, hired by the City Council, Eugene is a friendly, progressive community with resi- oversees City of Eugene personnel and operations and dents who are active and concerned about quality of life caries out the City Council’s direction. issues. The University brings a more cosmopolitan feel to the community, and the collegiate teams have contributed The Mayor serves as the City’s political head and chair- excitement and pride on a regional basis. The City’s Hult person of the eight-member Council. The Mayor, elected Center for the Performing Arts, recognized as the finest by the city at large on a nonpartisan ballot for a four-year facility of its type in the state, brings renowned entertain- term, is the formal representative of the City. The Mayor ers to the community throughout the year. It is home to presides over City Council meetings, and votes in the seven resident companies: Eugene Symphony, Opera, case of a tie vote of Council members. The Mayor can Ballet, and the internationally acclaimed Oregon Bach veto any decision, but can be overridden by a two-thirds Festival. Many residents are health and fitness oriented, vote of the Council. Councilors are elected by ward on a and Eugene was recently awarded the Olympic Trials for nonpartisan ballot to four-year staggered terms. Track and Field in 2008. Overall, Eugene is an attractive community with quality schools, a beautiful environment, Eugene has over 1,400 employees and a $450 million a temperate climate, and a diverse, dynamic culture. total budget. The City of Eugene provides services through six departments: •Central Services •Fire & Emergency Medical Services •Police •Library, Recreation and Cultural Services •Planning and Development •Public Works The Eugene Police Department The Eugene Police Department serves all city residents, as well as the region through it’s 9-1-1 Communications Center. The Department has over 300 employees and a budget of $36.3 million in FY2005. Approximately 180 sworn officers work in patrol, investigations, traffic enforcement and administrative positions, while 120 civilian employees work in records, communications, and administrative and support positions. These employees are distributed through the Department’s four divisions: Patrol and Special Operations, Investigations, OperationsThe Auditor’s first responsibility will be to develop policies Support, and Technical Services. The majority of lineand procedures for the operations of the Auditor’s office, employees are represented by the Eugene Police Em-and to assist the Council in the establishment of a ployee Association (EPEA). In a typical day, EugeneCivilian Review Board. police officers are dispatched to about 300 calls for THE IDEAL CANDIDATE service. THE OVERSIGHT SYSTEM This high-visibility position is characterized by the Auditor’s ability to provide fair and objective oversight of Eugene City Council recently adopted a hybrid oversightthe police complaint process, build credibility among system that consists of both a full-time professionally-diverse audiences, and instill public confidence in the staffed Auditor’s office and a Civilian Review Board. Thecomplaint system. The responsibilities of the Police role of the Auditor’s office is to provide a neutral locationAuditor are broad in scope and require the highest to lodge complaints and to actively monitor on-goingdegree of professional, independent judgement, personal internal affairs investigations to ensure objective, thor-integrity, and accountability. The Auditor performs work ough and high quality investigations. The Auditor identi-that is highly complex, and often involves issues that are fies policy, practice and training concerns to promotesensitive and confidential. organizational changes that improve police services to The ideal candidate will possess the following character- the community and reduce risk and liability to the City. istics and abilities: In addition, a Civilian Review Board, consisting of five to • seven community members, will oversee the work of the Model the highest standards of honesty and integrity. Auditor’s office. The role of the Review Board is to • Make sound and well-informed decisions affecting evaluate the case handling decisions and investigative multiple stakeholders. recommendations for the Auditor’s office and, in situa- • Commit to action when dealing with pressure and tions that meet pre-established criteria, assess how ambiguity of complex, controversial issues and complaints are being investigated and responded to. By situations. involving community members in the review of com- • Communicate effectively orally and in writing with a plaints, the Council hopes to enhance the transparency variety of cross-cultural audiences. and public understanding of incidents under investigation, • Creatively solve problems using superior analytical and, over time, to increase the trust and credibility in the ability. complaint process. More information on the system is • available on the Police Commission page of the Eugene Respond in an objective, professional, and credible Police Department website. manner in highly-charged situations. • Apply impartiality and demonstrate fairness and THE POLICE AUDITOR diplomacy under the most difficult of circumstances. • Establish and maintain highly effective working relationships with diverse individuals and groups. The Police Auditor is a newly created position that will be • Fluency in Spanish is desirable. hired by and report to the City Council, as established by the Eugene electorate through a revision to the City The Council is seeking a candidate who is willing to Charter on November 8, 2005. make a long-term commitment to Eugene. The Police Auditor provides independent, external oversight of investigations and complaints involving police department employees. The Auditor’s responsibilities include receiving complaints, monitoring or participating in internal investigations to ensure objective, thorough and high quality investigations, and preparing reports on complaint trends and police practices in general. S/he promotes organizational changes to improve police services and community relations by identifying, analyz- ing, and making recommendations regarding the com- plaint investigation process and policies, practices and training. The Auditor provides staff support to the Civilian Review Board appointed by the City Council. Two addi- tional staff are proposed for the Auditor’s office. Application and Selection Process Qualifications Interested candidates should submit a resume, a cover The Police Auditor must have five years of progressively letter explaining how they have obtained the unique responsible experience overseeing and performing combination of experiences and abilities needed for this administrative investigations and performing program position, current salary, and six work-related references development, analysis, and complex professional staff by April 28, 2006 to: support, preferably in the public sector. A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in public administration, business administra- tion, human resources, criminal justice, or a related field is required. A Master’s degree or Juris Doctorate from an accredited university is desirable. City of Eugene Additional Requirements Human Resource and Risk Services Candidates for this position are subject to a background Police Auditor investigation. 777 Pearl St., Room 101 Candidates for this position may not have worked for the Eugene, OR 97401 Eugene Police Department as an employee within the (541) 682-5061 past twenty years. In addition, candidates should have no TTY (541) 682-5674 www.eugene-or.gov other prior relationship with the Department that might create actual or perceived bias for or against the Depart- E-mail:PoliceAuditor@ci.eugene.or.us ment or Eugene Police Officers. Candidates will be required to disclose prior employment, contracts, and Confidential inquiries welcomed by calling Helen Towle, affiliations with the Department. Human Resource Manager, at (541) 682-5110 or Lynn Compensation & Benefits Stimson, Recruitment and Selection Manager at (541) 682-5765. The annual salary range for this position is $79,040- $98,508. Upon eligibility, the salary with the City’s contri- The City of Eugene is committed to a work environment bution of the employee portion of retirement and 2% which values the cultural, educational, and life experience deferred compensation will be $85,363-$106,390. of each employee. We believe that a diverse workforce enables us to deliver culturally competent service to all Upon eligibility, the City will contribute an employeemembers of our community. As part of our commitment contribution of 6%, as well as the employer contributionto diversity, the City continues to be an affirmative action/ to a retirement program administered by the Oregonequal opportunity employer. Women, people with disabili- Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS). Inties, and persons of color are strongly encouraged to addition, the City will pay a 2% contribution to a deferred apply. compensation program if the employee contributes at The City of Eugene complies with the Americans with least 1%. Disabilities Act of 1990. Any applicant with a qualified The competitive benefit package includes: disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act may • Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision insurance request accommodation by contacting Lynn Stimson at • (541) 682-5765. Life and Long-term Disability insurances • Generous Vacation and Sick Leave In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control • Ten Paid Holidays Act of 1986, the City of Eugene will request all eligible • candidates who accept employment with the City to Transportation and Cell Phone Allowance of $300 provide documentation to prove they are eligible for The City will assist the candidate with moving and employment in the United States. relocation expenses.