Report Finding #60
A friction exists between the Department and the Community Police Review Board that was not helped when the Community Police Review Board recently proposed an expanded operating ordinance.
Recommendation #71:
Immediately convene a Working Group of key stakeholders who will
have an interest in the outcomes of any new Community Police Review
Board ordinance. Build, at a minimum, an 11-person team that will use
an interest-based approach to jointly design a best practices-based system. The team will be coordinated by the Assistant City Manager, consisting of the Community Police Review Board members, the Chief of Police, a Police Officers’ Association representative, the City Attorney, and at least three minority residents of Lawrence. The result will be the reconstitution of a Community Police Review Board with an expanded scope of public engagement duties.
Progress: Recommendation #71 -In Progress
The Chief of Police has begun meeting with the CPRB workgroup to proceed through the identified process toward setting and meeting effective goals. The City Commission provided direction for the creation of the CPRB workgroup and a facilitator who is engaged in that process.
Recommendation #72:
The Department should meet with the Community Police Review Board and Working Group to explain an updated complaint intake process—and how the new tracking software will improve accountability and aggregate reporting.
Progress: Recommendation #72 - Completed
This has been completed.
Recommendation #73:
The Department should discuss and share its relevant policies and training on misconduct and its complaint reporting requirements by members of the Department.
Progress: Recommendation #73 - In Progress
Police staff has met with the CPRB repeatedly and provided this information and will do so again if requested.
Recommendation #74:
The Department must seriously consider the recommendations of the Community Police Review Board and report back on the actions needed to implement necessary new processes.
Progress: Recommendation #74 - In Progress
Police department staff has attended meetings with the CPRB throughout the year and provided information and responded to requests from that group and will continue to do so.
Recommendation #75:
The Department should research and adopt the best practices currently exercised in internal affairs, which might result (initially) in an increase in internal affairs complaints.
Progress: Recommendation #75 - Completed
The department is operating under “best practices” in the complaint and investigative process. Serious consideration has been and will continue to be given to any best practice recommendations, including those provided by the CPRB.
Lawrence Strategic Plan Progress Indicators
- 1.SaS-8: Percent of residents rating trust in emergency services departments as satisfied or very satisfied
- 2.SaS-11: Employee Engagement Index for Police
- 3.SaS-6: Variance of satisfaction with perceptions of safety by race, gender, education and income