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21ST CENTURY POLICING
Staff Contact and Presenter: Rick St. John, Police Chief
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Purpose and Policy Guidance
Recommendation
The purpose of this item is to provide City Council with information regarding the Final Report of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing and give an update on Glendale Police Department’s participation and implementation of recommendations provided in the report to promote effective crime reduction while building public trust. This item is for Council information only and an opportunity to provide answers to any questions Council may have.
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Background
On December 18, 2014, President Obama signed an Executive Order establishing the “Task Force on 21st Century Policing” (Task Force). Task Force Members sought expertise from stakeholders and input from the public through listening sessions, teleconferences, and written comments as they worked to identify best practices in policing. The Task Force submitted an initial report to the President on March 2, 2015 and released the final report on May 18, 2015. There were 58 “Recommendations” and 91 “Action Items” outlined in this report. The recommendations provided contained 38 that were directly related to law enforcement and 20 that were aimed at government agencies and/or community organizations. Within the action items listed, 50 were directly related to law enforcement and 41 were intended for government agencies and/or community organizations.
Recommendations in the Task Force’s report call for law enforcement agencies to put in place programs designed to promote positive interactions between police and communities; to adopt and use new technologies to enhance public trust and public safety; to provide opportunities for additional training on a range of topics, including leadership, for police at all levels; and to have policies in place that prioritize de-escalation and avoid confrontational tactics. Other recommendations in the report include measures to promote officer wellness and safety, including procedures to equip officers with individual tactical first-aid kits and ballistic vests.
Upon release of the initial and subsequent final report issued by the Task Force, the Glendale Police Department reviewed the report to determine where improvements could be made to policies, procedures, and best practices in order to strengthen Police Department partnerships within the community and demonstrate that the Department holds itself to the highest standards of performance. Each law enforcement-related recommendation and action item was reviewed and compared to the current practices of the Glendale Police Department. Although it was clear the vast majority of the recommendations in the report have been in practice throughout the Police Department for many years, some were not part of the existing strategies and were found to have considerable merit. In response to the final report, the Police Department committed to review and revitalize strategies currently in use and to introduce and/or implement other strategies that will enhance the Department’s interactions with the community it serves.
Analysis
The Task Force recommendations, each with action items, are organized around six main topic areas or “pillars.” The six pillars consist of: Building Trust and Legitimacy, Policy and Oversight, Technology and Social Media, Commu-nity Policing and Crime Reduction, Training and Education, and Officer Safety and Wellness. The members of the Task Force are convinced the recommendations contained in this publication will bring long-term improvements to the ways in which law enforcement agencies interact with the public, and bring positive change to their communities. The Glendale Police Department has taken great lengths to meet the requirements of 21st Century Policing. While the Department is already in compliance with a majority of the report findings, and has been for many years, there are a few recommendations and action items that still need to be addressed. Those items are either in the process of being completed or being looked at by the Department.
Pillar 1, Building Trust and Legitimacy, focuses on the idea that building trust and nurturing legitimacy on both sides of the police/citizen divide is the foundational principle underlying the nature of relations between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. Law enforcement culture should embrace a “guard-ian,” rather than a “warrior,” mindset to build trust and legitimacy both within agencies and with the public. Glendale Police Department has accomplished 7 out of the 9 recommendations, and 11 out of the 12 action items. The only areas the Department needs to work on to meet compliance is posting the response to resistance statistics and conducting community surveys to solicit information.
Pillar 2, Policy and Oversight, emphasizes that if police are to carry out their responsibilities according to established policies, those policies must reflect community values. Law enforcement agencies should collaborate with community members, especially in communities and neighborhoods disproportionately affected by crime, to develop policies and strategies for deploying resources that aim to reduce crime by improving relationships, increasing community engagement, and fostering cooperation. Glendale Police Department has accomplished 12 out of 13 recommendations, and 6 out of 7 action items. The Department is working on a de-escalation policy and a search and seizure policy for the LGBTQ community.
Pillar 3, Technology & Social Media, signifies that the use of technology can improve policing practices and build community trust and legitimacy, but its implementation must be built on a defined policy framework with its purposes and goals clearly delineated. Law enforcement agencies and leaders need to be able to identify, assess, and evaluate new technology for adoption and do so in ways that improve their effectiveness, efficiency, and evolution without infringing on individual rights. Glendale Police Department has accomplished 3 out of 3 recommendations and 5 out of 5 action items and is in full compliance.
Pillar 4, Community Policing and Crime Reduction, centers on the importance of community policing as a guiding philosophy for all stakeholders, and emphasizes working with neighborhood residents to co-produce public safety. Law enforcement agencies should, therefore, work with community residents to identify problems and collaborate on imple-menting solutions that produce meaningful results for the community. Glendale Police Department has accomplished 4 out of 4 recommendations and 17 out of 17 action items and is in full compliance.
Pillar 5, Training and Education, recognizes that as our nation becomes more pluralistic and the scope of law enforcement’s responsibilities expands, the need for expanded and more effective training has become critical. To ensure the high quality and effectiveness of training and educa-tion, law enforcement agencies should engage community members, particularly those with spe-cial expertise, in the training process and provide leadership training to all personnel throughout their careers. Glendale Police Department has accomplished 2 out of 3 recommendations and 1 out of 2 action items. The Department is working on including the public on internal training committees and arrest procedures for the transgender community.
Pillar 6, Officer Wellness and Safety, highlights that wellness and safety of law enforcement officers is critical not only for the officers, their colleagues, and their agencies but also to public safety. Law enforcement agencies should promote wellness and safety at every level of the organiza-tion and every officer should be provided with individual tactical first aid kits and training, as well ballistic vests. Glendale Police Department has accomplished 3 out of 3 recommendations and 3 out of 3 action items and is in full compliance.
The goal of the Glendale Police Department is to quickly and effectively meet all the requirements for 21st Century Policing. The Department is proud of the steps taken so far and will continue to grow and develop.
Community Benefit/Public Involvement
As part of 21st Century Policing, Glendale Police Department’s intent is to improve transparency and strengthen trust within the community, while continuing to reduce crime and keep officers safe.