OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE FROM THE CITY OF SPOKANE: Spokane Mayor David Condon has announced a plan to
implement the recommendations of the Use of Force Commission that includes
technical assistance and support from the U.S. Department of Justice's Community
Oriented Policing Services (COPS) office.
"We are committed to making changes that will improve
public trust and confidence in our Police Department; that goal has not changed
since I took office more than a year ago," says Mayor Condon. "The Use of Force
Commission has provided us with a comprehensive list of recommendations on how
to make our department better, and we will follow through and implement those
actions."
Chief Frank Straub has developed an implementation plan and
timeline for the action items laid out by the Commission. Most of the work will
be completed in 2013.
Importantly, the U.S.
Department of Justice's COPS program has agreed to provide technical assistance
to the SPD as part of the implementation plan. The COPS program will provide a
plan on how to conduct Use of Force investigations and complete a cultural
diagnostic of the SPD. The SPD will be required to implement the
recommendations made by the COPS program. Representatives from DOJ are expected
to be in Spokane this month to gather information and will consider use of force
cases going back four years.
Meanwhile, the Police Department will proceed with the
Commission's other recommendations.
The work will require a significant investment by the
City.
The Mayor will request that the City Council approve the
use of $1 million from the City's reserve accounts to pay for investments
in:
- Tools. These include new collapsible batons,
smaller tasers, and dashboard cameras.
- Training. Training will be added on de-escalation,
officer-involved shootings, crisis intervention, internal affairs, use of new
equipment, and more.
- Technology. Among other things, investments are
proposed in a new firearms training system (called VirTra) and improved internal
affairs software.
Additionally, the department will review and revise
policies, become more transparent in its operations, and seek accreditation,
among other things.
The Use of Force Commission recommendations are consistent
with the work the department completed in the last year that was detailed in the
Mayor's
Immediate Police Action Plan. Work under that plan has either been
completed or is included with the actions recommended by the Use of Force
Commission.
Additionally, the department is working under a new
strategic plan that was released in late December. That plan provides an
overarching direction and serves as a guide to the future for the Spokane Police
Department. It is designed to create a more responsive organization focused on
reducing crime and enhancing community safety. The plan is available on the
SPD's website at www.spokanepolice.org/documents/MakingSpokaneASaferCity.pdf
.
The Use of Force Commission released its draft report in
late December. With its charge of broadly considering the issue of police use
of force, the Commission developed 26 recommendations divided into four topical
areas: culture, Spokane Police Department policies and practices, civilian
oversight, and city administration.
The report is the result of a nearly year-long process that
included nine public meetings, multiple interviews, on-site visits, consultation
with experts, the development of two additional reports by specialized
consultants, and significant work to engage citizens in the process. The
Commission accepted public comments on its draft report through the end of
January. A final report is anticipated soon.
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