Islanders for Collaborative Policing Policy Report

7/31/2019 Islanders for Collaborative Policing Policy Report

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PolicingPolicyReport

CitizensSubcommittee IslandersforCollaborativePolicing

August28,20121

IslandersforCollaborativePolicing(ICP)isaBainbridgeIslandcitizensgroupcommittedtoasimpleconcept:BainbridgeresidentsarebestservedbyapoliceDepartmentthatembracesacollaborativeapproachtopolicing.Ourgoalisa

Departmentthatvaluescitizeninputandparticipation,bothinthebigpicturecontextofpolicyandintheday-to-daycontextofpolicing.Wesupport:

Apolicedepartmentthatworkswiththecitizensitservestodefinewhatservicesareneededandhowtheyarebestprovided,

Apolicedepartmentthatdrawsupontheknowledgeandprofessionalexpertiseofcitizensandcommunitygroups,

Apolicedepartmentthathasclearprioritiesandgoalsarticulatedinapublicly-accessiblestrategicplan,

Apolicedepartmentthatprovidesmeaningfulinformationtothecommunityconcerningcrimeandpublicsafety,

Apolicedepartmentthatencouragescitizenfeedback,includingcitizencomplaints,

Apolicedepartmentthatproactivelyprovidestrainingandeducationtoitsofficersdirectlyrelatedtothetypesofcrimesandissuesaffectingthe

community,

Policeofficerswhoseethemselvesasprofessionalsandasavaluedpartofthecommunitywhoaretrusted,appreciatedandrespectedbyBainbridge

Islandresidents.

Wealsofavorandseektopromotecommunitymemberswhoareinformedand

engagedinpolicingissues.Collaborativepolicingwillonlysucceedwhenbothresidentsandpolicerespectandunderstandeachother,andrecognizethebenefits

ofpartnershipandcommunication.

SURVEY

InMarch2012,ICPadministeredasurveytogaugecommunityopiniononlocal

policingontheIsland.TheresultssuggestatroublingdisconnectbetweentheBIPDandIslandresidents.Lessthanaquarterofrespondentshaveapositiveimpression

ofthePoliceDepartmentandlessthanafifththinkofficersareusingtheirtimeappropriately.Wellover400respondents(outof625)eitherdonottrustthe

1TheICPCitizensCommitteethanksNormStamper,RichDaniels,TedRynearson,andBruceWeilandfortheirassistancewiththisreport.Wearealsogratefulfortheinputwevereceivedfrom

InterimPublicSafetyDirectorLarryDickerson,CommanderSueShultz,andBIPDofficers.


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Departmentatall(300respondents)ortrustofficersbutnotDepartmentleadership

(111respondents).Whileweshouldnotreadtoomuchintotheseresults,asthiswasanon-scientificsurveyofaself-selectedsampleofparticipants,2thenumberof

responsesreceiveddemonstratesthattherearehundredsofIslandresidentswhocareaboutlocalpolicingandhundredswhohaveformednegativeimpressionsof

theirPoliceDepartment.

TheICPCitizensCommitteeunderstandstheshortcomingsofaninformalsurvey,

butnonethelessregardstheseresultsasbothmeaningfulandilluminating.Wethink

thebestwaytoclosethetrustgapbetweenIslandresidentsandtheBIPDisto

movetheDepartmentclosertoacollaborativestyleofpolicing.

THECONCEPTOFCOLLABORATIVEPOLICING

Collaborativepolicingisavariantofcommunitypolicing.Likecommunitypolicing,

itemphasizestheimportanceofresidentinputandparticipationinthecontextof

policing.Itenvisionspolicingasapartnershipbetweencommunityresidentsand

officers,asopposedtoatopdownrelationshipwhereresidentspassivelyreceive

policingservices.WeareguidedherebythephilosophyofAdvisoryCommittee

Member(andformerSeattlePoliceChief)NormStamper,whostressestheimportanceofauthenticpartnershipsbetweencommunitiesandtheirpolice.

AccordingtoChiefStamper,thecommunityhasadeepandabidingstakeinpolicingpoliciesonsuchissuesaslawenforcementpriorities,trainingandtheuse

offorce.Policebelongtothepeople,nottheotherwayaround.3

ICPRECOMMENDATIONS

Basedonthesurveyresults,alongwithourindependentresearch,discussions,and

studyofothercities,werespectfullysubmitthefollowingrecommendations:

1. TheCityanditsPoliceDepartmentshouldpubliclycommittoCollaborativePolicing.

WerecommendthattheIslandsCityCouncilandPoliceDepartmentadoptaformalresolutionthattheyarecommittedtoCollaborativePolicing,andthatthis

commitmentbereiteratedintheDepartmentsmissionstatementsandStrategicPlan.ThiscommitmentshouldguidetheCityCouncil,Cityadministration,andthe

PoliceDepartment,includingbothadministrationandofficers,inaddressingand

undertakingpolicingresponsibilities.

2ThesurveywasopentothepublicfromMarch15to29,2012.Invitationstotakethesurvey

appearedintheBainbridgeReview,InsideBainbridge,alocallistserv,andonaKitsapSunreporters

twitterpage.646peopleparticipatedinthesurvey,and97%self-identifiedasBainbridgeIsland

residents.AcopyofthesurveyquestionsandresponsesisavailableontheICPblog:http://collpol.blogspot.com.3PresentationtotheICPCitizensCommittee,BainbridgeIsland,April24,2012.


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Councilwiththeinformationitneedstomakeinformedpolicepolicydecisions.

WealsorecommendthatBIPDkeepthepublicbetterinformedofcriminalactivity

andotherthreatstopublicsafety.TheBIPDwebsiteshouldbeaplacetofindbasic

crimestatistics(seetheCityofMountakeTerraceforarudimentaryexample7),and

shouldmakepublicserviceannouncementsthroughanalertsystemsuchasNixle.8

4.TheBIPDshouldadoptinitiativesthatenhanceyouth/officerrelationsaswe

believethisisessentialtobuildingtrustinthecommunity.

Morespecifically,werecommendthattheDepartmentre-establishaSchool

ResourceOfficerandestablishahighschoolstudentride-alongprogram.

AnecdotalevidencesuggestsahighlevelofdistrustbetweenIslandyouthandIsland

officers.Thisdistrustistoooftenexpressedbylocalparents,manyofwhomseemto

believethatofficersareouttogettheirkidsand/oraremoreinterestedinarreststhaneducationorprevention.Suchantipathyinvitesdifficulties.Afteranear-fatal

accidentinAugust2011involvingIslandteenagers,ittookofficersthreehourstoobtainthenameofacriticallyinjuredpassengerbecausetheotherswereunwilling

toshareinformation.9Lessdramatically,atleastoneCityCouncilmembervotednot

topursueanavailablegrantforfundingaSchoolResourceOfficerin2011,atleastin

partbecauseofdistrustbylocalparentstowardBIPDofficers.10Officershave

publicallyexpresseddisappointmentthatparentshavebeenlessthancooperative

withpoliceinvestigations,particularlyinthecontextofunderagedrinking.11

Policingisfarmoreeffectivewhenteenagersandtheirparentsworktogetherwith

thepolice,understandingthattheysharethesamegoalsofpreventingjuvenile

crime.

WerecommendthattheBIPDre-establishafulltimeSchoolResourceOfficer(SRO)positiontobuildpositiveconnectionsandincreasedtrustbetweenlocallaw

enforcement,Islandyouthandtheirparents.Weknow,fromspeakingtoaformer

SRO12andtoanofficerdeeplyinvolvedinstudentathletics13thatmeaningful,one-to-oneconnectionsarepossible,andevenlikely,betweenstudentsandpolice

officers.Wealsorecommendthat,beforere-startingtheSROprogram,BIPD

7http://www.cityofmlt.com/cityServices/police/crimeStatistics.shtml8TheBIPDispromotingNixle,thankstotheadvocacyofLieutenantGuintoliandCommanderShultz.

Weapplaudtheireffortsinthisarea.9AccordingtoChiefFehlman,policehadtroubleatthescenegettingthoseinvolvedtoidentify[the

injuredyouth]sothathisparentscouldbenotified.Ittookthemthreehourstoobtain[theyouths]namesothattheycouldcontacthisfamily.(ChiefFehlmansInterviewwithSarahLane, Inside

Bainbridge,March6,2012.)

10ConversationbetweenMayorDebbiLesterandICPCommitteeMemberKimHendrickson,July

2012.11CommanderSueShultzexpressedherconcernsinthisareaataRotaryClubmeeting,asrecollected

byICPCommitteeMemberJohnHays.12LieutenantPhilHawkins.13OfficerMaureenStich.


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representativesmeetwithstudents,parentsandeducatorstoobtaintheirinput

abouttheofficersdutiesandappearance.Itmaybe,forexample,thatparentsandstudentswillbemorereceptivetoanofficerwearinglessformalattirethanonein

fulluniform.

WealsorecommendthattheBIPDworkwiththelocalhighschoolstomakeridealongoutingsavailabletostudents,possiblyforschoolcredit.Thisisaninitiative

suggestedbyBainbridgeHighSchoolsMikeAnderson,andwethinkithasgreat

potential.Itrepresentsanotheropportunityforpositiveinteractionbetweenyouth

andofficers,forincreasedawarenessthatriskyorillegalbehavioroftenresultin

long-lastingconsequences,forenhancingthepossibilitythatlocalkidswillbe

attractedtopoliceworkandinthelongtermtherebyincreasingourpoolof

officerapplicantsdrawnfromthelocalcommunity.

Finally,werecommend,toCityCouncil,thatlocalalternativesbeexploredtomore

effectivelyaddressunderagedrinkingwhilereducingthefrictionthatexists

betweentheBIPDandIslandteens.ICPiscurrentlyinvestigatingthepossibilityofchangingtheBainbridgeIslandMunicipalCodesoffenseofMinorinPossession

(MIP)fromacriminalchargetoacivilinfraction,punishablebymonetarypenalty.

Weplantoshareourfindingsinthenearfuture.

5.TheBIPDshouldadoptinitiativesthataddressmentalillnesssincethisisessentialtobuildingtrustinthecommunity.

Morespecifically,theBIPDshouldadopttwoinitiativesforimprovingpolice

responsetosituationsinvolvingmentalillness:i.e.,increased/enhancedcrisisinterventiontrainingandcreatingacrisisinterventionteamtoassistofficers

inthefield.

InJuneof2012,afederaljuryunanimouslyfoundthatBainbridgeIslandofficersare

inadequatelytrainedfordealingwithmentalillness.Regardlessofonesopinionof

thejuryverdict,thisdecisionisnowamatterofrecord,andpoliceDepartmentsinWashingtonStatewillchangetheirtrainingpracticesasaresult.BainbridgeIsland

shouldlookatthisverdictasbothawake-upcallandanopportunityforimprovement.Weknowanecdotallythatalargepercentageofcallsforpolice

serviceinvolvethementallyill,orpeopleundertheinfluenceofdrugs/alcoholwho

areactinginanalteredmentalstate.Enhancedcrisismanagementtrainingwill

benefitbothourofficersandourresidents.Itwillalsodomuchtoimprove

communitytrustinpolicingbecauseitwillshowacommitmenttoworking

collaborativelywithresidents(andparticularly,withthefamiliesofthementallyill)

and,indoingso,willhelptoamelioratethenegativefeelingsthathaveemerged

followingatragicdeathandsubsequentciviltrial.

WerecommendacombinedmenuofonlineandinpersonCrisisIntervention

Training(CIT)forallBainbridgeIslandofficers,incorporatingelementsofthe


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MemphisModel.14Werecommendamoreintensivetrainingprogramforafewkey

officerswithintheBIPD,andtheuseoftheseofficerstoprovideguidanceincrisissituations.

Wealsorecommendtheformationofaciviliancrisisinterventionteamwithinthe

communitytoassistofficersincrisissituations,whethercausedbymentalillness,drug/alcoholuseoremotionalfactors.Officersshouldhavementalhealth

professionalsandtrainedvolunteersavailableandoncalltoprovideimmediate

on-sitesupport,toofferguidanceforadvancedinterventiontechniques(if

necessary)andtoassistwiththecoordinationofsupport/treatmentservices.The

efficacyandavailabilityofpromptandprofessionalmentalhealthservicestoassist

withlawenforcementresponseswillhelpprotectourIsland'smostvaluable

resources:ourofficersandourcitizens.

6.TheBIPDshouldemphasizefootandbikepatrol.

March2012ICPsurveyresultssuggestthatIslandresidentsresentthecar-and

speed-centricstyleofpolicing,andwishtheycouldinteractwithofficersonthe

streetmoreoften.Footandbikepatrol,likeplacinganofficerwithintheschools,

enhancesthequalityofpolice/communityrelationsandbuildstrustbetweenofficersandresidents.Thisisanexcellentlong-termstrategyforcreating

partnershipswithbusinessowners,seniors,families,andothercommunitymembers.

ChiefFehlmanhasindicatedhissupportforincreasedfootandbikepatrol,although

forfinancialreasonsratherthantopromoteinformalcontact.15Officershave

expressedtoICPmemberstheirstronginterestinincreasedfootandbikepatrol.

7.TheBIPD,CityManager,andCityCouncilshouldsupportanindependentintakeagent/boardthatreceivescitizenandofficerconcerns.

In2011,SamPailcawashiredbytheCityofBainbridgeIslandtoassessBIPDs

complaintprocedures.Herconclusion:theBIPDssystemleavesmuchtobedesired,

andwouldbenefit(amongmanyotherthings)fromimprovedintakeprocedures.

Accordingtoherreport,therearetoofewavenuestomakeandreceivecitizen

complaints.16Ms.Pailcaindicateshersupportforanewandindependentintake

14TheMemphisModelreferstoanapproachtomentalillnessadoptedbythepoliceDepartmentin

Memphisandnowadoptedbymanyagencies.KeyelementsoftheMemphisModelarecrisis

interventionteams,typicallyconsistingofmentalhealthprofessionals,whoarespecificallytaskedfordealingwithcomplex,crisissituations;focusedofficertrainingincrisismanagement;andstrong

partnershipswithmentalhealthproviderstoensurethementallyillandtheirfamiliesaretreatedin

ahumaneandeffectiveway.15InsideBainbridge reports,initsMarch62012interviewwithChiefFehlman,thatheisopento

somethinglikeadailyrequirementofanhourofwalkingtosaveonfuelexpenses.16SamPailca,ReviewofPoliciesandProceduresofBainbridgeIslandPoliceDepartmentforthe

IntakeandResolutionofCitizenComplaintsofPoliceConduct,October2011,p.2.Thisdocumentis

availableontheICPblog:http://collpol.blogspot.com


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process,suchasanindividualorboardoperatingoutsideofthePoliceDepartment.

Thispersonorgroupwouldcollectinformationfromcitizensand/orofficersandthenwithoutjudgmentpassthatinformationtotheDepartmentforitsreview,

investigation,andresponse.

Anindependentboardwiththeabilitytoreceiveconcernshasahighlikelihoodofbeingtrustedbycommunitymembers.17Thisindependencewillalsogiveitthe

abilitytoprotecttheidentityofcomplainants,whichwillencouragethosetostep

forwardwhomightotherwisefearrepercussions(includingofficersandemployees

ofBIPDwhomaybeinthebestpositiontooffervaluableinsights).Inaddition,this

groupwouldbeinagoodpositiontospotandreportonapparenttrendsthatraise

concerns.

Asnotedinourintroductorycomments,theICPCitizensCommitteebelievesthat

inputfromthecommunityisessentialtogoodpolicing.TheBIPDsdecisiontopost

anonlineforminresponsetoMs.Pailcasreportisanimprovementonprior

practice,butitisnotalonesufficient.Werecommendthatanindependentcitizenpanelbeestablishedtoacceptcommunityinput,includingconcerns,complaints,

suggestionsandideas.Itmightalsoserveasausefulsourceforcollecting

commendationsandpositivefeedback.Weseethisboardasactingincooperation

withtheBIPDandwethinkitwillbeavaluableassettotheDepartment.

CONCLUSION

Theserecommendationsweredeveloped,overthelastseveralmonths,byICP

committeememberswithexpertiseinmunicipallaw,lawenforcement,mental

health,business,educationandpublicpolicy.Wehavekeptourrecommendations

abbreviatedtogivetheInterimPublicSafetyDirector,theCityManagerandtheCity

Councillatitudetodeveloptheirownvariations.Weareavailable,asindividualsor

asacommittee,toshareourresearchwiththeCityandrespondtofollow-up

questions.Wewouldwelcomethechancetoelaborateontheabove

recommendationswithallinterested.

Inconclusion,wehopethisdocumentinspiresspecificchangesattheBIPD,andaculturalchangetowardanewstyleofpolicing.Webelievethatcollaborative

policingwillimprovetherelationshipbetweenIslandresidentsandofficers,and

buildprideintheBIPD.

17Asubsetofcomplainantswillsimplynotfeelcomfortablemakingtheircomplainttoasworn

policeofficer.Whethertheirperceptionsareaccurateandtheirfearslegitimate,somemembersof

thecommunitydistrustthepolice,oratleastdistrustthatthepolicecanpolicethemselves.Withina

smallcommunityandasmallDepartmentlikeBainbridgeIsland,thosefearscanbeexacerbated.

Pailcareport,page6.


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CitizenCommitteeMembers(inalphabeticorder):

ScottAnderson

WendyBurroughs

KentBridwell(Chair)

FrancFischer

MarcusGerlach

JohnHays(Spokesperson)

KimHendrickson(Founder/Secretary)

BonnieMcBryan

TamiOstling

SteveSutherland

GlennaTeti

JaneTrancho

DebbieVann(Treasurer)

GreggWatts

CurtWinston

AdvisoryMembers:

RichDaniels(Lieutenant,LosAngelesCountySherriffsDepartment,)

BobDay(Lieutenant,BainbridgeIslandPoliceDepartment)

TedRynearson(Founder,SectionofPsychiatry,VirginiaMasonMedicalCenter)

NormStamper(Chief,SeattlePoliceDepartment1994-2000)

Islanders for Collaborative Policing Policy Report

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