21st-quarterly-report.pdf

Twenty-First Quarterly Report of the Independent Monitor for the Oakland Police Department May 4, 2015 Page 44 that many officers are documenting in their reports that they had to use force because of the risk that a suspect may be armed; and that they are not appropriately considering tactics during high- risk situations. The review also emphasized the need for canine officers, supervisors, and commanders to consider modifying the canine announcement to fit the incident in question – for example, circumstances in which a warning announcement could jeopardize officer safety. According to the annual review, the FRBs have been tasking supervisors to train their officers after the board has identified training issues. The supervisors are required to document this training in the officers’ Supervisory Notes Files and enter the information into PAS. Subject- matter experts conduct more involved training, and a training roster is submitted to the Training Section. The involved officer(s) are directed to be present during the presentation to receive training from the board’s voting members and subject-matter experts, and/or praise for any outstanding work. Additionally, as a result of the findings of the FRB, the Department revises or develops new information or training bulletins, which are distributed to OPD personnel via the Department’s electronic PowerDMS system. OPD is in compliance with these subtasks. OPD is in Phase 2 compliance with Task 26. Compliance Status: Phase 1: In compliance Phase 2: In compliance Next Steps: Since the beginning of our tenure, we have requested – in meetings with OPD and in all of our quarterly reports – that the Department schedule FRBs during our quarterly site visits, so that we may attend and observe the proceedings. We again request that the Department schedule its FRB hearings during our quarterly site visits; it is critical to our assessments that we be able to observe and evaluate the FRB process.