fourteenth-report.pdf

Independent Monitoring Team Fourteenth Status Report of the Independent Monitor Delphine Allen, et al., v. City of Oakland, et al. July 31, 2009 to January 13, 2010 Page 88 As part of its revision of General Order B-8, OPD is making the command review process it used to reassess the FTOs a required component of the initial FTO selection process in order to ensure that candidates receive appropriate scrutiny. This is a positive development that we support. While OPD undertook a serious effort to reassess the suitability of its FTOs, there remain a number of active FTOs about whom we continue to have concerns. We have expressed these concerns to OPD and encourage it to remain vigilant to ensure that no FTO provides training that departs from OPD’s values and standards. Based on the remedial measures OPD implemented after we expressed concern regarding the selection process, including reassessing FTOs, decertifiying FTOs, placing FTOs on informal monitoring, and revising its policy to ensure that candidates receive appropriate scrutiny, we found OPD in conditional compliance with the FTO selection provisions of Task 42. The second area of conditional compliance pertains to ensuring consistency of training in the Academy and the Field Training Program. Task 42 requires OPD to conduct focus groups with trainee officers to evaluate the training provided and to assess whether the field training is consistent with what was taught in the Academy. According to OPD, the focus groups have not identified any substantial discrepancies between what is taught in OPD’s Academy and the Field Training Program. However, there have been a number of instances in which trainees in focus groups have identified differences that they perceive to be discrepancies but that the Field Training Unit elects to characterize as mere “stylistic” differences or preferences. We expressed our concern to the Field Training Unit that some of the differences they describe as stylistic appear to be in fact real discrepancies and, importantly, are perceived by the trainees as such. Our concerns were mitigated somewhat by the fact that all feedback from the focus groups is discussed and considered, not just information that is deemed to be a discrepancy. Nonetheless, because such characterizations can impact the assessment of information from the focus groups, we found OPD in conditional compliance with this requirement. Our audit report contained a series of recommendations aimed at ensuring the advances made in the Field Training Program are maintained and that areas that are not fully compliant are strengthened. OPD is in conditional compliance with Task 42. This task will be actively monitored under the MOU. The Monitor will conduct the required audits, reviews or studies to assess whether OPD is complying with the substantive task requirements. (MOU, paragraph 10.) E. Academy and In-Service Training (Task 43; S.A. IX.) Section IX of the Settlement Agreement, Task 43, requires OPD to ensure that both new recruits and experienced officers receive adequate and regular training. In particular, the Settlement Agreement requires OPD to develop and implement a training plan that includes curriculum enhancements in professionalism and ethics, critical thinking and problem-solving, conflict resolution, and relationships with the community. The compliance deadline for this task occurred during the sixth reporting period. On September 2, 2005, OPD graduated its 154th Basic Academy class. The class was the Department’s first Academy class in several years. During the seventh reporting period, OPD