ninth-report.pdf

Independent Monitoring Team Ninth Status Report of the Independent Monitor Delphine Allen, et al., v. City of Oakland, et al. May 13, 2006, to November 30, 2006 Page 74 OPD remains in compliance with Task 42.6 which makes assignment to an FTO position contingent upon the successful completion of a training course designed for FTOs and approved by OPD and POST. Task 42.7 establishes criteria for evaluating the performance of FTOs. OPD has attained compliance with all of the provisions of this task except the requirement that each FTO’s commander and supervisor review evaluations of the FTO’s performance. OPD remained in compliance with Task 42.8 which requires the FTPC or his/her designee to conduct random audits of the FTO program to ensure that FTOs complete daily evaluations of trainee officers and that the selection standards for FTOs are maintained. While OPD remained in compliance with this requirement, doing so in the future will depend on adequate staffing of the Field Training Unit. Task 42.9 prohibits OPD from assigning trainee officers to field duties with “acting” FTOs when regularly assigned FTOs are absent. OPD remains in compliance with this requirement. However, unless unit staffing keeps pace with the growing demands of the program, OPD risks falling out of compliance with this and other provisions of Task 42. Task 42.10 requires OPD to provide field commanders and supervisors training on the FTO program, including: the field-training curriculum; the role of the FTO; supervision of FTOs and probationary employees; the evaluation process; and individual duties and responsibilities within the FTO program. OPD remains in compliance with this requirement and with Task 42.11’s requirement to conduct focus groups with randomly selected trainees regarding their field training experiences. Due to increasing workloads and reduced staffing, however, OPD has not always been successful at conducting the focus groups within the required timeframes. If this slippage continues, OPD risks falling out of compliance with this and other provisions of Task 42. Task 42.12 requires, among other provisions, that specified commanders (Training Division Commander, FTO Program Coordinator, BFO Deputy Chief, and BOS Deputy Chief) meet to review the results of focus group sessions. OPD remains in compliance with this requirement. However, it risks falling out of compliance if it does not ensure that required participants or their designees attend all of the review meetings. Our audit contained several recommendations to assist OPD in achieving full compliance with Task 42. We believe that OPD is capable of achieving full compliance with Task 42 in the very near future. However, as discussed above as an area of concern, it may also start to fall further out of compliance if the Field Training Unit is not provided the resources it needs to keep up with the significantly larger number of trainees and FTOs entering the program.