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 89 discharging of firearms, personnel complaints, vehicle pursuits, and preventable vehicle collisions." Three of the five reports that did not pass would have received passing scores had they included this data. Other general areas of weakness in the reports were the sections dealing with fiscal management and unit plans and goals. Many of the reports read as if they were written for the benefit of auditors rather than for the benefit of the Chief and police management. While most reports scored "adequate" in the plans and goals area, making the reports sufficient for compliance purposes, their discussion was too vague and conclusory to be of much use to police management. This is unfortunate because, as we noted last year, a thoughtful description of a commander's strategic planning for the coming year can act as a roadmap for the unit and a useful evaluation tool for the Chief of Police. OPD's 2005 Annual Management Reports are much improved over the previous years’ reports. But to truly meet the intent of the NSA and the needs of management, they should include more thoughtful discussions of each unit's challenges and plans for the upcoming year. Our audit included several recommendations for improving the reports, including ensuring that annual management reports are submitted in time to inform budget and management decisions for the following year and improving report content so that they contain information necessary for effective management, planning, and accountability. During upcoming reporting periods, the IMT will monitor whether each annual management report includes relevant operating data and highlights ongoing or extraordinary problems and noteworthy accomplishments, whether each Division Commander meets with the Chief of Police to discuss the annual management report, and whether the review of the reports is “thorough” as required by the Settlement Agreement. J. Independent Monitor Selection and Compensation (Task 49; S.A. XIII.) Section XIII of the Settlement Agreement, Task 49, requires the parties to select an Independent Monitor. The compliance deadline for this provision occurred during the first reporting period.