combined-10th-11th-report.pdf

Negotiated Settlement Agreement, Combined Tenth and Eleventh Semi-Annual Report December 2008 AUDITS AND REVIEWS THE AUDIT AND INSPECTIONS UNIT OVERVIEW In accordance with the Agreement, the Department is required to conduct six annual audits. The following six areas are to be prioritized, but OIG may substitute audits of other areas. Arrest and offense reports, and follow-up investigation reports. Use of force incident reports and use of force investigations. Complaint processing and investigation. Mobile Data Terminal traffic. Personnel evaluations. Citizen accessibility to the complaint process and the availability of complaint forms. AVY PYNS The Audit and Inspections Unit of OIG is also committed to conducting audits of other key areas of the Agreement, including issues or concerns that are central to the objectives of the Department and the Chief of Police. SUMMARY OF AUDITS AND REVIEWS CONDUCTED During this reporting period, the Audit Unit completed nine audits/reviews. The audits/reviews conducted were of Mobile Data Terminal Traffic (MDT); Personnel Practices; Investigations of Allegations of Manual of Rules Violations Resulting from Lawsuits and Legal Claims; Informal Complaint Resolutions; Receiving and Processing Complaints; Methods for Receiving Citizen Complaints; Summary of Citizen Complaints Provided to OPD Personnel and Disclosure of Possible Investigator Bias; Timeliness Standards and Compliance with Internal Affairs Division Investigations; and Members’, Employees’ and Supervisors’ Performance Review. In addition, OIG published an audit of OC Log and Checkout Procedures on October 17, 2008 and an audit of Use of Force Reports on November 3, 2008. The purpose of conducting these audits/reviews was to identify deficiencies that could impact compliance with the Agreement and Departmental policy, as well as inefficiencies in practice. Mobile Data Terminal Traffic Audit OIG completed its fourth annual audit of Mobile Data Terminals on December 27, 2007. The audit revealed that the number of daily transmissions between mobile data terminals has continued to decline from the previous years. Of the 282 messages transmitted during the audit period, none were found to contain inappropriate language, wording that constituted a policy violation, or lengthy conversations unrelated to work. Messages continue to be archived by ITU and reviewed by the Mobile Data Systems Manager. OIG recommended that ITU complete a written policy and procedure for the archiving and maintenance of MDT transmissions. Personnel Practices Audit In March 2007, OIG initiated an audit to determine if OPD was complying with Task 44, Personnel Practices, which requires that OPD provide annual performance appraisals to its members and employees that give accurate descriptions of the members/employees’ performance for the year. The audit indicated that OPD was in compliance with five of the nine practice requirements of Task 44, ensuring that annual performance appraisals include: 22