Receive a staff presentation from the San Marcos Police Department (SMPD) and the Ad Hoc Council-Appointed Use of Force Committee regarding SMPD Policy 6.1 - Response to Resistance and Aggression.
WS Item 02: Ad Hoc Council-Appointed Use of Force Committee
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MDerrick
CoSM Members
This report seems incomplete. Changes made by the Ad Hoc Committee don't appear in a "redline" or "highlighted" area within the current procedures of SMPD. It would be very helpful to see the changes in the context of the procedures of SMPD that are in writing.
-How will SMPD ensure that de-escalation training is mandatory and by what time frame (first 30 days, 90 days?) how often will officers need to complete training (1 time per year, once every 2 or 3 years?) -when will this take affect?
-Medical attention for anyone injured after use of force has been applied - What does this mean? When is it applicable? What training will officers receive to inform them of when immediate medical aid is needed.
-Departmental Analysis - clarifying a time frame for when the departments use of force report will be made available to the public - what is that timeframe (when quarterly, twice per year?).
-Why haven't we taken VERA up on their offer for free analysis, a dashboard, and data available to the public? It was a very generous offer from a well respected entity. Can we reconvene the Ad Hoc Committee to discuss this offer and make recommendations.
Thanks!
-How will SMPD ensure that de-escalation training is mandatory and by what time frame (first 30 days, 90 days?) how often will officers need to complete training (1 time per year, once every 2 or 3 years?) -when will this take affect?
-Medical attention for anyone injured after use of force has been applied - What does this mean? When is it applicable? What training will officers receive to inform them of when immediate medical aid is needed.
-Departmental Analysis - clarifying a time frame for when the departments use of force report will be made available to the public - what is that timeframe (when quarterly, twice per year?).
-Why haven't we taken VERA up on their offer for free analysis, a dashboard, and data available to the public? It was a very generous offer from a well respected entity. Can we reconvene the Ad Hoc Committee to discuss this offer and make recommendations.
Thanks!
Response provided by Chief Stanridge:
Good morning, Councilwoman Derrick,
The original policy did not include any provisions related to de-escalation, which I noticed when I first read it while still in Abilene. We worked with the committee to include it. In addition to policy, we have regular training through VINCIBLE to incorporate de-escalation into recurring, topical and relevant training. Lastly, the policy requires annual training on all uses of force.
This policy does not “create” sudden, new expectations. Instead, the Department has historically practiced all of these best practices incorporated herein. However, the committee and I thought it was important to codify the requirements, especially as we seek accreditation.
Accreditation will require the Department to publish annual reports on crashes, pursuits and use of force. I will provide those to Council at the same time as the annual racial profiling report, which is usually mid-February.
A new state law will require a duty to intervene and a duty to provide medical aid. We included both, although it has been the custom of the Department to administer both historically. Peace officers receive training on the application of tourniquets, chest seals, trauma gauze, CPR, and the recovery position.
I have reservations about VERA, only because they are a nonprofit out of Brooklyn, NY, and they are funded by various streams including the NFL. They have no local connection. Additionally, they asked to be the voice of our data. Staff does not believe that is appropriate. However, the Criminal Justice Reform Committee meets this week, and VERA is on the agenda. VERA’s scope of work, if approved, is related to cite and release, not use of force. They have offered to assist with the cite and release dashboard. It is not within the ad hoc committee’s scope of work to determine if we should use VERA. That remains a city manager decision, since it is an operational issue.
There is a redline version of the policy changes. However, Council is not the final arbiter of an operational policy. The City Manager has asked the ad hoc committee to give an overview of their recommendations. I will then include some language from recent state law additions, whereupon I will seek the City Manager’s final approval of the policy by month’s end.
Good morning, Councilwoman Derrick,
The original policy did not include any provisions related to de-escalation, which I noticed when I first read it while still in Abilene. We worked with the committee to include it. In addition to policy, we have regular training through VINCIBLE to incorporate de-escalation into recurring, topical and relevant training. Lastly, the policy requires annual training on all uses of force.
This policy does not “create” sudden, new expectations. Instead, the Department has historically practiced all of these best practices incorporated herein. However, the committee and I thought it was important to codify the requirements, especially as we seek accreditation.
Accreditation will require the Department to publish annual reports on crashes, pursuits and use of force. I will provide those to Council at the same time as the annual racial profiling report, which is usually mid-February.
A new state law will require a duty to intervene and a duty to provide medical aid. We included both, although it has been the custom of the Department to administer both historically. Peace officers receive training on the application of tourniquets, chest seals, trauma gauze, CPR, and the recovery position.
I have reservations about VERA, only because they are a nonprofit out of Brooklyn, NY, and they are funded by various streams including the NFL. They have no local connection. Additionally, they asked to be the voice of our data. Staff does not believe that is appropriate. However, the Criminal Justice Reform Committee meets this week, and VERA is on the agenda. VERA’s scope of work, if approved, is related to cite and release, not use of force. They have offered to assist with the cite and release dashboard. It is not within the ad hoc committee’s scope of work to determine if we should use VERA. That remains a city manager decision, since it is an operational issue.
There is a redline version of the policy changes. However, Council is not the final arbiter of an operational policy. The City Manager has asked the ad hoc committee to give an overview of their recommendations. I will then include some language from recent state law additions, whereupon I will seek the City Manager’s final approval of the policy by month’s end.
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