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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole - 06 Jul 2020 - Agenda - Pdf CITY OF RENTON AGENDA Committee of the Whole Meeting 5:30 PM - Monday, July 6, 2020 Video-conference 1. Renton Police Policy and Community Engagement a) Presentation Currently, due to the spread of COVID-19, all regularly-scheduled council and committee meetings will be held as necessary via video-conference. City hall is closed to the public and, therefore, no in-person comments will be accepted. Residents are encouraged to participate in a variety of ways. 1) Residents may submit comments in advance to cityclerk@rentonwa.gov. 2) Residents may view the meeting live on Renton Channel 21. 3) Residents may view the proceedings streaming live at http://rentonwa.gov/streaming. 4) If you would like to attend this week's meeting remotely, you can do so by going to https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85755039762 Zoom Meeting ID 857 5503 9762 5) You can call through Zoom at 253.215.8782 and use the Meeting ID (Note: to raise your hand in this format, you will need to press *9) Police Policies & Engagements ED VANVALEY, CHIEF OF POLICE RENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AGENDA ITEM #1. a) Is Renton Different?AGENDA ITEM #1. a) Candidate Selection The Renton Police Department’s ideal candidate would be highly dedicated, value personal integrity, and behave in a manner that exhibits both humility and empathy.AGENDA ITEM #1. a) Current Recruitment •Website •Recruitment Events •Job Fairs •Public Safety Testing Partnership •Community Engagement Recruitment Contacts AGENDA ITEM #1. a) Current Testing Process •Public Safety Testing Allows for a bigger pool of candidates Candidates can test for multiple agencies at once (more cost effective) Renton PD can set qualifying standards •Oral Boards •Background and Polygraph •Chief’s Interview (conditional job offer) •Medical and Psychological AGENDA ITEM #1. a) Black Native Amer Asain Hispanic Pacific Islander White 2 or more Unk Total # of applicants Male 90 4 112 116 19 762 103 11 1217 Female 5 8 10 5 86 28 3 145 Unknown 1 2 10 13 Total:95 4 120 126 25 850 131 24 1375 Exam No Show Male 17 5 6 2 53 8 2 93 Female 2 1 1 10 3 1 18 Unknown 1 5 6 Total:19 4 5 7 3 64 11 8 117 Exam Failure Male 14 17 17 2 32 5 2 89 Female 6 1 1 8 Unknown 1 1 Total:14 4 17 17 3 38 6 3 98 # sent to agency Male 59 4 90 93 15 677 90 7 1035 Female 3 8 9 4 70 24 1 119 Unknown 1 5 6 Total: 62 4 98 102 19 748 114 13 1160 Public Safety Testing RPD Entry Level Candidates May 2017 to May 2020 AGENDA ITEM #1. a) 2015 •504 tested PST •348 pass PST •135 interviews •48 pass •13 hired (2.6%) 2017 2018 2019 •536 tested PST •354 pass PST •138 interviews •68 pass •9 hired (1.7%) 2016 •435 tested PST •257 pass PST •141 interviews •56 pass •10 hired (2.3%) •434 tested PST •373 pass PST •36 interviews •11 pass •7 hired (1.6%) •456 tested PST •384 pass PST •53 interviews •18 pass •4 hired (.8%)AGENDA ITEM #1. a) Efforts Towards a More Diverse Police Department •Recruitment: Use social media to increase our exposure to a more diverse candidate pool •Partner with our diverse community groups to connect with potential police applicants •Create recruitment publications reflective of our people of color communities AGENDA ITEM #1. a) Efforts Towards a More Diverse Police Department •Offer financial incentives to candidates through our community outreach programs •Create an informational study-guide for potential candidates •Offer a mentoring partnership to assist candidates in preparing for the testing process •Summer Teen Academy AGENDA ITEM #1. a) Policies & Training AGENDA ITEM #1. a) Use of Force AGENDA ITEM #1. a) Use of Force AGENDA ITEM #1. a) SOP 107.5 VASCULAR NECK RESTRAINT (a) Definitions 1. The "Vascular Neck Restraint" means any hold or restraint specifically designed to inhibit blood flow through the vessels of the neck without inhibiting breathing by compression of the airway in the neck and without compression of the larynx or trachea. 2. The carotid submission hold shall be considered to be deadly force. (b) No vascular neck restraint shall be used except by persons instructed in the dangers of the neck holds, its definition as potentially deadly force, and the proper use and constraints of the technique, by someone specifically trained in the use and dangers of neck holds. (c) Medical attention shall be administered to the person by a qualified medical professional as soon as possible after the use of any neck restraint. SOP 107.6 CHOKE HOLD (a) Definition 1. The "choke hold" means any hold or restraint specifically designed to inhibit breathing by compression of the airway in the neck. The choke hold shall be considered to be deadly force. (b) Medical attention shall be administered to the person by a qualified medical professional as soon as possible after the use of the choke hold. Comments: Our department does not currently train our officers in neck restraints, although our officers who are in multi-jurisdictional assignments may be trained in vascular neck restraints due to those officers having a greater risk of dealing with combative offenders. We consider neck restraints to be lethal force reserved for situations in which a threat of death or serious injury exists. AGENDA ITEM #1. a) POLICY 203.4 (b) TRAINING PLAN All officers must complete a minimum of 40 hours of continuing de-escalation and mental health training every three years as provided in WAC 139-11-020 and WAC139-11-060. POLICY 300.2 POLICY The use of force by law enforcement personnel is a matter of critical concern, both to the public and to the law enforcement community. Officers are involved on a daily basis in numerous and varied interactions and, when warranted, may use reasonable force in carrying out their duties. Officers must have an understanding of, and true appreciation for, their authority and limitations. This is especially true with respect to overcoming resistance while engaged in the performance of law enforcement duties. The department recognizes and respects the value of all human life and dignity without prejudice to anyone. Vesting officers with the authority to use reasonable force and to protect the public welfare requires monitoring, evaluation, and a careful balancing of all interests. POLICY 409.4 CONSIDERATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES Any officer handling a call involving an individual who may qualify for an emergent detention should consider, as time and circumstances reasonably permit: (a) Available information that might assist in determining the cause and nature of the individual’s action or stated intentions. (b) Community or neighborhood mediation services. (c) Conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques. (d) Community or other resources available to assist in dealing with mental health issues. While these steps are encouraged, nothing in this section is intended to dissuade officers from taking reasonable action to ensure the safety of the officers and others. Emergent detentions should be preferred over arrest for individuals with mental disorders, who are suspected of committing minor crimes or creating other public safety issues.AGENDA ITEM #1. a) POLICY 429.3 (a) GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS Civil disputes tend to be confrontational and members should be alert that they can escalate to violence very quickly. De-escalation techniques should be used when appropriate. POLICY 431.5 (b) FIRST RESPONDERS Request available backup officers and specialized resources as deemed necessary and, if it is reasonably believed that the person is in a crisis situation, use conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques to stabilize the incident as appropriate. POLICY 431.6 DE-ESCALATION Officers should consider that taking no action or passively monitoring the situation may be the most reasonable response to a mental health crisis. Once it is determined that a situation is a mental health crisis and immediate safety concerns have been addressed, responding members should be aware of the following considerations and should generally: •Evaluate safety conditions. •Introduce themselves and attempt to obtain the person’s name. •Be patient, polite, calm, courteous, and avoid overreacting. •Speak and move slowly and in a non-threatening manner. •Moderate the level of direct eye contact. •Remove distractions or disruptive people from the area. •Demonstrate active listening skills (e.g. summarize the person’s verbal communication). •Provide for sufficient avenues of retreat or escape should the situation become volatile. Comments: In addition to state-mandated crisis intervention and de-escalation training that our officers receive every year, our department routinely trains our officers in those skills. This training takes many forms, including interactive simulator training and live-action role player training. Responding officers generally should not: •Use stances or tactics that can be interpreted as aggressive. •Allow others to interrupt or engage the person. •Corner a person who is not believed to be armed, violent, or suicidal. •Argue, speak with a raised voice, or use threats to obtain compliance. DE-ESCALATION Continued AGENDA ITEM #1. a) POLICY 300.5 DEADLY FORCE APPLICATIONS Use of deadly force is justified in the following circumstances: (a) An officer may use deadly force to protect him/herself or others from what he/she reasonably believes would be an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury. (b) An officer may use deadly force to stop a fleeing subject when the officer has probable cause to believe that the person has committed, or intends to commit, a felony involving the infliction or threatened infliction of serious bodily injury or death, and the officer reasonably believes that there is an imminent risk of serious bodily injury or death to any other person if the subject is not immediately apprehended. Under such circumstances, a verbal warning should precede the use of deadly force, where feasible. Imminent does not mean immediate or instantaneous. An imminent danger may exist even if the suspect is not at that very moment pointing a weapon at someone. For example, an imminent danger may exist if an officer reasonably believes any of the following: 1.The person has a weapon or is attempting to access one and it is reasonable to believe the person intends to use it against the officer or another. 2.The person is capable of causing serious bodily injury or death without a weapon and it is reasonable to believe the person intends to do so. Comments: This section of our policy mirrors Washington State law RCW 9A.16.040 -Use of Deadly Force by a Law Enforcement Officer, which states, “Under these circumstances deadly force may also be used if necessary to prevent escape from the officer, where, if feasible, some warning is given, provided the officer meets the good faith standard of this section.” Provided that it does not further endanger any person, our officers are trained to provide subjects with warnings that force may be used if they do not cease their dangerous or resistive actions. AGENDA ITEM #1. a) POLICY 300.4 USE OF FORCE Officers shall use only that amount of force that reasonably appears necessary given the facts and circumstances perceived by the officer at the time of the event to accomplish a legitimate law enforcement purpose. The "reasonableness" of force will be judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene at the time of the incident. Any evaluation of reasonableness must allow for the fact that officers are often forced to make split-second decisions about the amount of force that reasonably appears necessary in a particular situation, with limited information and in circumstances that are tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving. Given that no policy can realistically predict every possible situation an officer might encounter, officers are entrusted to use well-reasoned discretion in determining the appropriate use of force in each incident. SOP 107.4 DEADLY FORCE (a) Deadly force shall not be used on a person unless the person applying the deadly force reasonably believes that the person poses an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to an officer or any other person. Comments: The reasonableness of the force used is legally judged on the necessity and level of the force at the time that it was used and based on the information available to the officer at that time. If an officer used lethal force at a time when a reasonable alternative existed, that lethal force would be deemed unreasonable and excessive. Conversely, it is relatively common for officers to use alternative tactics when lethal force would be legally reasonable due to the level of threat to their safety. If an officer is making reasonable decisions, they will not be using lethal force when an alternative exists, nor will they be using an alternative when a situation calls for lethal force. Our officers are trained to use the appropriate force option for the circumstances, including those in which non-force tactics such as de-escalation and negotiation have been ineffective or are inappropriate. AGENDA ITEM #1. a) POLICY 300.2.1 DUTY TO INTERCEDE Any officer present and observing another officer using force that is clearly beyond that which is objectively reasonable under the circumstances shall, when in a position to do so, intercede to prevent the use of unreasonable force. An officer who observes another employee use force that exceeds the degree of force permitted by law should promptly report these observations to a supervisor. Comments: Our officers have a duty to intervene and stop any unlawful use of force that occurs in their presence, as well as report that incident to a supervisor.AGENDA ITEM #1. a) POLICY 300.5.1 SHOOTING AT OR FROM MOVING VEHICLES Shots fired at or from a moving vehicle are rarely effective. Officers should move out of the path of an approaching vehicle instead of discharging their firearm at the vehicle or any of its occupants. An officer should only discharge a firearm at a moving vehicle or its occupants when the officer reasonably believes there are no other reasonable means available to avert the threat of the vehicle, or if deadly force other than the vehicle is directed at the officer or others. Officers should not shoot at any part of a vehicle in an attempt to disable the vehicle. Comments: Our officers are prohibited from shooting at moving vehicles except in very specific circumstances in which a threat of death or bodily injury exists.AGENDA ITEM #1. a) SOP 107.3 SPECTRUM OF FORCE (a) Only lawful and reasonable force to a person shall be used. Members shall use a reasonable amount of force when force is necessary to accomplish an arrest, overcome perceived resistance to arrest, defend themselves or others from harm, or control a situation. (b) When the use of force is necessary, the degree of force used should be in direct relationship to the amount of resistance used by the person, or the imminent threat the person poses to officers, staff, or other citizens. (c) The use of force will be reasonable in light of the subject’s level of resistance as perceived by the officer. This force may be in the form of: 1. Presence 2. Verbal advice, persuasion, or commands 3. Physical touching or guidance (escorting) 4. Soft, Empty-hand Techniques (a) Counter-joint techniques/holds (b) Hair holds/take-downs (c) Pressure point (d) Pain compliance 5. Hard, Empty-hand Techniques (a) Active counter-measures (b) Kicks (c) Strikes (d) Stuns (e) Conducted Electrical Weapon non-probe drive stun 6. Intermediate Force (a) Impact weapons (b) Oleoresin Capsicum spray (c) Conducted Electrical Weapon probe deployment 7. Deadly Force REQUIRE USE OF FORCE Comments: The use of force by law enforcement is a complex subject. It is very difficult to broadly categorize the options available to our officers. We choose to use the term “spectrum of force” rather than “continuum”. This is because the use of force is not linear. It is not reasonable for an officer to always start at the lowest end of the force options and progress to the higher force option, or vice versa. If an officer arrives at a call in which an intermediate-force tool is the best option to prevent someone from being injured, using lower levels of force and then ”working up” a continuum to intermediate force only heightens the danger to the victim. In addition, the same technique or tool can be considered different levels of force depending on the area of the body to which the force is applied. Our officers are trained to use the level of force that is reasonable and necessary to control a person when non-force options are inappropriate or ineffective.AGENDA ITEM #1. a) POLICY 300.6 REPORTING THE USE OF FORCE Any use of force by a member of this department shall be documented promptly, completely, and accurately in an appropriate report, depending on the nature of the incident. The officer should articulate the factors perceived and why he/she believed the use of force was reasonable under the circumstances. To collect data for purposes of training, resource allocation, analysis, and related purposes, the Department may require the completion of additional report forms, as specified in department policy, procedure, or law. 300.6.1 NOTIFICATION TO SUPERVISORS Supervisory notification shall be made as soon as practicable following the application of force in any of the following circumstances: (a) The application caused a visible injury. (b) The application would lead a reasonable officer to conclude that the individual may have experienced more than momentary discomfort. (c) The individual subjected to the force complained of injury or continuing pain. (d) The individual indicates intent to pursue litigation. (e) Any application of the Conducted Electrical Weapon (CEW) or control device. (f) Any application of a restraint device other than handcuffs, shackles, or belly chains. (g) The individual subjected to the force was rendered unconscious. (h) An individual was struck or kicked. (i) An individual alleges any of the above has occurred. Comments: Once an officer completes an incident report in which force was used, it is reviewed by the officer’s chain-of-command, which typically consists of a sergeant, commander, deputy chief and the chief of police. Aside from reporting actual physical force, officers are required to fill out a report whenever they point a firearm at a subject. It’s relevant that we train our officers to not point their weapons at someone unless they have justification to use lethal force and intend to do so. AGENDA ITEM #1. a) Training •Requirements from I-940 (Law Enforcement Training & Community Safety Act [LETCSA]) •De-Escalation •Defensive Tactics •CIT (Crisis Intervention Training) •Inclusion Workshop AGENDA ITEM #1. a) City of Renton Inclusion Workshops Series Racial Equity Foundational Workshop –2014-2015 •Co-facilitated by Benita Horn and City Administrators •Connect the content of this session with the goal of Inclusion in the Renton Business Plan •Create shared understanding of social justice terms used in this session and beyond •Gain awareness of the historical evolution of institutional racism and how it creates barriers to inclusion •Examine the impact of historical inequities on Renton today and explore ways to overcome these barriers to achieve equity and inclusion Implicit Bias Workshop –2016-2017 •Co-facilitated by Benita Horn and City Administrators, Directors, or Managers •Understand implicit bias and its impact on decisions, actions, and services •Learn strategies to reduce implicit bias and eliminate disparate outcomes in decisions and interactions AGENDA ITEM #1. a) City of Renton Inclusion Workshops Series Continued Strategies and Resources Supporting Inclusion –2017-2018 •Co-facilitated by Benita Horn and City Administrators, Directors, or Managers •To explore and practice using strategies and resources that support Inclusion in City of Renton services and activities •To learn how departments are using the Renton Equity Lens to further the goal of Inclusion •To learn from the unique experiences of selected residents how the city can best support their communities AGENDA ITEM #1. a) Accountability Policy 907 907.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE This policy provides guidelines for the reporting, investigation, and disposition of complaints regarding the conduct of members of the Renton Police Department. This policy shall not apply to any questioning, counseling, instruction, informal verbal admonishment, or other routine or unplanned contact of a member in the normal course of duty, by a supervisor or any other member, nor shall this policy apply to a criminal investigation. 907.2 POLICY The Renton Police Department takes seriously all complaints regarding the service provided by the Department and the conduct of its members. The Department will accept and address all complaints of misconduct in accordance with this policy and applicable federal, state, and local law, municipal and county rules, and the requirements of any memorandum of understanding or collective bargaining agreements. It is also the policy of this department to ensure that the community can report misconduct without concern for reprisal or retaliation. 907.7 DISPOSITION OF PERSONNEL COMPLAINTS Each allegation shall be classified with one of the following dispositions: Unfounded -When the investigation discloses that the alleged act(s) did not occur or did not involve department personnel. Exonerated -When the investigation discloses that the alleged act occurred, but that the act was justified, lawful, and/or proper. Not Sustained -When the investigation discloses that there is insufficient evidence to sustain the complaint or fully exonerate the employee. Sustained -When the investigation discloses sufficient evidence to establish that the act occurred and that it constituted misconduct.AGENDA ITEM #1. a) Engagements Sir Robert Peel Peel’s Nine Principals of Policing 1. “The basic mission for which the police exist is to prevent crime and disorder.” 2. “The ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon public approval of police actions.” 3. “Police must secure the willing co-operation of the public in voluntary observance of the law to be able to secure and maintain the respect of the public.” 4. “The degree of co-operation of the public that can be secure diminishes proportionately to the necessity of the use of physical force.” 5. “Police seek and preserve public favor not by catering to the public opinion but by constantly demonstrating absolute impartial service to the law.” 6. “Police use physical force to the extent necessary to secure observance of the law or to restore order only when the exercise of persuasion, advice and warning is found to be insufficient.” 7. “Police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.” 8. “Police should always direct their action strictly towards their functions and never appear to usurp the powers of the judiciary.” 9. “The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with it.”AGENDA ITEM #1. a) Engagements 21st Century Policy Strategies 1.5.1 Action Item: In order to achieve external legitimacy, law enforcement agencies should involve the community in the process of developing and evaluating policies and procedures.AGENDA ITEM #1. a) Engagements Community Outreach Create engagement events and programs that will allow for the open discussion and review of policies and procedures. •Inclusion Task Force •RAAP •Social Media •Coffee with a Cop, Coffee with the Chief •Luau with the Law •What’s Next?AGENDA ITEM #1. a) EngagementsSocial Media Reach Nextdoor •20,395 Followers •14,586 Neighborhoods are members (out of approximate 39,400) Facebook •18,434 Followers •Average Reach for 2020 YTD is 293K per month from posts (views) •Average Engagement for 2020 YTD is 40K per month from posts (likes, comments, shares) Twitter •14,295 Followers AGENDA ITEM #1. a) Legislation What we can expect: •Standardization of Use of Force Policies •Officer Involved Shooting Investigations •Civil Service Rules for Hiring •Arbitration AGENDA ITEM #1. a) Questions AGENDA ITEM #1. a)