Submitted by: Danny Schabile
Submitting Department: Legislative
Agenda Section: Discussion
Item Title:
title
Civilian Oversight Committee
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Suggested Action:
recommendation
For discussion:
I move that the Hyattsville City Council establish a Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement Committee as described in the attached Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement Committee Worksheet. The work of this Committee will help ensure that investigations into complaints against officers of the Hyattsville City Police Department (HCPD) carried out by the HCPD internal affairs unit are fair, impartial, thorough and that the recommended dispositions are appropriate. This will increase transparency, strengthen relations between the HCPD and the community, and support continuous improvement of the agency.
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Summary Background:
Civilian oversight of police has been shown to strengthen trust, improve accountability, and create opportunities to identify policing improvements, benefiting both communities and police departments. Civilian oversight of police is well established, with more than 140 civilian oversight bodies in over 40 states. The momentum around this effort has only grown over the past year, with cities around the country of all sizes adopting a wide range of oversight models.
Based on discussions with HCPD, the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE), Prince George’s County’s Citizen Complaint Oversight Panel, and input from the City Council, the recommended approach is captured in the Committee worksheet below.
This motion is aligned with the spirit and approach of the recently passed “Maryland Police Accountability Act of 2021” and the Task Force on 21st Century Policing, which HCPD adopted as a framework to guide its community policing efforts.
Anticipated Staff Resources Required to Implement:
Staff support to the Committee, including training and guidance on open meetings and closed sessions as well as handling personnel-related information. HCPD support to train committee members on general police operations. City Attorney to provide support on handling of evidence, review of letters, and annual report before submission.
Supporting Documentation/Links:
<https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/nacole/pages/96/attachments/original/1459203586/Infographic.pdf?1459203586>
<https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/documentcenter/view/32839>
<https://www.npr.org/2020/11/07/931806105/across-the-country-voters-approve-more-civilian-oversight-for-police>
<https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2021RS/bills/hb/hb0670e.pdf>
Next Steps:
Guidance from the City Clerk to assist in formal Committee setup and assistance from City Council members to identify participants.
Fiscal Impact:
$3,000 per year for membership and training support from NACOLE. Additional impact for legal oversight, training/ride along from HCPD.
City Administrator Comments:
Civilian Oversight Committees can help increase transparency, accountability and build trust in the community. We are generally supportive of the motion, but the staff will need to review State and County legislation to ensure greater understanding of acceptable municipal roles, responsibilities, authority, process, standards, and expectations. Gaining a greater understanding of mandated processes can prevent duplication of effort and avoid potential disparities. There may also be some unforeseen costs for Committee preparation, staff overtime, and expert advisors if needed. In addition, ensuring a diverse Committee will be a factor in its success. Staff will provide additional feedback and an estimate of potential costs prior to the motion returning for discussions or action.
Community Engagement:
The Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement Committee will conduct the following activities to engage community members:
1) Liaise with the Police and Public Safety Advisory Committee (PPSCAC), HCPD, and the City government to provide citizens education and awareness on its existence, mission, and method for lodging complaints against the HCPD, and
2) brief the community on an annual basis on findings from its annual report, and any resulting policy recommendations regarding HCPD operations, in conjunction with the PPSCAC.
Strategic Goals:
Goal 3 - Promote a Safe and Vibrant Community
Legal Review Required?
Pending