65A - POLICE OVERSIGHT DIRECTION

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These objectives are obviously all important for civilian oversight processes. Objectives will vary from one community to another and among the various models. For example, the level of transparency that an oversight process can provide may be influenced by state public records laws. If, for example, personnel records are confidential under state law, the amount of information that can be shared about an officer under investigation or the outcome of the investigation may be limited. Independent investigations will not be an objective for the review model of oversight. In the review model, the oversight body relies on the investigations conducted by the internal affairs or professional responsibility units of the police department. The review model can include all of the other objectives, however. The objective of improving public trust and legitimacy requires that the oversight body have a plan for informing the public of their work. A website, periodic public reports, press releases, and social media are all ways of ensuring the public has some awareness of the work of the oversight body. Some communities televise the deliberations of the oversight body. NACOLE identified two additional goals and objectives of civilian oversight: (1) ensuring an accessible process and (2) deterring police misconduct.16 Model advantages and disadvantages Round table participants discussed the advantages and disadvantages of each of the oversight models. The advantages and disadvantages participants identified can certainly be the subjects of debate. They are identified as advantages or disadvantages from the perspective of the round table participants. One could argue that timeliness (the amount of time it takes from the initiation of a complaint to its resolution) is a disadvantage of all three models. There is also considerable overlap between the models. For example, independence (from police) was identified as an advantage of both the investigative model and the auditor model. There is also some independence in the review model because the oversight body often reports to the city council or city manager. But these city leaders must rely on the police to conduct the investigation that may limit independence in the mind of some observers. The oversight body in an auditor model does not conduct the complaint investigation in most cases, but it does examine the quality of the investigation and will audit policy and other areas of the police department to enhance accountability. Table 2 on page 22 outlines the advantages and disadvantages of each model. 16. DeAngelis, Rosenthal, and Buchner, Civilian Oversight. 65A-36 Round Table Discussion