Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7022 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 1022 op.. May 28, 1985 DoE VON?gyp To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Subject: - POLICE ACCREDITATION In June of 1984, Police personnel were requested to review the available information on police accreditation and advise if such a program, had merit for the department. During the ensuing months staff reviewed brochures, discussed the concept with other City representatives, and attended conferences to learn about the accreditation process. We are now prepared to discuss this concept with the City Council and point out the benefits we believe will be derived from this program. The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies was formed in :1979 by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, The National , Sheriff's Association and The Police Executive Research Forum to estab- lish a body of standards designed to (1) increase law enforcement agency cap�rilities to prevent and control crime; (2) increase agency effec- tiveness and efficiency in the delivery of law enforcement services; (3) increase cooperation and coordination with other law enforcement agencies and with other agencies of the criminal justice system; and, (4) increase citizen and employee confidence in the goals, objectives, 0* policies, and practices of the agency. In addition, the commission was formed to develop an accreditation process that provides state and local law enforcement agencies an opportunity to demonstrate voluntarily that they meet -an established set of law enforcement standards. The commission consists of 21 members which includes the following: 11 law enforcement professionals and 10 representatives from the public and private sectors, including a state supreme court chief justice, state senator, county administrator, mayor, city council member, and professor among, others. The commission reflects broad representation from state and local levels as well as from many regions of the United States. Generally, to become accredited an agency must meet certain standards as set forth by the commission. There are 944 standards, about 60 per cent of which fall into a "mandatory" category -- mandatory in the sense that all accredited agencies must comply with all mandatory standards that are applicable to the agency. The balance of the standards are either "nonmandatory" or, in a few instances, "not applicable" to certain agencies..— principally agencies with fewer than 25 members. Agencies, applying for accreditation would be expected to comply with : (1) all applicable mandatory standards; and, (2) at least 80 per cent of applicable nonmandatory standards. An agency is free to select the 80 per cent of nonmandatory standards with which it chooses to comply. JISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7022 -p.2 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council May 28, 1985 Subject: POLICE ACCREDITATION In view of the foregoing, the Fort Worth Police Department would be required to comply with approximately 568 of the mandatory standards. In addition to the mandatory standards we would also be required to comply with approximately NO of the other than mandatory standards for a total of 868 of the 944 total standards. The accreditation program requires an agency to have or implement Policy, Procedures, Rules and Regulations, or General Orders in the following specific areas: LAW ENFORCEMENT ROLE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND RELATIONSHIPS Law Enforcement Role and Authority Agency Jurisdiction, Mutual Aid, and Regional Services Contractual Agreements for Law Enforcement Services Relationships with Other Agencies Improvements in the Criminal Justice System ORGANIZATION, MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION Organization Direction General Management Planning and Research Crime Analysis Allocation and Distribution of Personnel and Personnel Alternatives Fiscal Management THE PERSONNEL STRUCTURE Classification and Assignment Compensation, Benefits and Conditions of Work Career Development and higher Education Collective Bargaining Grievance Procedures Disciplinary Procedures THE PERSONNEL PROCESS Recruitment Selection Training Promotion Performance Evaluation - ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7022 - p.3 ,40*' ,01114,4 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council May 28, 1985 L) :Z EYN 42 Subject: POLICE ACCREDITATION LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS Patrol Criminal Investigation Organized Crime and Vice Control Juvenile Operations Crime Prevention Unusual Occurrences Special Operations OPERATIONS SUPPORT Intelligence Internal Affairs Inspectional Services Public Information and Community Relations TRAFFIC OPERATIONS Traffic Administration Traffic Law Enforcement Traffic Accident Investigation - Traffic Uirection and Control Traffic Engineering Traffic Ancillary Services PRISONER AND COURT-RELATED ACTIVITIES Prisoner Transportation Holding Facility Court Security Legal Process AUXILIARY AND TECHNICAL SERVICES Communications Records Collection and Preservation of Evidence Property Management The following benefits are listed by the commission that could be expected to accrue to an agency achieving accreditation: Accreditation Benefits for the Agency's Chief Executive Officer and the Agency' s Command Staff 1. Accreditation requires an in-depth review of every aspect of the agency's organization, management, operations, and administra- tion -- including: LISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS ` INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7022 - p.4 May 28, 1985 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Subject: POLICE ACCREDITATION o establishment of agency goals and objectives with provision for periodic updating; o reevaluation of how agency resources are being utilized in accord with agency goals, objectives, and mission o reevaluation of agency policies and procedures -- especially as documented in the agency's written directive system; and, o allowing the agency an opportunity to correct deficiencies before they become public problems. 2. The accreditation standards provide neutral guidelines for developing strong budget justifications especially for personnel and their allocation across functions and activities. 3. The accreditation standards provide norms against which agency OW performance can be measured and monitored over time. 4. Accreditation provides the agency with a continuing flow of information about exemplary policies, procedures, and projects as distributed by the Commission. 5. Accreditation provides the agency an opportunity to participate in the development of new or revised standards. 6. Accreditation provides recognition that the agency's managerial and operational policies and procedures are in accord with a body of nationwide standards -- and that the agency has made a concerted effort to attain professional status. Accreditation Benefits for All Other Members of the Ee:ncy Including Sworn and Civilian Employees 1. Accreditation assures that agency policies and procedures are in written form -- available to all agency personnel . 2. Accreditation assures agency personnel that every aspect of its personnel system is in accord with nationwide standards and that it is both fair and equitable. 3. Accreditation enhances the morale of agency personnel -- building the confidence of employees in the effectiveness and efficiency of their own agency. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7022 - p.5 opk To the Mayor and Members of the City Council May 28, 1985 Subject: POLICE ACCREDITATION Accreditation Benefits for Neighboring Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Agencies 1. Accreditation promotes relationships with other neighboring law enforcement agencies, as well as prosecutors, courts, correctional agencies, and state and local governmental offi- cials. 2. Accreditation requires the establishment of mutual aid, i .e. agreements are in writing and well understood by all parties. 3. Accreditation promotes standardization of operational policies -- thereby increasing efficiency in handling calls for assis- tance, referrals and joint investigations. 4. Accreditation requires participation in statewide radio, finger- print, crime information and crime reporting system. Accreditation Benefits for State, County and Local Governments and Their Elected Leaders and Appointed Manager and Administrators 1. Accreditation provides assurance that the governmental unit's law enforcement agency is delivering a high level of service to citizens of the agency's service area. 2. Accreditation provides objective measures to justify decisions related to budget requests and personnel policies. 3. Accreditation reduces the likelihood of vicarious liability suits against the agency. 4. Accreditation reduces the cost of liability insurance for the agency. Accreditation Benefits for Citizens in the Agency 's Service Area 1. Accreditation demonstrates the commitment of the agency to pro- fessionalism -- in terms of adherence to a body of national standards. 2. Accreditation assures the community that its law enforcement 0001 agency is committed to the provision of services of the highest quality and ti,at its policies and procedures are effective and responsive on the one hand, and fair and equitable on the other. 3. Accreditation enhances community understanding of the law enforcement agency's role -- as well as its goals and objec- tives. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7022 - p.6 top To the Mayor and Members of the City Council May 25, 1 985 ." Z5 Subject: POLICE ACCREDITATION 4. Accreditation commits the agency to a broad range of programs of direct benefit to the public (e.g. community crime prevention) as well as to programs to cope with man-made or natural disasters. 5. In summation, accreditation promotes community cooperation and understanding. In addition to the foregoing, the Texas Municipal League has expressed strong support for the accreditation program particularly in the area of defending against lawsuits. The League feels that adherence to a body of nationally recognized standards in the area of police operations would be a valuable asset in the defense of the actions of police officers. The Police Department currently complies with a number of the required "Standards" however; there are a considerable number of "Standards" ► which would require significant effort, expense and time to develop and implement. A few examples of these requirements are (1) the creation of a Community Relations operation as well as a formal Research and Planning Unit, enhanced training of Police Reserves (must receive same level of training as regular officers) . Implementation of Mutual Aid Agreement with each police department immediately contiguous to accredited agency. Implementation of plans to provide citizen input in Police Department policy development, etc. The commission recommends an agency entering the accreditation process , appoint an accreditation manager to manage the process of accreditation. The Police Department is of the opinion that the process would require a manager and two additional employees to accomplish the accreditation of the Police Department. It is anticipated that from the time the application is filed until accreditation is awarded will take at least two years to complete the process. The cost associated with the program the first year should not exceed $150,000 this includes one-half the cost ($6,000) of the application fee and the cost for three full-time staff members. The second year cost will include operational changes such as adding the planning and research function and these costs will be provided the Council during the 1986-87 budget process. The Police Department believes that the accreditation program, if implemented in the Fort Worth Police Department, would result in a significant improvement in the operational effectiveness of the ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7022 - p.7 9'eTo the Mayor and Members of the City Council May 28, 1985 0 .��n kryi� Subject: POLICE ACCREDITATION department, the program would provide a nationally recognized set of standards in which to gauge the performance of the department, allow' for greater citizen and employee input in the management and administration of the department and provide for a "state of the art" level of administration and operational effectiveness of the Police Department. Unless directed otherwise, staff will proceed to pay the application fee from this year's budget and formally apply for accreditation from the National Commission on Accreditation. We will provide the Council with periodic updates once the Commission review is underway. Douglas Harman City Manager DH:jcn ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS