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Build Trust and Legitimacy

Pillar 1: Build Trust and Legitimacy

The objective of Pillar 1 is to become more accessible, open, approachable, and transparent with all segments of our community.

 

Action Items

Click to expand each action item below.

 

1.1-Define, educate and reinforce procedural justice as a guiding principle for internal and external policies and practices to guide our interactions with the citizens we serve

 

Bureau Responsible

Chief's Office-Administrative Services Bureau

 

Timeline and Status

This action item was completed in 2016.

 

 Date Status
February 2016 Implemented Project PEACE Community New Recruit Panel
April 2016 Biased Based Policing Policy Review and Recommendation Training scheduled for April 27, 2016
July-August 2016
The Police Department received two hours of online training from Police One on Procedural Justice
November 2016

On November 30, the Police Department hosted a Fair and Impartial Policing Police and Community Leaders training seminar during which time the Department’s P.1.6.1 Profiling policy to ensure it has all the tenants of Fair and Impartial policing concepts. 

April 2017 Ten people have gone through the New Recruit Panel between February  and April
May 2017

Four officers went through the last New Recruit Panel (two Lateral and two Entry Level)

 

Had youth dialogue at the Project Peace Executive Committee

July 2017 Four Officers went through the New Recruit Panel 
October 2017 Five Police Officer Recruits went through the last Basic Academy Class, four passed and one failed

 

 

Ten people have gone through the process 

1.2-Continue to aggressively recruit, hire, and retain a diverse workforce that reflects the community we serve

 

Bureau Responsible

Chief's Office-Administrative Services Bureau

 

Timeline and Status

This action item is continuous.

 

 Date Status
January 2017

The Police Department hired five Police Patrol Officers

February 2017 Collaboration event with University of Washington Tacoma, University of Puget Sound and the Behavior Insight Team (BIT) on recruiting opportunities
March 2017 Hiring Workshop on March 25
April 2017 Hiring Workshop on April 22
May 2017

Hiring Workshop on May 20, more than 40 participants attended

 

Behavioral Insight Recruiting Postcards were mailed to 10,000 city residents

June 2017

Hiring Workshop on June 3, 32 people attended

 

PAT and written exam was held on June 23 – approximately 150 candidates attended

July 2017

Results from the June testing: 600 applicants; 120 participated in the PAT, 90 took written exam and 70 candidates passed both the physical and written exam and moved on to the next phase.

 

Year to date, 17 officers have been hired 

September 2017 Year to date, 21 officers have been hired (see the demographics below)

 

   

Demographics of Tacoma Officers Hired from January-September 2017

 

Commissioned Hires  American Indian/Alaskan Asian or Pacific Islander Black/Not Hispanic origin Hispanic Not Specified/Other White/Not Hispanic origin Grand Total
 January - September 2017 0 1 5 3 1 11  21
Percent of Hires  0.00% 4.76% 23.81% 14.29% 4.76% 52.38% 100%
2010 Census Data: City of Tacoma  1.50% 9.30% 10.70% 11.30% 6.70% 60.50%  

 

1.3-Collaborate with diverse and immigrant communities to identify and understand issues and concerns in an effort to determine ways of strengthening transparency, credibility, trust and relationships

 

Bureau Responsible

Community Policing Division-Administrative Services Bureau

 

Timeline and Status

This action item is continuous.

 

 

 Date Status
July 2016

Community Liaison Officers attended several events at the Slavic Center located in the central area. Officers interacted with more than 80 kids, many who had immigrant parents and conducted outreach and education about the police department.

October 2016
  • The police department began attending the Peace Lutheran Church after school youth group on a regular basis. The purpose will be to outreach to youth and promote law enforcement as a career option. The goal of these visits is to engage with youth to break down barriers to foster trust and communication; Talk with youth about current concerns  and their perspective; Educate about police policies and procedures and promote Law Enforcement as a career option to all segments of the population.
  • The Police Department, in coordination with the Office of Equity and Human Rights, held two community events (Evergreen State College and Asian Pacific Cultural Center) to provide an update on the Project PEACE Action Items and to inform the community on the Department’s participation in the White House Police Data Initiative and the release of two data sets; Officer Involved Shootings and Citizen Complaints that are available on the City’s Open Data portal. 
February 2017
  • Participated in Black History Month event
  • Met with leadership from the Latino Community, Korean Women’s Association and Centro Latino 
  • Participated in Korean American Association Annual Event
  • Participated in Asia Pacific Cultural Annual Event
March 2017
  • Attended the community forum in District 3 hosted by Council Member Keith Blocker on March 16
  • Attended the Mt. Tahoma Job Fair
May 2017 Attended Law Enforcement Appreciation Day at Bethlehem Baptist Church
June 2017 Attended the 2nd Annual Korean’s Women’s Association Event
July 2017 Officers participated in the Slavic Center summer youth program – more than 120 youth were in attendance

 

1.4-Timely communication related to incidents or events that may have significant impacts on the community (e.g. school lockdown, active shooter)

Bureau Responsible 

Operations-Public Information Officer (PIO)

 

Timeline and Status

We are currently exploring social media options and outlets, including establishing procedures/trainings for commanders to use social media in a timely fashion. A Community Relations Specialist position has been requested and proposed to City Council for the 2017/2018 Budget proposal. 

 

 Date Status
January 2017

Completed the final draft of the Police Community Relations Specialist job announcement.

February 2017 The Police Community Relations Specialist job announcement was posted February 25.
March 2017 Application process closed.
April 2017 Community Relations Specialist application review process began.
April-June 2017 We are currently exploring social media options and outlets, establishing procedures/training for commanders to use social media in a timely fashion.
June 2017 Community Relations Specialist applicants have been finalized and oral boards are scheduled for July 2017.
July 2017 Oral boards were held for the Community Relations Specialist.
September 2017
  • Working on reposting the Community Relations Specialist
  • Held a joint press conference with the FBI to add local homicide suspect to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List


1.5-Host community forums in each sector within the next 12 months, to inform and receive feedback related to department policies, training and any and all areas that are of interest

 

Bureau Responsible 

Chief's Office-Operations Bureau

 

Timeline and Status

This action item is expected to be completed in 2017.

 

 Date Status
October 2016

The Department, in coordination with the Office of Equity and Human Rights, held two community events (Evergreen State College and Asian Pacific Cultural Center) to provide an update on the Project PEACE Action Items and to inform the community on the Department’s participation in the White House Police Data Initiative and the release of two data sets; Officer Involved Shootings and Citizen Complaints that are available on the City’s Open Data portal. 

October 2016 The Police Department and Office of Equity and Human Rights began to meet every two weeks with the newly formed Project PEACE Community Executive Committee to discuss future Project PEACE forums to include increasing young adults and youth in the discussion. 
January 2017 Held a Project PEACE Executive Board Meeting to discuss future community engagement youth opportunities.
March 2017
  • Captain Stringer participated in Council Member Blocker's Hilltop Community Forum on March 16. The event was attended by over 150 community members. An update was given on the department’s efforts related to youth outreach. The group provided very positive feedback and appreciation for all the efforts being taken by the department.
  • Open Data Presentation at Destiny Charter School on March 29
June 2017 Held forums to discuss our emergency response to homelessness.  ENACT, Dome District and East Abe Community Group 
July 2017 Met with the Neighborhood Councils of New Tacoma, West Side, South End, Dome Top Community Group
August 2017 Peace Lutheran –Safety and gang-related issues – formed block watch group associated with Ferry Park (1400 L Street)
September 2017
  • Had meeting with Hilltop Action Coalition to follow up with the Ferry Park action plan
  • Had meeting with the Foss Waterway Development Association, West End Neighborhood Council, Bates, Downtown Business District, 6th Avenue Business District and the Dome District in reference to our homelessness efforts

 

 

 

1.6-Encourage officers to actively participate in non-enforcement contacts within their assigned sectors by engaging with community members in neighborhoods, business districts, schools, and community centers

 

Bureau Responsible

Operations-Patrol, Community Policing Division

 

Timeline and Status

This action item began in September 2016 with continuous participation and work on tracking non-enforcement contacts for statistical purposes.

1.7-Expand partnerships with local youth groups, schools, and faith-based organizations to enhance positive, non-enforcement activities and mentorship with our youth in order to build meaningful relationships

 

Bureau Responsible

Operations-Patrol, Community Policing Division

 

Timeline and Status

This action item began in September 2016 and is continuous.

 

  •  Date Status
    August 2016 Department employees attended the “Youth Leading Change” Leadership Camp
    September 2016
    • TPD developed a CAD clearance code that will document when an officer has made a “non-enforcement” youth contact in the field
    • Patrol officers are partnering with Boys and Girls Club and YMCA youth programs informally and formally through late night basketball and weight lifting
    • Collaborated with the South-end Boys and Girls Club and the Fire Department to create a six-week Public Safety Cadet Youth Academy where middle school kids are introduced to various aspects of police and fire with the goal of increasing trust, improved relationships and planting a seed for future consideration into the public safety profession. Graduation was on November 17, 2016.
    October 2016 Peace Community Center invited officers to participate in a discussion with their youth group to discuss policing and to improve trust and communication. The idea is to consistently increase the contacts in the community.  We have started a tracking process and added this as a performance measure.
    January 2017
    • Scheduled to attend the Boys and Girls Clubs forums
    • Established first quarter baseline for non-enforcement youth contacts and there were 37 CAD entries for non-enforcement youth contacts

    February 2017

    Collaboration with Safe Streets Youth Leading Change program to conduct a youth citizen academy to High School age kids in the Tacoma area. Academy started on February 2. 
    March 2017
    • Solidified agreement with Safe Streets to host an annual Citizens’ Academy with Youth Leading Change
    • Ten graduated from the Safe Streets Youth Leading Change Citizens’ Academy
    • Lt. A. Roberts and PPO Helen Stieben participated in the first Boys and Girls Club community forum around Police and youth relations on March 16. Approximately 50 high school age youths from three area Boys and Girls Clubs participated. The conversation was scripted on a national model created by the Boys and Girls Club and covered a variety of topics related to police and youth interactions. Both the moderators and participating youth gave very positive feedback about the TPD and our participation in the event. They plan on scheduling more forums in the future.  
    May 2017 LEAN dance challenge with the Tacoma Police Department Explorers
    July-August 2017
    • Hired two Summer Jobs 253 Interns to work in the Administrative Services Bureau
    • Officers are attending Teen Late Night at People’s Center every Friday night through August

     

     

    1.8-Make all department policies available for public review and regularly post on the department’s website, reported crime, and other law enforcement data, to include complaint statistics, use of force and response time by the end of 2016

     

    Bureau Responsible

    Administrative Services Bureau-Accreditation

     

    Timeline and Status

    This action item was ongoing through 2016 and early 2017.

     

     

     Date Status
    October 2016
    • Currently reviewing all policies and procedures before publishing policies online by end of 2016
    • Officer Involved Shootings and Citizen Complaints data was made available to the public on the City’s Open Data portal on October 5
    January 2017
    • Policies were placed online
    • Media release went out communicating that the policies were placed online

    February 2017 Next police data was made available on community engagement and use of force

     

     

    1.9-Begin communications with the Office of Equity and Human Rights within six months to design future Project PEACE community conversations

     

    Bureau Responsible

    Chief's Office, Administration, and the Office of Equity and Human Rights

     

    Timeline and Status

    This action item was completed in the spring of 2017.

     

     Date Status
    July 2016

    Created a Project PEACE Community Executive Committee which meets regularly to assist in providing input on developing future Project PEACE forums to include youth and young adults.

    October 2016 Project PEACE forum on October 5
    January 2017 Chief Ramsdell scheduled meeting with OEHR Director, Diane Powers, to begin discussions.
    February 2017 Police Department and Office of Equity And Human Rights are working with Project PEACE Community Executive Board in developing a youth/police dialogue. They met on February 25 at the Mt. Tahoma Seventh-Day Adventist Church (615 N. Sprague Ave.).

     

     

     

    1.10-Expand recruitment efforts to all segments of our community to serve on the department’s Explorer Post

     

    Bureau Responsible

    Operations, Community Policing Division, Explorer Program

     

    Timeline and Status

    This action item is ongoing.

     

     

     Date Status
    January 2017
    • Established a recruitment plan and brochure developed by current Police Explorer Youth Leadership
    • Established new goal to increase program to 25
    February 2017
    • State Farm presented the Tacoma Police Department with a $10,000 grant
    • Work continued to update the Explorer pamphlet
    March 2017
    • Increased Explorer Program from eight in 2015 to 18 currently. Set goal to increase the total to 25 members with increase focus on diversity recruiting.
    • The Tacoma Police Explorer post is preparing a group of explorers to attend and compete at the National Explorer Competition in 2018.
    May 2017 Three Explorers were added to the program
    July 2017 Explorers began working on the recruitment plan and recruiting brochure
    September 2017 Explorers went to the first session of the Boys and Girls Club Youth Academy to explain the program to the participants

     

    1.11-Expand the School Resource Officer (SRO) program to have officers as speakers in high school classrooms interacting with students

     

    Bureau Responsible

    Operations

     

    Timeline and Status

    This action item was completed in January 2017.

     

     Date Status
    January 2017
    • Partnered with School Resource Officers, Business Improvement Area, and department Community Liaison Officers to provide recruiting materials to hand out at Neighborhood Council meetings, business district association meetings, as well as other professional groups.
    • The program was finalized and went into place with the officers in the classroom.
    February 2017

    In collaboration with Tacoma Public Schools, Office of Equity and Human Rights, School Resource Officers conducted youth engagement for all 10th grade students. (Wilson High School has been completed with the remaining high schools in progress.)

    March 2017 Began the planning process on reviving the departments Harvey & Beulah grade school safety program. The goal is to have the program up and running for the September 2017 school year.
    April 2017
    • Youth engagement at all high schools have been completed with the exception of Lincoln High School 
    • The School Resource Officers (SRO's) worked with the Tacoma School District Office of Equity to create a student and police interaction program geared toward breaking barriers and creating trust. The program is being presented to all 10th graders in the five traditional Tacoma School District High Schools. Currently SRO’s have met with all of the 10th graders in Wilson, Foss and Stadium High Schools. The Lincoln and Mt. Tahoma High School SRO’s will be finished meeting with their 10th grade students by the end of April.
    May 2017 The Lincoln High School and Mt. Tahoma programs are complete
    September 2017 Finalizing plans for Harvey and Beulah presentation with the goal of January 2018

     



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