Councilwoman Kay Everett said the department needs to establish a threshold for behavior that could lead to dismissal. The department has a risk-management division that is supposed to work to limit the city's liability in police actions, Bowens said. Risk-management officials are also supposed to track settlements paid in suits brought against police. The council has final authority to approve lawsuit settlements. The council has periodically questioned settlements in which plaintiffs accuse police of excessive force or unlawful arrests.
Many incidents involve behavior of police while off duty.
The city has paid out a lot of money for that. Hood and other council members are considering a ballot initiative that would rearrange the board of police commissioners to give it more authority over department procedures. The city charter empowers the board to establish departmental policies with approval from the mayor, who appoints its five members. The board has the final say in disciplining police employees. Hood suggested that the council and residents should share appointment power with the mayor.