Committee to Review Policing Policies — Burlington, VT
Date: 2019-11-12
Time: 12:00

November 12, 2019
 Committee to Review Policing Policies


@ Click here to view the minutes for this meeting
1. Agenda

 1.01 Adopt/Amend the Agenda


 2 Part 1.mp3 2 Part 2.mp3

2. Public Forum

 2.01 Public Forum



3. Deliberative

 3.01 Approval of Minutes


 2 Committee to Review Policing Policies Minutes
 of 10 29 2019.DRAFT.pdf



4. Communication

 4.01 Discussion - Recommendations on Recruitment, Training, UOF


 2 Camden County NJ Revised Use of Force
 Policy.pdf


 4.02 Discussion - Use of Consultants


 2 Proposal for Initiating and Continuing a
 Community Draft 11 12 2019 (002).pdf


 4.03 BPD Presentation - Disciplinary Process


 4.04 Next Mtg Agenda Items & Date



5. Adjournment

 5.01 Adjournment


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Committee to Review Policing Policies
 11/12/2019



Committee to Review Policing Practices

Community Room @ BPD

Tuesday, November 12th, 2019

Generated by Laura Cheney on November 14th, 2019



Members present: Chief of Staff Jordan Redell, Deputy Chief Jon Murad, Officer Vinny Ross, Chair Randall Harp, Police
Commissioner Jabulani Gamache, City Counselor Joan Shannon, Councilor Perri Freeman, Jim Dunn, Vice-Chair Skyler Nash,
Thomas Nececkas, Melo Grant, Sgt Namdar, Kevin Rodgers and Carter Neubieser.



Staff present: City Attorney Eileen Blackwood, Laura Cheney



1.0 Call to Order

Chair Randall Harp called the meeting to order at 5:49 PM



1.01 Agenda – Additions or Modifications

Motion by Jordan, second by Vinny to adopt agenda.

VOTING: Unanimous; motion carried.



2.01 Public Forum

No speakers.




3.01 Approval of Minutes of 10/29/19
Motion by Skyler, second by Vinny to approve minutes.

VOTING: Unanimous; motion carried




4.01 Discussion: Recommendations on
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Recruitment, Use of Force & Training
Chair Harp noted he will be reporting to the City Council by the end of November and will not be sharing
recommendations, but providing an update and requesting an extension.



Thomas asked if any civilians are involved in reviewing a background check before an officer is hired, particularly around
the issue of domestic violence and potential warning signs.

  • Currently, there is no civilian involvement.
  • Thomas requested that an officer with expertise in domestic violence be involved in reviewing backgrounds prior to
 hire.

Jim inquired about the current state of community policing and foot patrol in Burlington and if neighborhood assignments
are in place.

  • DC Murad noted that various positions, swing shifts led by Sgt DiFranco, and the philosophy of the department, are
 designed to cultivate community policing. In 2020, we will be implementing area assignments to further
 neighborhood policing.
  • Kevin requested further information and data about other proactive and preventative initiatives that foster
 community policing.

Skyler recommended the committee focus on best practices and policy, not debating the math behind how to allocate city
funds.

  • Perri noted she believes participatory budgeting is quite common and we should be involved in budget
 recommendations.
  • Jordan suggested a budget presentation if the committee would like to make recommendations regarding the
 budget.

DC Murad noted that Chief del Pozo has directed the department, and is leading the profession, in a shift toward public
health as a means to reduce crime.



Possible Recommendations:

  • Jim recommended considering incentives to encourage officers to reside within city limits, perhaps starting with a
 small pilot project, to further community policing.
 ◦ Skyler suggested a survey of officers to identify obstacles that may stand in the way of officers living in the
 city.
  • Carter recommended capping the number of officers at 100, in order to reallocate funds to social service
 organizations, investing in social workers on staff, and regional services that are proven to reduce crime.
 ◦ Joan is opposed to reducing the number of officers and noted challenges within her neighborhood of getting
 police response as officers triage and manage more high risk incidents in the downtown area. While it has
 improved as a result of management, reducing the numbers is not the direction to see continued/improved
 attention to other areas of the city.

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  • Kevin recommended further developing community and proactive policing.
  • Perri recommended mandatory implicit bias testing, to include socioeconomic bias, be incorporated into the hiring
 process, as well as training.
 ◦ Jordan inquired about what bias testing is out there and what departments are using bias testing.
 ◦ Perri will research and provide more information.
 ◦ Kevin will share results and data in regard to bias testing.
 ◦ Jesse recommended considering the empathy tool as a replacement for the MMPI as an alternative to implicit
 bias testing. We should evaluate what each of those tests have to offer.
  • Perri recommended looking into ways to help the department meet the goal of achieving diversity to match the city.
  • Kevin recommends changing the role of the police commission to increase its ability to proactively set policy, review
 police activity and improve civilian oversight.

4.02 Discussion: Use of Consultants

Kevin put forth a proposal to gather information from the community about their perceptions and experiences of the
police through a “climate survey” in order to identify root causes and make recommendations. He has a few local
individuals in mind that could help to facilitate the survey.



DC Murad shared details on a recent text survey put out to 15-17K people who’ve interacted with the police and provided
a phone number. We expect, given the size of the pool, it will offer statistical significance. A follow up, longer survey, will be
mailed out and questions will be shared with the committee.

  • Kevin expressed concern about how this was conducted and will be very critical of the results.
  • Kevin requested info on the design, goal and validity of the survey.

City Attorney Blackwood shared info on two recommendations for consultants: The Policing Project at NYU School of Law,
and The Police Executive Research Forum.



Kevin noted the Camden, NJ Use of Force policy is impressive and could be adopted and modified, rather than reinventing
the wheel.



Perri recommended Campaign Zero for consulting and will reach out to them.



Chair Harp inquired about how long the city RFP process typically takes.

  • City Attorney Blackwood noted it could take up to 2 months, and we need to identify and determine the focus for a
 consultant.

Jim noted that the meetings are not well attended by the public, and perhaps getting community members to the
meetings would be helpful.



Chair Harp requested all members share any possible consultants with the committee for further discussion at the next

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meeting.



4.03 BPD Presentation - Disciplinary Process

Postpone to the next meeting.




4.04 Next Meeting Agenda Items & Date
Kevin motioned to start meetings at 5pm on 12/3, second by Skyler.

VOTING: Unanimous; motion carried



Topic for next meeting include:

Disciplinary Process

Consultants

Partnership with Street Outreach -



DC Murad motioned to bring Street Outreach at the beginning of the meeting, second by Chair Harp.

VOTING: Unanimous; motion carried




5.01 Adjournment
Motion by Skler, second by Vinny to adjourn the meeting.

VOTING: Unanimous; motion carried.



Adjourned at 7:54 pm.



Next meeting: December 3, 2019, 5pm.




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