Police Policy And Procedure Review Task Force presents recommendations
The Grand Rapids Police Policy and Procedure Review Task Force presented, Wednesday, its 38 recommendations aimed at addressing disparate outcomes and strengthening community and police relations. The task force's facilitator, 21st Century Policing, provided its assessment of the Grand Rapids Police Department's efforts to implement the recommendations outlined in President Obama's Task Force on 21st Century Policing.
The local task force's recommendations fall in six areas of GRPD policy review: staffing and deployment, internal affairs, training, youth interactions, community policing and crime reduction, and recruiting and hiring.
GRPD did not wait for the task force's final report to the community before taking action on some of the recommendations. Some steps that have been taken include:
• GRPD is working to identify a consultant following the task force's recommendation that the department conduct a comprehensive staffing and deployment analysis and an assessment of current and future staffing needs.
• The department is conducting regular analysis of its traffic stop data as part of its recent Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) designation.
• Concerns about the conduct of police officers during interactions with community members now may be taken by on - duty supervisors and forwarded to GRPD's Internal Affairs Unit. Previously, community members were referred directly to Internal Affairs, which was open only during normal business hours.
• The department has updated its "Citizen Complaint Procedure" brochure, which is widely distributed in the community and available on the City's website in English and Spanish. The pamphlet provides information on how citizens can file complaints about any GRPD employee and explains the Internal Affairs Unit and its investigation process.
• The department implemented a Youth Interaction Policy that was developed by residents and police officers in consultation with 21st Century Policing and several community partners. City Manager Mark Washington plans to work with Police Chief David Rahinsky, police officers, the City Commission and community members to refine the policy following recent public input.
"I commend our police department for taking these important steps toward strengthening trust with the community," Washington said. "This is a journey, and we know there is much to do. Working together, we can co - create lasting change in our community."
Ron Davis, principal of 21st Century Policing, offered an assessment of GRPD's efforts to implement the recommendations outlined in President Obama's Task Force on 21st Century Policing.
The recommendations are grouped in six pillars: building trust and legitimacy, policy and oversight, technology and social media, community policing and crime reduction, training and education, and officer safety and wellness.
As part of its assessment, 21st Century Policing interviewed GRPD command staff, participated in ride - alongs with GRPD police officers, reviewed key GRPD policies, reports and practices, and received community input.
The assessment concludes that GRPD has made notable efforts in adopting key 21st Century principles and implementing several presidential task force recommendations. They include:
• All GRPD sworn officers have been outfitted with body worn cameras since 2017. GRPD has begun sharing more data with the community. Most recently, it published its Manual of Policy and Procedures online for the first time. GRPD has provided implicit bias training to all personnel.
• The department has developed a Youth Interaction Policy.
• GRPD has made the hiring of a qualified and diverse workforce a priority. The assessment also includes recommendations in the areas of community policing and crime reduction and policy and oversight. The recommendations include:
• The City and GRPD should work with the community to identify and adopt a civilian oversight model that best fits the Grand Rapids community.
All three recommendations align with those of the Police Policy and Procedure Review Task Force.
21st Century Policing also recommended that GRPD fully implement all 38 recommendations by the Police Policy and Procedure Review Task Force, believing they are consistent with the presidential task force report.
"Progress is being made and a solid foundation has been created. With more work and true engagement and partnership with the community, we are confident that GRPD will become a national leader and model in 21st Century policing."
Mayor Rosalynn Bliss thanked the task force and GRPD for their commitment to the work of strengthening community - police relations.
"I want to thank each and every one of you for the significant amount of time and energy you have given to this work over the past 18 months," Mayor Bliss said. "This work has not been easy – it has required a lot of listening, learning and difficult conversations. Your efforts are critically important as we strive to eliminate disparate outcomes and strengthen community - police relations."
The task force plans to compile this feedback and provide a final report to the City Commission in November.
For the complete assessment, visit: https://www.grandrapidsmi.gov/Shortcut-Content/News-Media/Police-Policy-and-Procedure-Review-Task-Force-presents-recommendations-to-community
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