Orange County Grand Jury Report: Oversight of Orange County Law Enforcement Agencies, Resolving a Dichotomy!*

2 Independent reviews of LEAs: The use of independent reviews of LEAs' practices is limited to unique reviews rather than to periodic reviews of policies, procedures, and compliance. Police department practices are continually subject to the scrutiny of independent reviews by the communities that they serve. Beyond complaining to the law enforcement agency itself, community members have a myriad of options to seek redress if they believe that they have been treated unfairly, that the police have acted unlawfully, or that the police are not performing competently. First, community members have access to their elected officials and we as elected officials have the ability to intercede if we believe our police department is operating in an unfair, unscrupulous, or unlawful way. As Mayor, I know that I and the members of our City Council will work through our City Manager to ensure that police practices are consistent with community needs. PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER The Honorable Nancy Wieben Stock August 22, 2006 Second, law enforcement agencies are subject to investigation and intervention by a number of state and federal agencies. Complaints of improper or unlawful actions may at a minimum draw the attention of the state or federal Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission. These state and federal agencies have substantial power and authority to change local police practices as evidenced through Consent Decrees implemented in Los Angeles, Riverside and San Diego. Third, through open records acts, police departments are subject to oversight by the media, privately funded interest groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and independent community members. All police department policies and procedures, with the exception of tactical procedures, are available to the public for review. The media has the ability to bring concerns to the public's attention and private groups have the ability and funds to bring civil actions seeking change. Finally, individual community members who believe they have been aggrieved may access the court system, or they may seek the assistance of the District Attorney or Grand Jury who have subpoena and investigatory powers. All of these review systems are in place and are working effectively. The courts, our elected officials, other governmental agencies, private interest groups and the community all have a vested interest in our police department and together we conduct periodic external reviews of our police department's policies, procedures, and compliance.