Via First Class Mail Oakdale, Ca 95361*

"The Oakdale Police Department is found to be in compliance with deadlines recommended in the 2022-2023 SCCGJ Report related to mandatory Peace Officer Training." Response: We agree. OPD met all the deadlines, and our compliance status was achieved through a robust plan that began in 2021 and intensified through 2023. Our staff implemented a comprehensive training recovery plan, ensuring we were fully compliant with POST requirements ahead of the December 31, 2024, deadline.

2 | Page “Oakdale Police Department officers are current in statewide standards for training required by the California State Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training or have legitimate waivers related to recent dates of hire and training received in the academy within the training cycle." Response: We agree. As noted in both the Compliance Analysis Report and training logs submitted to the SCCGJ, all officers are either compliant or are within the grace period as outlined by POST regulations 1005(d)(2)(A)2 and 1005(d)(2)(A)3. This interpretation was a key point of clarification in our 2023 response.

"The Oakdale Police Department Training Coordinator is in compliance with recommendations included in the 2022–2023 SCCGJ Report related to attendance at the Training Manager's Workshops in 2023 and 2024." Response: We agree. OPD's Training Coordinator attended the February 1, 2023, and December 17, 2024, Training Manager Workshops, as confirmed through records of the California Police Training Managers Association. This reflects our commitment to professional development and maintaining industry best practices.

“The Oakdale Police Department’s Master Training Plan is in order and up to date.” Response: We agree. The revised plan includes Domestic Violence training in the "Police Officer, Field Services" classification as recommended in 2023. This was a direct improvement based on the SCCGJ's earlier recommendation and has been fully implemented. Acknowledging the 2023 Findings and Moving Forward The City of Oakdale previously responded to the 2022-2023 SCCGJ findings (Case #23-10C), acknowledging areas of concern but respectfully clarifying misconceptions regarding our efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting training interruptions. We highlight several key points from our original response: Training Recovery & Planning: By 2022, OPD had doubled POST training hours compared to 2021. A total of over 2,500 hours were completed in 2022 compared to 1,100 in 2021, which was prior to the SCCGJ investigation. LEFTA Implementation: We adopted the LEFTA system in late 2022, a web-based platform that integrates POST EDI and provides proactive training expiration alerts, fundamentally transforming our tracking and compliance capabilities. STOP Training Completion: The four officers identified in the original SCCGJ report as out of compliance were scheduled for STOP training before the release of the report and completed their requirements in early 2023. 3 | Page Training Committee Use: The 2023 report questioned the activity of the Training ٠ Committee. We clarified that under Policy 203, it is convened only as needed for critical incidents. While such incidents have not occurred recently, the Standards and Training Coordinator continues to meet regularly with leadership to discuss and manage training. Lack of Comparable Benchmarking in Original Report: The 2022-2023 Grand Jury report ٠ drew comparisons between OPD and much larger agencies, such as Modesto PD and the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office, each nearly nine times the size of OPD. This approach did not provide an accurate or fair assessment of our training capacity. When measured against similarly sized agencies in the region, OPD's compliance rate was well within the same range. In fact, several agencies of comparable or even larger size reported similar percentages of officers temporarily out of compliance as of January 1, 2023. Furthermore, POST now explicitly accommodates valid reasons why officers may miss mandated training, recognizing circumstances such as injuries, illness, administrative leave, court assignments, or other approved operational duties. Under the POST waiver framework specifically referenced in Form 2-267 and Commission Regulation 1005, agencies can document and justify such absences through a formal Training Waiver Application, providing details such as medical certifications, administrative orders, or duty assignment records to support the case for the officer being out of compliance due to legitimate reasons. This prevents officers from being unfairly marked non-compliant when their absence stems from service-related obligations or personal incapacity. We can reasonably conclude that at least two of the officers identified as out of compliance as of January 1, 2023, would have qualified for compliance if the POST waiver process (including grace periods and documentation for excused absences) had been considered or available at the time. Moving Forward – Sustaining Excellence We are grateful for the commendation offered in the 2025 report, which recognized our proactive and transparent cooperation during this follow-up review. We acknowledge the report's emphasis on sustaining current improvements and will continue to: Ensure all officers remain compliant with POST and state mandates. Maintain and routinely update the Master Training Plan. Guarantee ongoing participation in Training Manager's Workshops. Hold Training Committee meetings when circumstances dictate, in accordance with Policy • 203. Our objective remains the same: to deliver effective, compliant, and community-focused policing, ensuring public trust and safety through well-trained officers. We sincerely thank the SCCGJ for its oversight, professionalism, and partnership in ensuring public accountability. The 2025 findings are a welcome affirmation of our hard work and dedication. OPD remains steadfast in our commitment to training, transparency, and continuous improvement. 4 | Page Because this matter is being presented at the City Council meeting, we felt it was appropriate and in the interest of full transparency to include all correspondence between the Oakdale Police 1 Department and the Stanislaus County Civil Grand Jury. Including these documents ensures that the Council and our community have a complete and accurate record of our communications, responses, and the cooperative steps taken throughout the Grand Jury's investigation and follow- up. This also reflects our commitment to accountability and provides important context for the positive findings included in the final report. Sincerely, Cher Bairos Mayor City of Oakdale Jerry Ramar Interim City Manager City of Oakdale . CHALLELY ROLL 5 | Page - 95 5 5 100 1.0 ----