Score: +18 (21/1/3)

Sonoma County Grand Jury • 2021-2022

Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety Better Procedures to Avoid Future Misconduct

Published: May 31, 2022 12 pages

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⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.

⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.

Findings and Recommendations 7 findings

The previous Director of Public Safety received one formal written evaluation from the current City Manager during the five years in which he reported to him.

Related Recommendations (1)

By December 31, 2022, the City Manager institute an annual written performance evaluation for the Director of Public Safety. (F1, F2, F3)

During his three-year tenure, the present Director of Public Safety has received only one formal written evaluation, which occurred at the end of his first six months.

Related Recommendations (1)

By December 31, 2022, the City Manager institute an annual written performance evaluation for the Director of Public Safety. (F1, F2, F3)

A single evaluation fails to document the strengths and weaknesses of the Director’s ongoing performance.

Related Recommendations (1)

By December 31, 2022, the City Manager institute an annual written performance evaluation for the Director of Public Safety. (F1, F2, F3)

The City Manager has no formal process to solicit input from within the Public Safety Department and to communicate concerns to the Director of Public Safety.

Related Recommendations (2)

By December 31, 2022, the City Manager obtain input from a representative sample of Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety personnel to be considered in the evaluation of the Director’s annual performance. (F4)

By December 31, 2022, the City Manager establish a schedule for communicating with and getting feedback from the Public Safety Officer Association. (F4, F5)

There is no procedural requirement dictating regularly scheduled meetings between the Director of Public Safety and the City Manager. While meetings currently happen weekly at the request of the current Director, there is no procedure requiring that this practice be maintained into the future.

Related Recommendations (1)

By December 31, 2022, the City Manager establish a schedule for communicating with and getting feedback from the Public Safety Officer Association. (F4, F5)

There is no requirement for the Director of Public Safety to routinely provide presentations or department updates to the City Council in a public setting. Therefore, there is little opportunity to allow community input to or provide transparency of the Department’s activities.

Related Recommendations (2)

By September 30, 2022, the City Manager and the Director of Public Safety complete the preparations for and institute the Public Safety Presentation Calendar as recommended to the City Council on August 10th of 2021. (F6)

By December 31, 2022, the City Manager and the Director of Public Safety complete the recruitment for and establishment of the Chief’s Community Round Table as recommended to the City Council on August 10, 2021. (F6)

Police vehicle tracking has been and remains inadequate.

Related Recommendations (2)

By July 1, 2023, the City Council allocate funds to install GPS tracking on all police vehicles. (F7)

By December 31, 2023, the Director of Public Safety shall install GPS tracking on all police vehicles. (F7)

Conclusions 7

CL1 Page 8

Implemented a new command structure
CL2 Page 8

Tightened up protocols related to vehicle check-out
CL3 Page 8

Implemented electronic barcoding of evidence and other seized items
CL4 Page 8

Implemented camera surveillance and monitoring of the evidence room
CL5 Page 8

Limited access to the evidence room to three designated persons with key access
CL6 Page 8

Implemented counting of seized cash on body worn cameras at time of seizure
CL7 Page 8

Contracted with an outside firm to investigate citizen complaints of RPDPS officers The Grand Jury has identified areas in which we believe improvement can continue to be made to ensure the continued adherence to established policies and procedures. These

Agency Responses 3

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.

City of Rohnert Park

January 01, 2023 • 6 pages • 9 responses • Score: +7 (+8, 0, -1) View Details ▾

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9 responses to findings and recommendations

The previous Director of Public Safety received one formal written evaluation from the current City Manager during the five years in which he reported to him.

Response: Disagree Score: -1

, Rohnert Park's recent monitoring effort included substantial review of back-up documentation and Rohnert Park plans to conduct on-site compliance monitoring of projects for whom the city is the only oversight agency in Fiscal Year 202712023. F3. On-site (in-person) monitoring beyond that required by law is rare due to insufficient personnel, budgetary Iimitations, and relatively low incentives. Rohnert Park Response: Disagree, in part. Please see responses to Findings F1 and F2. F7. The Community Development Commission has informational documents and policies to provide upfront training in t...

During his three-year tenure, the present Director of Public Safety has received only one formal written evaluation, which occurred at the end of his first six months.

Response: Agree Score: +1

agree with the findings numbered F4 F5 F6 E-' F9 F11 I (we) disagree wholly or partially with the findings numbered: F1 F2 F3 F8 F10 The City's statement explaining disputed findings is attached.

Response: Will Implement

Score: +1

R2, R6 and R7 have not yet been implemented, but will be implemented in the future.

A single evaluation fails to document the strengths and weaknesses of the Director’s ongoing performance.

Response: Agree Score: +1

agree with the findings numbered F4 F5 F6 E-' F9 F11 I (we) disagree wholly or partially with the findings numbered: F1 F2 F3 F8 F10 The City's statement explaining disputed findings is attached.

The City Manager has no formal process to solicit input from within the Public Safety Department and to communicate concerns to the Director of Public Safety.

Response: Agree Score: +1

agree with the findings numbered F4 F5 F6 E-' F9 F11 I (we) disagree wholly or partially with the findings numbered: F1 F2 F3 F8 F10 The City's statement explaining disputed findings is attached.

Response: Agree Score: +1

agree with the findings numbered F4 F5 F6 E-' F9 F11 I (we) disagree wholly or partially with the findings numbered: F1 F2 F3 F8 F10 The City's statement explaining disputed findings is attached.

Response: Agree Score: +1

agree with the findings numbered F4 F5 F6 E-' F9 F11 I (we) disagree wholly or partially with the findings numbered: F1 F2 F3 F8 F10 The City's statement explaining disputed findings is attached.

By July 1, 2023, the City Council allocate funds to install GPS tracking on all police vehicles. (F7)

Response: Will Implement

Score: +1

R6 and R7 have not yet been implemented, but will be implemented in the future.

By December 31, 2023, the Director of Public Safety shall install GPS tracking on all police vehicles. (F7)

Response: Will Implement

Score: +1

R7 have not yet been implemented, but will be implemented in the future.

City of Rohnert Park

December 31, 2022 • 3 pages • 12 responses • Score: +11 (+11, 1, 0) View Details ▾

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12 responses to findings and recommendations

The previous Director of Public Safety received one formal written evaluation from the current City Manager during the five years in which he reported to him.

Response: Agree Score: +1

agree with the findings numbered: F1 & F4 I (we) disagree wholly or partially with the findings numbered: F2 F3 F5 F6 &F7 (See attached statement with an explanation of the reasons.

By December 31, 2022, the City Manager institute an annual written performance evaluation for the Director of Public Safety. (F1, F2, F3)

Response: Will Implement

Score: +1

R1 R2 R3 R5 h ave not yet been implemented, but will be implemented in the future.

During his three-year tenure, the present Director of Public Safety has received only one formal written evaluation, which occurred at the end of his first six months.

Response: Agree Score: +1

agree with the findings numbered: F1 & F4 I (we) disagree wholly or partially with the findings numbered: F2 F3 F5 F6 &F7 (See attached statement with an explanation of the reasons.

Response: Will Implement

Score: +1

R2 R3 R5 h ave not yet been implemented, but will be implemented in the future.

A single evaluation fails to document the strengths and weaknesses of the Director’s ongoing performance.

Response: Agree Score: +1

agree with the findings numbered: F1 & F4 I (we) disagree wholly or partially with the findings numbered: F2 F3 F5 F6 &F7 (See attached statement with an explanation of the reasons.

By December 31, 2022, the City Manager establish a schedule for communicating with and getting feedback from the Public Safety Officer Association. (F4, F5)

Response: Will Implement

Score: +1

R3 R5 h ave not yet been implemented, but will be implemented in the future.

The City Manager has no formal process to solicit input from within the Public Safety Department and to communicate concerns to the Director of Public Safety.

Response: Agree Score: +1

agree with the findings numbered: F1 & F4 I (we) disagree wholly or partially with the findings numbered: F2 F3 F5 F6 &F7 (See attached statement with an explanation of the reasons.

Response: Implemented

Score: 0

R4- This recommendation has been implemented as the City Council adopted the Public Safety Presentation Calendar on J une 28,2022.

Response: Agree Score: +1

agree with the findings numbered: F1 & F4 I (we) disagree wholly or partially with the findings numbered: F2 F3 F5 F6 &F7 (See attached statement with an explanation of the reasons.

Response: Will Implement

Score: +1

R5 h ave not yet been implemented, but will be implemented in the future.

Response: Agree Score: +1

agree with the findings numbered: F1 & F4 I (we) disagree wholly or partially with the findings numbered: F2 F3 F5 F6 &F7 (See attached statement with an explanation of the reasons.

Police vehicle tracking has been and remains inadequate.

Response: Agree Score: +1

agree with the findings numbered: F1 & F4 I (we) disagree wholly or partially with the findings numbered: F2 F3 F5 F6 &F7 (See attached statement with an explanation of the reasons.

City of Rohnert Park

December 31, 2022 • 7 pages • 9 responses • Score: 0 (+2, 0, -2) View Details ▾

PDF

9 responses to findings and recommendations

By December 31, 2022, the City Manager institute an annual written performance evaluation for the Director of Public Safety. (F1, F2, F3)

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

While the City appreciates the Grand Jury's attention to the need for affordable housing in Sonoma County, the Grand Jury's report and findings miss the single largest reason for the housing crisis. Until 2011, through their redevelopment agencies, local agencies were able to directly access property tax revenue for the purpose of constructing affordable housing. This "tax increment" and the housing bonds it secured provided a secure, local revenue source that was committed to the construction of affordable housing. ln 2011, in response to budget difficulties at the state level, the legislatur...

Response: Will Implement

Score: +1

R2 and R3 have not yet been implemented, but will be implemented in the future.

A single evaluation fails to document the strengths and weaknesses of the Director’s ongoing performance.

Response: Disagree Score: -1

disagree wholly or partially with the findings numbered: F3, F7, F9, FLo, tL2, F14, F15, F17, F20.

By December 31, 2022, the City Manager establish a schedule for communicating with and getting feedback from the Public Safety Officer Association. (F4, F5)

Response: Will Implement

Score: +1

R3 have not yet been implemented, but will be implemented in the future.

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

By July 1, 2023, the City Council allocate funds to install GPS tracking on all police vehicles. (F7)

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

Police vehicle tracking has been and remains inadequate.

Response: Disagree Score: -1

disagree wholly or partially with the findings numbered: F3, F7, F9, FLo, tL2, F14, F15, F17, F20.

By December 31, 2023, the Director of Public Safety shall install GPS tracking on all police vehicles. (F7)

Response: Unknown

Score: 0