394_-_Community_Relations

Policy 394Mountain View Police Department Mountain View PD Policy Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2021/05/21, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Mountain View Police Department***DRAFT*** Community Relations - 1Community Relations 394.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for community relationship-building. Additional guidance on community relations and outreach is provided in other policies, including the: •Hate Crimes Policy •Limited English Proficiency Services Policy •Communications with Persons with Disabilities Policy •Chaplains Policy •Patrol Function Policy •Suspicious Activity Reporting Policy 394.2 POLICY It is the policy of the Mountain View Police Department to promote positive relationships between members of the department and the community by treating community members with dignity and respect and engaging them in public safety strategy development and relationship-building activities, and by making relevant policy and operations information available to the community in a transparent manner. 394.3 MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES Officers should, as time and circumstances reasonably permit: (a)Make casual and consensual contacts with community members to promote positive community relationships (see the Detentions and Photographing Detainees Policy). (b)Become reasonably familiar with the schools, businesses and community groups in their assigned jurisdictional areas. (c)Work with community members and the department community relations coordinator to identify issues and solve problems related to community relations and public safety. (d)Conduct periodic foot patrols of their assigned areas to facilitate interaction with community members. Officers carrying out foot patrols should notify theEmergency Communications Center of their status (i.e., on foot patrol) and location before beginning and upon completion of the foot patrol. They should also periodically inform Emergency Communications Center of their location and status during the foot patrol. 394.4 INFORMATION SHARING The community relations coordinator should work with the Public Information Officer to develop methods and procedures for the convenient sharing of information (e.g., major incident notifications, significant changes in department operations, comments, feedback, positive events) Mountain View Police Department Mountain View PD Policy Manual Community Relations Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2021/05/21, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Mountain View Police Department***DRAFT*** Community Relations - 2between the Department and community members. Examples of information-sharing methods include: (a)Community meetings. (b)Social media (see the Department Use of Social Media Policy). (c)Department website postings. Information should be regularly refreshed, to inform and engage community members continuously. 394.5 LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS EDUCATION The community relations coordinator should develop methods to educate community members on general law enforcement operations so they may understand the work that officers do to keep the community safe. Examples of educational methods include: (a)Development and distribution of informational cards/flyers (b)Department website postings (c)Presentations to driver education classes (d)Instruction in schools (e)Department ride-alongs (see the Ride-Along Policy) (f)Scenario/Simulation exercises with community member participation (g)Youth internships at the Department (h)Community academies Instructional information should include direction on how community members should interact with the police during enforcement or investigative contacts and how community members can make a complaint to the department regarding alleged misconduct or inappropriate job performance by department members. 394.6 SAFETY AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS Department members responsible for community relations activities should consider the safety of the community participants and, as much as reasonably practicable, not allow them to be present in any location or situation that would jeopardize their safety. Department members in charge of community relations events should ensure that participating community members have completed waiver forms before participation, if appropriate. A parent or guardian must complete the waiver form if the participating community member has not reached 18 years of age. Community members are subject to a criminal history check before approval for participation in certain activities, such as citizen academies. Mountain View Police Department Mountain View PD Policy Manual Community Relations Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2021/05/21, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Mountain View Police Department***DRAFT*** Community Relations - 3394.7 TRANSPARENCY The Department should periodically publish statistical data and analysis regarding the department’s operations. The reports should not contain the names of officers, suspects or case numbers. The community relations coordinator should work with the community advisory committee to identify information that may increase transparency regarding department operations. 394.8 TRAINING Staff should receive regular training related to this policy, including training on topics such as: (a)Effective social interaction and communication skills. (b)Cultural, racial and ethnic diversity and relations. (c)Building community partnerships. (d)Community policing and problem-solving principles. (e)Enforcement actions and their effects on community relations.