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Antelope Valley Monitoring Team Fourth Semi-Annual Report

June 2017

TABLEOFCONTENTS

INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................................1WORKTODATE...............................................................................................................................5

A. HowthePartiesandMonitoringTeamWork.......................................................5B. Stops,Seizures,andSearchesandBias-FreePolicing...........................................6C. EnforcementofSection8Compliance................................................................13D. CommunityEngagement.....................................................................................17E. UseofForce........................................................................................................23F. PersonnelComplaintReview...............................................................................28G. Accountability......................................................................................................31

CONCLUSION.................................................................................................................................35

AVSemi-AnnualReportIV–June22,2017 1

INTRODUCTIONThisisthefourthsemi-annualreportissuedbytheMonitoringTeam(MT).ItcoversthemonitoringactivitiesthathavetakenplaceduringthisreportingperiodanddescribestheMT’sobservationsastotheprogressofLosAngelesCountyandtheLosAngelesCountySheriff’sDepartment(LASD)inmeetingtherequirementsoftheSettlementAgreement(SA)fortheAntelopeValley(AV).ThisreportisprimarilyfocusedonworkundertakenbetweenJanuary2017andJune2017.Thisreportprovidesanoverviewofbothadministrativeandoperationalissues.TheMThascontinuedtoparticipateinawidearrayoftelephoneandin-personmeetingswiththeLASD,theUSDepartmentofJustice(DOJ),andcommunitymembersandhasextensivelyexchangedandreviewedvariousdocuments.TheMTinteractsonaregularbasiswithseveralunitswithinLASD,consistingoflinestaffuptotopmanagement.MostofthisinteractioniswithorfacilitatedbytheComplianceUnit,anofficeLASDhasdesignatedforSAwork.TheMTcontinuestodevoteconsiderableattentiontoreviewingandrevisingpolicydocuments,todevelopingspecificcompliancemeasuresthatrelatetoeachofthemajortopicsintheSA,andtoaddressingimportantcommunityengagementeffortsbyLASD.Thedevelopmentandimplementationofnewtrainingcurricula,thereviewofLASDdataprocesses,theplanningforanAV-widecommunitysurvey,andinitiatingMTauditswerekeyactivitiesofthisreportingperiod.Thisreportcoversprogressinthoseareas,alongwithadiscussionastohowthisworkfitsintothebroadercontextofachievingtheobjectivesestablishedintheSA.Asinpreviousreports,thisreportaddressestheSAprovisionswheretheDepartmenthasreachedcomplianceormadesubstantialprogress.Thoseprovisionswherecompliancehasnotyetbeenmetarealsodiscussed,withcommentsaboutwhatareaswilllikelyrequiresubstantialtimeandresourcesfortheDepartmenttocomeintocomplianceorfortheMTtoeffectivelyassesslevelsofcompliance.Whenpossible,thisreportalsosummarizesthesequenceofactivitiesandstepsthatneedtobeundertakenfortheDepartmenttoultimatelyachievefullcompliance.TheMTrecognizestheeffortsbyLASDandtheOfficeofCountyCounselandtheircommitmenttoachievingthegoalsoftheSAandmakingrealimprovementstolawenforcementservicesintheAV,aswellasthecontinuingeffortsbyUSDOJstafftosupportmeaningfuloutcomes.TheworkingrelationshipsandprocessesfollowedbyLASD,DOJ,andtheMThaveconsistentlyreflectedaspiritofcooperationandcollaborationeventhroughthesignificantstaffingchangesandtransitionsthattookplaceinLASD’sComplianceUnit,intheAVstations,andattheexecutivelevelofLASDduringthisreportingperiod.TheMTalsoonceagainwantstoacknowledgeandexpresstheirappreciationtothecommunitymembersintheAVfortheircandidparticipationinmeetingsandengagementinthevariousactivitiesthatareunderway.

AVSemi-AnnualReportIV:June22,2017 2

TheAntelopeValleySettlementAgreement:SummaryTheAntelopeValleySettlementAgreement(SA)wasestablishedbetweentheUSDepartmentofJustice(DOJ),CivilRightsDivision;theLosAngelesCountySheriff’sDepartment(LASD);andtheCountyofLosAngelesandwasfiledwiththeUSDistrictCourtfortheCentralDistrictofCaliforniainApril2015.(DOJ,LASD,andtheCountytogetherarereferredtoastheParties.)ThepurposeoftheSAistoensurethattheresidentsoftheAVhavepoliceservicesthatarelawfulandfullyconsistentwiththeConstitutionoftheUnitedStatesandcontemporarypolicingpractices.TheSAspecificallyidentifies,asindividualsections,avarietyofreformsandobjectivestobemetbyLASDintheAVrelatedto:Stops,Seizures,andSearches;Bias-FreePolicing;EnforcementofSection8Compliance;DataCollectionandAnalysis;CommunityEngagement;UseofForce;PersonnelComplaintReview;andAccountability.TheSAalsostipulatesthataprofessionalmonitorbeselectedtotrackandassessLASD’sprogressinimplementingandachievingcompliancewiththeSA,workwiththePartiestoaddressobstaclestoachievingcompliance,andreportonthestatusofimplementationtothePartiesandtheCourt.AsperParagraph171oftheSAbetweentheParties,theMonitorsubmitsasemi-annualreport(everysixmonths);thefirstofthesewasissuedinDecember2015.TheAVliesinthenortheastcorneroftheCountyofLosAngelesandincludestwocities—LancasterandPalmdale—andseveralunincorporatedcommunitiesspreadacrosshundredsofsquaremiles.LASDprovideslawenforcementservicesintheunincorporatedareasoftheAVaswellasviacontractswithPalmdaleandLancaster.AnLASDstationserveseachcity,withlawenforcementactivitiesforthesurroundingareasroughlysplitbetweenthetwo.


MonitoringTeamThecourt-appointedMonitors—Dr.AngieWolfandJosephBrann—haveassembledanexperiencedgroupofteammemberswithcredentialsandskillsuniquelysuitedtothisproject.ThemembershipoftheMTwasfinalizedinMarch2016.ThetwoMonitorsandseventeammembershaveextensiveexpertiseandexperienceinmonitoringandevaluationworkinpolicingandcorrections.Additionally,mostoftheMTmembershaveservedinlawenforcementorcontinuetohavedistinguishedcareersinthisfield,severalintheLosAngelesarea.Severalhaveservedinleadershippositionsinlawenforcementorcorrectionsagenciesduringtheimplementationofthecomplianceperiodofasettlementagreementorconsentdecreeandthereforeunderstandtheuniquechallengesthatlargeorganizationsfaceinthosecircumstances.TheMTmembersalsohaveparticularexpertiseindealingwiththediverseissuesaddressedintheSA,suchasthoserelatedtouseofforce,training,theFairHousingAct(FHA),datacollectionandanalysis,surveymethods,andthecomplexitiesofcommunityengagement.ThisconstellationofteammemberswasassembledtosupporttheMonitors’philosophyofcollaborativereform;itisusingtheprinciplesofevaluationandtechnicalassistancetoprovideanactionableassessmentofLASD’sprogresstowardimplementationoftheSA.AntelopeValleyMonitoringWebsiteThiswebsiteallowsAVcommunitymemberstolearnmoreabouttheSA,thebackgroundsoftheMTmembers,andthemonitoringactivities;accessdocumentsrelatedtothemonitoringwork,includingthesemi-annualreports;followlinkstoLASD’shomepageandotherrelevantwebsites;and—mostimportantly—submitquestionsandcommentsdirectlytotheMT.Thewebsite’sURLisantelopevalleysettlementmonitoring.info


TheSettlementAgreement,ConstitutionalPolicing,andOrganizationalChangeAswehavenotedinpreviousreports,theMTunderstandsandremainsmindfulofthemanycomplexitiesencounteredwhenalargeorganizationundertakesbroadpolicychanges,aswellasthechallengesofimplementingsuchchanges.TheMonitorsalsoappreciatetheconsiderationsofLASDmanagementindealingwithmattersofthisnature,suchaswhetherthechangeswillbeconfinedtotheAVstationsoraffecttheentireorganization;thelikelihoodthatotherexistingpoliciescouldbeaffectedandthereforeneedtoberevised;thatevolving“bestpractices”andlegalconsiderationsalsoinfluencepoliciesrelatedtouseofforce,videorecordings,andsoon;andtheneedinmanyinstancestoconsultwithlaborgroupsorlegalresourcesbeforesuchpolicychangescanoccur.Throughouttheworktodate,theMonitorshavefoundthePartiestobestronglycommittedtoensuringthattherequirementsoftheSAwillnotbeweakenedoroverlookedbecauseoftheseconsiderations.BasedontheongoingcollaborationamongtheParties,theMTbelievestheSAobjectivescanbeachievedinatimelymanner.CriticaltosuccessfullyimplementingandsustainingtheSAreformsisacommitmenttoconstitutionalpolicingprinciples.LASD’sabilitytomeettheseresponsibilitiesisdependentonclearpoliciesandeffectivetraining.OnlywhenpreparedwithsufficienttrainingandclarityaboutthepurposeoftheSAcandeputiesclearlyunderstandwhattheDepartmentexpectsfromthemintheircommunityinteractions.Onlythencandeputieshonorconstitutionalstandardsofpolicing.Departmentcapacityisalsoaffectedbytheneedtohavesufficientaccountabilitysystemsinplacetomonitorandevaluateemployeeperformanceandmanagementoversightpractices.


WORKTODATEThissectionofthereportdescribestheworkperformedtodatebythePartiesandtheMTtofulfilltherequirementsoftheSA,concentratingprimarilyontheactivitiesofthepastsixmonths(JanuarythroughJune2017).ThissectiondetailstheworkofthepastsixmonthsandLASD’sprogresstowardcompliancewitheachofthecoresectionsoftheSA.Majorstepstowardcompliancethatarestilllefttobeaddressedarealsosummarized.Asinpastsemi-annualreports,workrelatedtotwosectionsoftheSA—Stops,Seizures,andSearchesandBias-FreePolicing—areaddressedtogetherinonesection.Theyarecloselyrelatedintheirpurposeandgoals,andtheworkperformedtoaddressthosesectionsisoftendoneinconcert.Additionally,onecoresectionoftheSA—DataCollectionandAnalysis—isnotaddressedindividually.TheconceptsandactivitiesfordatacollectionandanalysishavesignificantoverlapwiththeothersectionsoftheSA.Theworkondatacollectionandanalysisdonethusfarisbestunderstoodwithinthecontextoftheothersectionstowhichitalsopertains;therefore,relateddiscussionsareembeddedasappropriateinthoseothersections.Finally,someSAparagraphswillbediscussedinmorethanonesectionofthisreportbecausesomeSAparagraphsaddressmorethanoneareaofAVpolicing.Forexample,Paragraph51concernsconstitutionalstopsandsearches,Section8housingcompliance,andbias-freepolicing.Similarly,“accountability”isaddressedthroughouttheSA,notonlyintheAccountabilitysection.A. HowthePartiesandMonitoringTeamWorkTocompletetheworkoftheSA,thePartiesandtheMTareindailycommunicationthroughavarietyofmeans.Inthissix-monthperiod,thePartiesandMTheldmultiplemeetingsatLASDheadquarters,theofficesoftheComplianceUnit,otheradministrativeoffices,andintheAV.TheMTperiodicallymetinpersonwiththecaptainsofbothAVstationsandtheirstaffandparticipatedinmultipleonsitemeetingswithLASD’sComplianceUnit,usuallyregardingspecificissuessuchaspolicyreviewanddatasystemdiscussions.TheMTalsoheldmeetingswithparticularunitsorleadershipfromotheroperationsthatarecriticaltothisreformwork,suchastheAuditandAccountabilityBureau(AAB)andtheCommanderinchargeoftraining,andobservedasemi-annualLASDriskmanagementmeeting.AlthoughsomeofthesemeetingsandeventsweregeneralinscopeandpertainedtomanysectionsoftheSA,mostwererelatedtospecificsectionsorprovisionsoftheSAandaredescribedingreaterdetailbelow.ThePartiesandMTalsoparticipatedinseveralsmall-andlarger-groupcommunitymeetingsinPalmdaleandLancasterwherevarioustopicswerediscussedsuchastheThirdSemi-AnnualReport,communityperceptionsaboutLASDanditsapproachtopolicing,andtheCommunityAdvisoryCommittees(CAC).Inadditiontoin-personmeetings,thereareavarietyofconferencecallseachmonthalongwithdailyemailortelephonecommunicationbetweenrepresentativesoftheDOJ,theCountyofLosAngeles,LASD,andtheMT.TheMTandDOJparticipateinabimonthlycalltoaddresssubstantiveissuesandplanning;anothersimilarbimonthlycallisheldthatinvolvestheMT,theDOJ,andtheComplianceUnit;andtheMTandParties,includingtheOfficeofCountyCounselandextendedLASDcommandstaff,participateinamonthlytelephoneconferencecalltodiscussworkflow,futureeventsandmeetings,andothersalienttopics.Whenallarenotabletobephysicallypresentinthesemeetings,videoconferencingisusedwheneverpossible.Documentsaresharedextensivelyviaemailforthepurposesofreviewandcollaborativedevelopmentofthevariouspoliciesandprocedures,trainingcurriculum,communityengagement


materials,audits,andotherwrittenelementsoftheSA.LASDsharesdepartmentaldatainvariousformatswiththeMTviasecureemailanddigitalmedia.B. Stops,Seizures,andSearchesandBias-FreePolicingTwosectionsoftheSA—Stops,Seizures,andSearchesandBias-FreePolicing—arediscussedtogetherinthissectionofthesemi-annualreport,becausetheirtenetsandgoalsarecloselylinked,andbecausetheirprovisionsareoftenaddressedbythesameLASDandMTactivities.ThesetwosectionsoftheSAprovidetheframeworkforensuringthatLASD-AVpolicyandtrainingmoreeffectivelycommunicatetheconstitutionalprinciplesandtenetsofmodernpolicingthatguideencountersbetweenlawenforcementandcommunitymembers.WoventhroughouttheSAaretheguidingprinciplesaimedatstrengtheningtherelationshipbetweenLASD-AVdeputiesandthediversecommunitiestheyserve.Thefoundationoftheserelationshipsispredicatedupontrust.Onceestablished,trustenablestheopenandhonestcommunicationintendedintheSAandadvancesthecollaborativeeffortsrequiredtoaccomplishacommongood.However,creatingandsustainingtrustcanbeaconstantchallengeandcanrequirenuancedsensitivitiesandskillsduetotheuniquenatureofpoliceworkandtheconflictingexpectationsanddemandsmadebythepublic.Thosearetherealitiesthatlawenforcementpersonnelencounterandmustnavigateonadailybasis.ManytypesofinteractionsandopportunitiestobuildordiminishtrustbetweenLASDpersonnelandcommunitymembersflowoutoftheseinteractions,somearisingfromlawenforcementactions,othersstemmingfromservicesbeingrenderedtocitizensincrises,suchasduringmedicalemergenciesorotherformsofassistance.EquallysignificantarethoseopportunitiestoengagewiththepublicduringcommunitymeetingsandotherpubliceventssponsoredbytheDepartmentorbycommunitygroups.ManyLASDpersonnelwhoworkintheAValsolivethereandthereforeoftenhaveoff-dutyinteractionsascitizens.Thenatureofadeputy–citizenencounter—andthecircumstancesthatleaduptoit—isoftenthebasisforanysubsequenttensionthatmightarise.PerhapsmostcrucialtotheLASD’scommunityrelationshipsareencounterswhereLASDdeputiesstop(andpotentiallydetain,search,orarrest)civilianswhomtheybelievehavecommittedorareabouttocommitacrime,orhaveinformationaboutillegalbehavior.Althoughitisoftenthemannerinwhichtheencounterendsthatcatalyzesanger,fear,mistrust,andthedemiseofrelationships,thedecisionsthatleadtotheencounterandthemannerinwhichthedeputycarriesouthis/herfunctionsisofequalimportance,especiallywhenconsideringthemultitudeofsuchencountersovertimethatdonotresultinarrest.Relationshipscanbeparticularlytestedifthepersonstoppedperceives,ormayevenalreadybeinclinedtobelieve,adiscriminatorymotiveservesastheunderlyingbasisforthestop.Regardlessofwhethertheseencountersbeginconsensuallyorarearesultofsuspicionofcriminalactivity,theSAdetailshowLASDneedstoimprovethemannerinwhichthoseencountersaretooccurfromthemomenttheybeginuntilthemomenttheyend.Considerationofthenatureandimpactoftheseinteractionsisanaspectofproceduraljustice.


ANoteonConsensualandNon-ConsensualEncountersTypically,encountersbetweenlawenforcementofficersandthosetheyservefallintotwodistinctcategories,bothofwhicharecontrolledbythetermsandconditionsoftheSA:“consensual”encountersand“detentions.”Consensualencountersarethosethatbeginfreelyandvoluntarilyandaresuchthatpersonsengagedintheencountermaywalkordriveawayatanytimewithoutbeingdetainedagainsttheirwill.Thevastmajorityofthistypeofencounterbeginsandendscordiallyanddonotnegativelyimpactaperson’strustandconfidenceinlawenforcement.Investigativedetentions,ontheotherhand,ariseundercircumstanceswhereadeputyhasareasonablesuspicionthatthepersonbeingdetainedmaybeengagedinsomeformofcriminalbehavior.Insuchcases,ourConstitution—andthecourtcasesthathaveinterpreteditsmeaning—permitsthedeputytotakereasonablestepstoconfirmordispeltheirsuspicion.Investigativedetentionsarebriefinnatureandcansometimesresultinalimitedsearchor“pat-down”ofthepersonstoppedbutonlyifthedeputyhasreasonablesuspiciontobelievethatthepersonisarmedwithaweaponormayposeadangertothedeputyorothersonthescene.1Theverynatureoftheseencountersrequiresstrictadherencetopolicyandthelegalprinciplesthatguidethedeputy’sactions.Moreover,itisimportantthattheseencountersbethoroughlydocumentedandrigorouslyreviewedbysupervisorsandcommandpersonneltoensurethatthedeputy’sactionsarefreefrombiasandthattheconstitutionalrightsofconstituentsareprotectedandpreserved.LASDStopsPolicyandtheSettlementAgreementThechangestoLASDpolicyrelatedtostops,searches,andseizuresrequiredbytheSAaddressthreeareas:

1. HowLASDdeputiesinteractwithciviliansinthefield;

2. Theinformationdeputiesarerequiredtorecordaboutthoseinteractions;and

3. Howsupervisorsandmanagersmustmonitorandevaluatetheappropriatenessofthoseinteractions.

ThepoliciesandpracticesthatguidetheworkofthedeputieswhoservetheAVarecontainedwithintheLASDPolicyManual.ChapterNine,VolumeFiveofthemanualaddressesconstitutionalpolicingand

1“Reasonablesuspicionissufficienttojustifybriefstopsanddetentions,butnotenoughtojustifyafullsearch.Whendeterminingreasonablesuspicion,courtsconsidertheeventsleadinguptothebriefstopanddecidewhetherthesefacts,viewedfromthestandpointofanobjectivelyreasonablepoliceofficer,amounttoreasonablesuspicion.Courtslookatthetotalityofthecircumstancesofeachcasetoseewhethertheofficerhasaparticularizedandobjectivebasisforsuspectinglegalwrongdoing.”(Seehttps://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/reasonable_suspicion.)


investigativestops(5-09/520.00).EachofthesubstantiveLASDpoliciesisspecificallyaddressedwithintheSA.2TheseprovisionswereincludedintheSAtoensurethatallcontactsbetweendeputiesandcitizensaresafe;professional;respectful;fair;objective;andconsistentwithourConstitution,therequirementsoftheSA,andtheguidingprinciplesestablishedbyLASDpolicy.Generally,SAparagraphspertainingtodeputyandcommunityinteractionwillassisttheDepartmentinmeasuringthequalityofdecisionmaking,enhancetheDepartment’sabilitytocapturerelevantdatapoints,andultimatelyimprovetheleveloftransparencyandaccountabilitywithregardtotheseimportantconstitutionalpolicingprinciples.Forinstance,theSAestablishesaseriesofrequirementsnotpreviouslypartofLASDpolicyregardingdatatobecollectedduringaninvestigativestop(Paragraph44),

theindividualizedreasonablesuspicionthatwouldjustifyaback-seatdetention(Paragraph47),andaseriesofotherprovisionsthatarespecifictoSection8andParoleandProbationcompliancechecks(Paragraphs53–56).ThecompletionofthoroughnarrativeswillpermitLASDtomoreeffectivelymonitorthedecisionsthatadeputymaymakethatleadstoaninvestigativedetention,search,orarrest.EquallyimportantisafrequentandcomprehensivereviewofthosenarrativestoensurethatthedecisionsdeputiesmakearebasedontheConstitutionandinfullcompliancewithLASDpolicyandtherequirementsoftheSA.TheserequirementswillalsobethebasisfortheMT’srigorousandthoroughexaminationofthedocumentationthatdeputiesprepareinthefield,datathatareenteredintotherecordsmanagementsystems,andtheinformationultimatelyreviewedandapprovedbyfirst-linesupervisorsandcommandpersonnel.ThiswillbeasignificantareaoftheMT’sfocusasitbeginsmoreregularlyreviewingthecaptureddata.TrainingThedevelopmentandimplementationofpoliciesthatareconstitutionallysoundandconsistentwiththetermsoftheSAandbestlawenforcementpracticesrequireseffective,comprehensive,andconsistentlyreinforcedtraining.TheSAclarifiesthebasicelementsofthattraining,butitremainsLASD’sresponsibilitytodevelopsuchtrainingandensurethatitisproperlydeliveredtotheLASDpersonnelintheAV.ThoseprovisionsaresetoutinParagraphs57and70–72.Additionally,Paragraphs160–163requirethattheMonitorsreviewtheadequacyoftraining,trainingneeds,andthedocumentationoftraining.TheseprovisionsrequireLASDtosubmittrainingcurriculaandlessonplansforreviewpriortopublicationandimplementation,requiretheMTtoprovidefeedback,andsetoutatimelineforimplementationoncethatfeedbackisprovidedandthePartiesagreeonthecontent.MonitoringActivitiesinthisReportingPeriodOverthepastsixmonths,themajorityoftheParties’andMT’sactivitiesregardingthissectionweredevotedtothedevelopmentoftrainingcurriculaanditsimplementation.ThetraininginquestionaddressesthreesectionsoftheSA:Stops,Seizures,andSearches;Bias-FreePolicing;andEnforcementofSection8Compliance.ThetrainingrelatedtoStops,Seizures,andSearchesisoftenreferredtoas2SeeParagraphs41–63.Forexample,thefollowingareincludedwithinthoseprovisions:Stops,Searches,andSeizures(520.05);BackSeatDetentions(520.10);ConsensualContacts(520.15);LoggingPublicContacts(520.20);LoggingFieldContacts(520.25);andStatisticalCodesforStops(520.30).


constitutionalpolicingtraining.LASDalreadyprovidedthistrainingtoitsdeputies;however,theSArequiresthatitberevisedandamended.Thetrainingsrelatedtobias-freepolicingandSection8werenotpreviouslyprovidedbyLASD.Workinthissix-monthperiodwasacontinuationofthatbegunafterreviewofthematerialsinitiallysubmittedbytheLASDinthesummerof2016andanewlydevelopedcurriculumaddressingSection8andtheFHA.Withrespecttoanewlydevelopedcurriculumforbias-freepolicing,thetrainingmaterialsfocusonculturalcompetency,principlesofbias-freepolicing,proceduraljusticeandlegitimacy,effectivecommunicationstrategies,andcommunityengagement.Thetraininghasbeendevelopedasoneeight-hourtrainingfocusedonconstitutionalpolicingandanothereight-hourtrainingonbias-freepolicingandhousing.TheMTispleasedwiththeParties’effortstocometoagreementoverthecontentofthistrainingandthemannerinwhichitwillbedeliveredtodeputies.(Seebelow,SectionII-DEnforcementofSection8Compliance,forfurtherdiscussionofthistraining.)Inadditiontotraining,workcontinuedonthefinalizationofLASD’sLimitedEnglishProficiency(LEP)policy.ThepolicyaddresseseffortsbytheDepartmenttoprovidetimelyandeffectiveservicestocivilianswhoarenotproficientintheEnglishlanguage.Mostaspectsofthepolicyhavebeensettled.Thekeyremainingissueinvolvesthecircumstancesinwhichdeputiescanusetheservicesofnon-certifiedtranslatorsinthefield.IthasrequiredextensivecollaborationandcompromisetodescribeinpolicylanguagetheproperbalancebetweenthepracticalconsiderationsoffieldworkandensuringtheDepartment’shighstandardsforeffectivecommunicationaremet,aswellastheresponsibilitiesforensuringtheprotectionofeveryindividual’sconstitutionalrights.SeveraliterationshavebeendiscussedatlengthamongtheParties.ThePartiesandMTspecificallyaddressedremainingissuesregardingtheLEPpolicyduringin-personmeetingsinmid-June,2017andwillcontinuediscussionsinthenextreportingperiod.ExpectedActivitiesintheNextSixMonthsThedevelopmentandimplementationofthetrainingshouldbeinplacepriortobeginningtheprocessofmonitoringcomplianceinareaspertainingtoinvestigativestops,detentions,andsearchesandbias-freepolicing.Thistrainingwaspilotedinmid-June2017.TheMTandDOJwereonsitetoobserveandevaluatethetrainingand,alongwithLASD,offeredimmediatefeedbacktothetrainers.TheMTandPartiesalsodiscussedfeedbackgatheredfromdeputiesthroughapost-trainingsurvey.Discussionsregardingfurtherrevisionstothetrainingsarescheduledearlyinthenextreportingperiod.Aftertrainingimplementationandoversubsequentreportingperiods,MTmemberswillworkwithLASDtoassesscompliancewiththeimplementationrequirements(e.g.,whichdeputiesreceivethetrainingandhowoften)andbegintoevaluatetheimpactofthetraininginthefield.Simultaneously,theMTwillassesswhetherstopdataarebeingcollectedandreviewedinthemannerproscribedintheSAandpolicy.TheMTwillspendtimeinthefieldwithdeputiesmonitoringdatainputandsubsequentlyreviewingandauditingthedatatoensureitsaccuracy.Thiswillrequireidentifyingastatisticallyvalidsamplingoffilesandreviewingthemtoassesscompliance.AnydeparturesfromtheSAandLASDpolicyidentifiedbytheMTwillbecomparedwiththefindingsoffirst-linesupervisorsandmanagerstodeterminewhetherandwhenappropriateremedialactionsaretaken.


StepsTowardComplianceAstheLASDundertakesthedevelopmentandimplementationoftheirpolicies,practices,andtrainingtoensuretheseareconsistentwiththetermsandconditionsoftheSA,complianceatallstagesoftheseprocessesisbeingevaluated.Thetypicalsequenceofworkorstepsinvolvedinmeasuringcomplianceinvolvesanexaminationof(1)thedevelopmentofneworrevisedpolicies,(2)thedevelopmentandimplementationofneworrevisedtraining,(3)theextenttowhichthestatedintentionsandgoalsoftheSAarereflectedinfieldoutcomes,and(4)whethersupervisionandmanagementpersonnelarebeingheldaccountableforresultsasshownbytheirconductingthoroughandtimelyactivityreviewsofthoseitems/issuesaddressedintheSA.FullandsubstantialcompliancewillrequireacarefulandsystematicreviewofdataaswellasdirectobservationsandotherMTactivities.LASD’sthoroughcollectionandreviewofthesedatahasyettobefullyimplemented,precludingtheMT’sabilitytoyetdeterminesomelevelsofcompliance.Forexample,althoughtheSAsetsoutthemannerinwhichstopsaretobedocumentedandevaluated,ithasnotyetreviewedthoseencountersduetolimitationsinthewayinwhichdeputiescaptureandeffectivelymemorializeencountersinthefield.AmoredetaileddescriptionofthoselimitationsandhowtheyaffecttheMT’sabilitytoeffectivelymonitorcompliancefollows.Policies

Asnotedaboveandinpriorsemi-annualreports,theMTandDOJhaveapprovedseveralneworrevisedLASDpolicesgoverningcertainpatrolpolicies,datacollectionandsupervisionpertainingtodeputyandcommunityinteractions,anddatacollectionforinvestigatorystopsanddetentions(Paragraph42);thenarrativereportingrequiredasaresultofaninvestigativestopanddetention(Paragraph44f);thereasonsforseekingconsentfromasubject(Paragraph44j);thelanguagerequiredwhencompletinganinvestigativestopanddetentionreport(Paragraph45);thehandlingofcomplaintsarisingfromback-seatdetentions(Paragraph49);theimplementationofadditionalaccountabilityandsupervisionpracticesregardingstops,searches,andseizures(Paragraph58);thereviewofreportingpertainingtoinvestigativestopsanddetentions(Paragraph60);andtheremedialstepstobetakenregardingviolationsofpolicyanddeficienciesinstops,detentions,searches,andbias-freepolicing(Paragraphs61–63).Asdescribedabove,theLEPpolicy(Paragraphs52,66,and125)isstillunderreview.Training

Asdescribedabove,thenewlydevelopedtrainingcurriculumrepresentsasignificantsteptowardcomplianceontrainingpertainingtostops,seizures,andsearches;bias-freepolicing;andSection8complianceandtheFHA.TheMTanticipatestheDepartmentshouldbeclosetoreachingcomplianceonseveralaspectsoftrainingimplementationinthenextreportingperiod,especiallyregardingthebasicimplementationofthetraining,processingoffeedbackregardingthetrainingthathasbeenprovided,documentationthatthetrainingisbeingprovidedtoexistingandnewdeputiesintheAVonatimelybasisasdefinedintheSA,anddocumentationandMTobservationofquarterlyrollcalltrainingsemphasizingthepreventionofdiscriminatorypolicing(Paragraph72).


AnalysisIn2016,theLASDsubmittedareporttotheMTentitledAnalysisofLASDStopandUseofForceDataforAntelopeValleyrespondingtoSAParagraphs82–83and120–121.Asdiscussedinthepreviousreport,theMTreviewedthereportextensivelyanddidnotrecommendapproval.ThereportwasrevisedandrecentlyresubmittedforMTreviewbutnotintimetoallowdiscussioninthisreport.TheMTishopefulthatinthenextreportingperiod,analysispertainingtoadditionalprovisionsoftheSA,suchasParagraphs84and85,willalsobeaddressed.Theseparagraphsrequirethatstopdataanduse-of-forcedatabeanalyzedtotracktrendsandexaminespecificelementsofDepartmentactivitiessuchasparticularreportingperiodsandunits.OtherSAProvisionsFollowingfullimplementationofthetraining,theMTwillbeginassessingcompliancewiththeotherSAprovisionsgoverningstops,seizures,andsearches;bias-freepolicing;andhousingthroughavarietyofmeans,includingbutnotlimitedtoreviewofLASDaudits,performingitsownMTaudits,reviewofdataentrytechnicalcapacityandrelatedprocedures,analysisofoutcomesdata(e.g.,theStopandUseofForcereport),observationsofLASDpersonnelatthestationsandinthefield,reviewoftheCommunitySurveyandotherstudies,reviewofcommunitycomplaints,andinterviews.TheSArequiresthattheDepartmentcomplieswitheachoftheseprovisionsandremainsincomplianceforaperiodofatleastoneyear.EachoftheSAprovisionslistedinthePolicysectionaboveandotherprovisionsrelatedtopolicingpractice,datacollection,supervision,andmanagementwillberegularlytrackedtoensurethatanynewpoliciesarefollowed,thatdeputiesandsupervisorsareheldresponsiblewhenpoliciesandproceduresarenotfollowed,andthatsystemicissuesinhibitingcomplianceareaddressed.Compliancewithsomeoftheseisexpectedfairlyquickly.However,severalprovisionsthatwilllikelytakeeffortandtimetoreachandholdcompliancehavenotyetbeenfullyaddressed.Someofthesearelistedbelow,dividedintothreecategoriesofSAprovisions:supervisionandmanagement,constitutionalandbias-freepolicing,andauditsandoutcomesanalysis.Theyincludeprovisionsthataddressconstitutionalandbias-freepracticesateveryleveloftheorganizationandtheroleofsupervisorsandmanagersinensuringadherencetopolicyandproceduresbyLASDpersonnel.AmongthemarealsosomeprovisionsthatwillrequiresubstantialeffortsonthepartofLASDtodevelopandimplementregulartrackingandanalysisofpolicingdata.

RemainingSAProvisionsonSupervisionandManagementSergeantsassignedasratersshallregularlyaudittheirassigneddeputies’stop,search,andseizuredocumentationinadditiontoarrestreportsandcitationsforcompleteness,accuracy,andlegalsufficiency.SergeantsshallauditatleastoneCADlogforeachdeputyundertheirsupervisioneachweek.Sergeantsshallconductfurtherreviewasindicatedbyweeklyaudits,PPIinformation,andotherindicia(Paragraph59).3

3ThisreportgivesthefulltextofsomebutnotalloftheSettlementAgreementparagraphsthatarediscussed.Thoseeitherquotedorparaphrasedareincludedasparticularlyimportantparagraphsordealwithspecificissuesaddressedinthisreport.


Ifadeputy’sstop,search,orseizuredocumentationdoesnotprovidesufficientdetailorarticulatesufficientlegalandpolicyjustificationfortheaction,thesupervisorshallreviewtheactionwiththedeputytodeterminewhethertherewassufficientlegalandLASDpolicyjustification(Paragraph60).AntelopeValleysupervisorsandcommandersshalltakeappropriateactiontoaddressallviolationsordeficienciesinstops,searches,andseizuresincludingnon-disciplinarycorrectiveactionfortheinvolveddeputy,and/orreferringtheincidentfordisciplinaryaction(Paragraph61).LASDagreestoholdaccountablesupervisorsandAntelopeValleystationcommandersforappropriatelyandthoroughlyreviewingreportsanddocumentationrelatedtostops,searches,andseizures,andrequiringdeputiestoarticulatesufficientrationaleunderlawandLASDpolicy(Paragraph63).RemainingSAProvisionsonConstitutionalandBias-FreePolicing

LASD-AVdeputiesshallnotuserace,color,ethnicity,nationalorigin,religion,gender,genderidentity,disability,orsexualorientationasafactor,toanyextentordegree,inestablishingreasonablesuspicionorprobablecause,exceptaspartofactualandcredibledescription(s)ofaspecificsuspectorsuspectsinanycriminalinvestigation(Paragraph43).LASD-AVdeputiesshallnotuserace,color,ethnicity,nationalorigin,religion,gender,genderidentity,disability,sexualorientation,orgenderidentityinexercisingdiscretiontoconductasearch,exceptaspartofanactualandcredibledescriptionofaspecificsuspectorsuspectsinanycriminalinvestigation(Paragraph50).Inconductingitsactivities,LASDagreestoensurethatmembersofthepublicreceiveequalprotectionofthelaw,withoutbiasbasedonrace,color,ethnicity,nationalorigin,religion,gender,genderidentity,disability,orsexualorientation,andinaccordancewiththerightssecuredorprotectedbytheConstitutionorlawsoftheUnitedStates.Deputiesshallnotinitiatestopsorotherfieldcontactsbecauseofanindividual’sactualorperceivedimmigrationstatus(Paragraph64).LASDagreestocontinuetoconsultwiththeMuseumofTolerancepersonnelandotherstoensureclearguidanceforLASD-AVdeputies,throughpolicy,training,andsupervision,onprohibitedconduct,includingselectiveenforcementornon-enforcementofthelawandtheselectionorrejectionofparticulartacticsorstrategies,baseduponstereotypesorbias.LASDagreestoconsultwithexpertstoensurethatthemannerinwhichguidanceisprovidedtopersonneltakesintoaccounttheinfluencesofimplicitbiasandstereotypethreat(Paragraph65).LASD-AVagreestoincorporaterequirementsregardingbias-freepolicingandequalprotectionintoitsperformanceassessmentprocesses,includinggivingsignificantweighttoanindividual’shistoryofsustainedbias-relatedviolations,aswellasusingallavailablemethodstoassesstheindividual’sabilitytoeffectivelypracticebias-freepolicing(Paragraph67).


RemainingSAProvisionsonAudit,Tracking,orOutcomeAnalysisbyLASDLASD-AVshallcollectandanalyzedatarelatedtosearchesbasedonprobationorparolestatus.LASDshallassesstheefficacyofthistacticanditsimpactonthecommunityandmakepolicychangesaccordingly(Paragraph46).AntelopeValleysupervisorsandcommandersshalltrackrepeatedviolationsoftheprovisionsofthisagreementordeficienciesandthecorrectiveactiontaken,ifany,inPPI(Paragraph62).LASDagreestoutilizeexpertsandthecommunitysurveyoutlinedbelowtostudyorganizationalclimateandcultureintheAntelopeValleystationstoaidindevelopingtherequirementsofthissection.Personnelwillbeallowedtoconfidentiallyprovideinformationforthestudy.LASDwillconductlongitudinalclimateandculturestudiesduringthecourseofthisAgreement(Paragraph69).WithinoneyearoftheEffectiveDate,andannuallythereafter,LASDwillassessallprograms,initiatives,andactivitiesinvolvingtheAntelopeValleyStationstodeterminetheextentofanydisparateimpactandtoensurethatnoprogram,initiative,oractivityisappliedoradministeredinamannerthatunlawfullydiscriminatesagainstindividualsonthebasisofrace,color,ethnicity,nationalorigin,religion,gender,genderidentity,disability,orsexualorientation(Paragraph68).

C. EnforcementofSection8ComplianceThe2015lawsuitbytheDOJagainsttheCountyofLosAngelesandtheLASDallegedinpartthatactionstakenbytheDepartmentdeputiesviolatedtheFHAbydiscriminatingagainstcertainAfricanAmericanresidents.Thelawsuitfollowedaninvestigationthatfoundthat,between2004and2011,LASD-AVdeputies—togetherwiththeHousingAuthorityoftheCountyofLosAngeles,residents,andcityofficials—engagedinapatternandpracticeofdiscriminationagainstpredominantlyAfricanAmericanSection8voucherholdersinLancasterandPalmdale.TheSArequiresthatLASDdevelopandimplementaHousingNon-Discrimination(HND)PolicythatreflectsitscommitmentnottoviolatetheFHA(Paragraph73).Thisisanewpolicy,notarevisionofanexistingpolicy.InadditiontothenewFHApolicy,theSArequiresLASDtoreviseitscurrentrulesregardinghousing-related“accompaniment.”AccompanimentisthetermthatdescribesdeputiesjoininghousingauthorityworkersonvisitstothehomesofSection8voucherholders.ThecurrentsuchLASDpolicyiscontainedinadocumentcalledFieldOperationsDirective(FOD)12-02.(PoliciesandFieldOperationsDirectivesarebothformal,writtendocumentsthatdescribeLASDpolicies,buttheyaredevelopedandissuedaccordingtosomewhatdifferentprocesses.)FOD12-02wasimplementedin2012astheresultofthesettlementofalitigationcalledCommunityActionLeague;etal.v.CityofLancaster,CityofPalmdaleetal.(TheSAistheproductofaDOJlawsuit,nottheCommunityActionLeaguelawsuit.)TheSArequiresthatFOD12-02berevisedtoaddressthefollowingEnforcementofSection8Complianceprovisions:


ReviseitspoliciescontainedinFOD12-02regardingdeputyaccompanimentofhousingauthorityworkerswhentheyconductadministrativeinvestigations/inspectionsforcomplianceintheSection8Programtospecificallyoutlinefactorstobeconsideredwhenassessingtheneedfordeputyaccompanimentandthenumberofdeputiesnecessaryforaccompaniment(Paragraph76).

InstitutepoliciesregardinginvestigationsuponreferralbythehousingauthorityofallegationsoffraudintheSection8Program(Paragraph77).

InstitutepoliciesregardingitsownindependentinvestigationsofallegedfraudintheSection8Program(Paragraph77).

ReviseitspoliciestoincludeguidanceforreferralofcasesforcriminalprosecutionforfraudbasedsolelyoncompliancewiththeSection8contract(Paragraph77).

Reviseitspoliciestoincludeguidanceonproperproceduresforsharinginformationwithahousingauthority(Paragraph77).

Havedeputiesdocumentallvoucherholdercompliancechecks,eachindependentinvestigationforcriminalfraudbasedonvoucherholdercompliancewiththevouchercontractandallcalls,observations,orincidentsinvolvingvoucherholdersusingstatcode787(Paragraphs78–80).

MonitoringActivitiesinthisReportingPeriodDuringthissix-monthreportingperiod,theMTcontinuedtoworkwithrepresentativesfromtheDOJCivilRightsDivisionHousingSectionandLASDtodrafttheHNDPolicyandreviseFOD12-02andtoarriveatpolicieswithsufficientclarity,completeness,andconsistencytoguideLASDpersonnelinidentifyingandhandlingFHAandSection8accompanimentissues.AlloftheworkonthesepolicieswasconductedthroughconferencecallsandexchangesofwrittendocumentsamongthePartiesandMT.TheMTalsoengagedinextensivediscussionswithDOJandLASDrepresentativesregardinghousing-relatedSAtrainingrequirements.TherearespecificSection8-relatedhousingtrainingrequirementsintheStops,Seizures,andSearchessectionoftheSA(Paragraph57a).Further,theBias-FreePolicingsectionoftheSArequiresLASDtoprovideallLASD-AVdeputieswithtrainingthatincludes“therequirementsoftheFHA,withspecificemphasisondiscriminationonthebasisofrace”(Paragraph70e).Multiplediscussionswereheldbyphoneandinpersonthatfocusedonthecurricula,trainingmaterials,andlogisticsforthesetrainings.HousingNon-DiscriminationPolicyRegardingtheHNDPolicy,theMTandPartiesspentthemajorityofthetimethisreportingperiodonthepolicy’sformatratherthanitscontent.Specifically,thequestionwaswhethertoissuetheNovember2016draftHNDPolicyasapolicyintheLASDManualofPoliciesandProcedures(MPP)orasanFOD.TheMThadtwokeyconcerns:thatthenewpolicyappliestoalldeputies(notjustthoseintheAV)andthattherebeanappropriatereviewanddisciplinaryprocessinplacetodealwithanyviolationsofthepolicy.TheSArequiresthatLASD“implementaHousingNon-DiscriminationPolicythatreflectsLASD’scommitmenttotherequirementsoftheFHAandexplainshowtofileacomplaintofdiscriminationinhousing”(Paragraph73).Bytheseterms,theHNDPolicyappliestoallLASDpersonnel.Initially,theMTandDOJtookthepositionthat,toensureDepartment-wideapplicationandaneffectivedisciplinary


process,itmustbewrittenasastandardpolicyandbeplacedintheLASDMPP.Ontheotherhand,LASDbelievedthat,basedontheHNDPolicy’sproposedwording,itwouldbemoreappropriateforittobeanFOD.TheformatoftheHNDPolicywasdiscussedduringseveraltelephoneconferencesamongtheMTandtheParties.Basedontwopoints—(1)LASD’sassurancethattheHNDPolicyinFODformatwouldhaveDepartment-wideapplicationandauthorityand(2)theindependentanalysisoftheMTandDOJregardingLASDdisciplineandotherfactors—itwasdecidedtoaccepttheHNDPolicyinFODformat.OnMay5,2017,theMTandParties’representativesheldaconferencecalltodiscusstheNovember2016draftoftheHNDPolicyandFOD12-02.DuringthecallitwasagreedthatDOJwouldredrafttheBackgroundsectionoftheNovember2016draftHNDPolicytomakeitmoreconciseandrevisetheexamplesoflawenforcementactionthatcouldresultinviolationsoftheFHA.DOJsubmittedtherevisionstotheNovember2016draftpolicytotheMTandLASDonMay25,2017.LASDprovideditsresponsetotheDOJrevisionsonJune8,2017,andthatiscurrentlyunderreviewbytheMTandtheParties.AccompanimentPolicy—FOD12-02Forninemonths,thePartiesandMThavebeenclosetoagreementontherevisionofFOD12-02,whichcontainstheLASDpoliciesregardingreviewofrequestsfromahousingauthorityworkerfordeputyaccompanimentoncompliancechecks.OnesignificantpointofdisagreementwaslanguageinthecurrentFOD12-02thatstates,“ThisdirectivedoesnotapplytoLASDpersonnelworkingunderaMemorandumofUnderstandingorInter-DepartmentalAgreementwithahousingauthority.”TheMTandDOJrequestedthatthissentenceberemovedfromFOD12-02,becauseitwouldallowtheLASDtocircumventtheFOD12-02procedures.InApril2017,representativesoftheOfficeofCountyCounselnotifiedtheMTandDOJthatLASDwouldagreetodeletethelanguageprovidedthetitleoftheFODwasamendedto:HousingAuthoritySection8Non-CriminalInvestigations/Inspections.LASDwasinformedthattheamendedtitleofFOD12-02wasacceptabletotheMTandDOJ.LASDsubmittedarevisedFOD12-02totheMTandDOJwiththeagreed-uponchangesforreview.ThisnewversionalsocontainedaddedlanguagenotpreviouslyreviewedbytheMTorDOJ.ThemostsignificantchangeistheadditionofaNOTEtothePurposesectionofFOD12-02thatstates,“Thisdoesnotprecludedeputypersonnelfromtakingappropriatelawenforcementactionwhenanon-Section8crimeoccursintheirpresence,oraname/knownsuspectwantedinacriminalcasehappenstobeatthelocation.”ThisdraftisbeingdiscussedamongtheMTandthePartiesanditisanticipatedthatagreementcanbereachedonarevisedFOD12-02thatcanbesubmittedforfinalreviewandapprovalbytheParties.TrainingTherearetwotrainingrequirementsrelatedtohousingintheSA.TheSection8-relatedhousingtrainingrequirementsareintheStops,Seizures,andSearchessectionoftheSA(Paragraph57a),whiletheFHAtrainingrequirementsareintheBias-FreePolicingsection(Paragraph70e).(Bothofthesearealsoaddressedintheprevioussectionofthisreport.)InsteadofseparatetrainingsforSection8housing-relatedissuesandFHAissues,theyhavebeencombinedandarepartoftheBias-FreePolicingtrainingcurriculum.TheDOJandMTprovidedsubstantialinputtotheFHAcomponentofthecombinedStops,


Seizures,andSearches/Bias-FreePolicingtrainingmaterials.ApilotoftheBias-FreePolicing/FHAtrainingwasconductedJune15,2017.StepsTowardComplianceAsdetailedabove,theDepartmenthastakenstepstowardcomplianceonthehousing-relatedSAprovisions.TheHNDandaccompanimentpoliciesandtheirrelatedtrainingcurriculum(Paragraphs57aand70)arenearingfinalization,withapprovalexpectedinthenextreportingperiod.Oncethetrainingisapproved,theMTwilltrackwhetherLASDisincompliancewiththeprovisionsoftheSAthataddresshowthattrainingistobeimplemented(e.g.,Paragraphs74and75).TheDepartmenthasdecadesofexperiencesuccessfullyimplementingtrainings;theMTexpectstheDepartmenttoreachinitialcompliancewiththoseprovisionsquicklyinthenextreportingperiod.Withpolicydevelopmentcomplianceandtrainingcompliance,themonitoringactivitywillshifttoassessingoutcomesrelatedtothesepoliciesandtrainingandtohowLASDsupervisorsandmanagerstrackthoseoutcomes.RelatedSAprovisionsaddressthefollowing.

• EnsurethatLASDsupervisorsandmanagersmonitorandevaluatecompliancewiththesepoliciesregularlyandtakeappropriatecorrectiveactionifanissuearises,includinginvestigation,complaintadjudication,anddiscipline.

• EnsurethatAVsupervisorsandmanagersmonitorandevaluatecompliancewithFOD

12-02regularlyandtakeappropriatecorrectiveactionsifanissuearises,includinginvestigation,complaintadjudication,anddiscipline.

FinalcompliancewillbeachievedwhentheMTdeterminesthroughonsiteobservations,recordreviews,audits,andoutcomeanalysisthattheDepartmenthasmetandremainsincompliancewiththeserequirementsforatleastoneyear,includingevidencethattheintentionsoftheSAasexpressedinthenewpoliciesarethoroughlyandconsistentlybeingmetinthefieldandthatoutcomesarereviewedbysupervisorsandmanagers,withappropriateactiontakenasnecessary.TheMT’sassessmentofcompliancewillalsoincludeareviewofanyrevisionstothetrainingorhowitisconductedthatbecomenecessarybasedontheauditsandoutcomeanalysis.RemainingSAProvisionsonAuditsandOutcomeAnalysisThefollowingSAparagraphsdescribetheSArequiredauditsandanalysisthatboththeDepartmentandMTwillusetoassesscompliancewiththehousing-relatedelementsoftheSA.

LASDwillconductatleastsemi-annualanalysisof,ataminimum,theAVdatarelatedto…VoucherHoldercompliancechecksinvolvingLASDpersonnel(Paragraph82g).Inadditiontocompliancereviewsandaudits,theMonitorshallconductqualitativeandquantitativeoutcomeassessmentstomeasurewhetherLASD’simplementationoftheSAhaseliminatedpracticesthatresultedinDOJ’sfindingapatternandpracticeofconstitutionalviolations.Theseoutcomeassessmentsshallincludecollectionandanalysis,bothquantitativeandqualitative,of…Section8enforcement…(Paragraph153).


TherevisedAnalysisofLASDStopandUseofForceDataforAntelopeValleysubmittedbyLASDaddressessomeofParagraph153.Theotherrequiredanalysesareexpectedtobegininthenextreportingperiod.Onceimplemented,finalcompliancewillbeachievedaftertheDepartmentmeetstherequirementsforatleastoneyear.TheCommunitySurveydescribedintheCommunityEngagementsectionbelowwillalsoaddressSection8relatedoutcomes.

D. CommunityEngagementTheprologuetotheCommunityEngagementsectionoftheSAstatesthat“LASDagreestopromoteandstrengthenpartnershipswithinthecommunity,toengageconstructivelywiththecommunitytoensurecollaborativeproblem-solvingandbias-freepolicing,andtoincreasecommunityconfidenceintheDepartment.”Asdescribedinthelastsix-monthreport,theterm“communityengagement”primarilyreferstotheDepartment’seffortstoparticipateinopendialoguewiththeAVcommunityandthusbuildandmaintaintrustandconfidenceintheDepartmentamongallofthecommunitymembers.ThisisastatedgoaloftheSA.TheMT’sroleinthecommunityengagementprocessistoobserveandassessLASD’seffortstointeractwithandimproveitsrelationswiththeAVcommunity.SomeoftheMT’sworkincludesengagingdirectlywiththecommunity,apartfromLASD’sownengagementefforts.AswithothersectionsoftheSA,theMTmayalsoprovideadviceandtechnicalassistanceasappropriateandnecessary.Overall,lastyearsawmuchprogressinpolice–communityrelationsintheAV.AVstationsengageinnumerouscommunityeventseverymonth;eachstation’sCommunityAdvisoryCommitteeisactive;and—althoughthereisimportantworklefttodo,asdescribedbelow—theMToftenhearscommunitymembersandevenLASDcriticsacknowledgethatrelationshaveimproved.MonitoringActivitiesinthisReportingPeriodTheMTmadethreesitevisitstotheAVduringthismonitoringperiod(February22–25,March14–16,andApril4)tofurtherengagewiththecommunity,tolearnfromthoseinattendanceandhearabouttheircurrentexperienceswithandobservationsofLASD,andtodirectlyobserveengagementandinteractionsbetweenLASDandthecommunity.MembersoftheMTparticipatedinthefollowingways:

• Hadindividualandgroupmeetings/discussionswithcommunitymembers

• Hostedcommunitymeetings

• Interviewedcommunityleaders

• MetwithLASDCommunityAdvisoryCommittees(CACs)

• Participatedinride-a-longswithdeputies

• ReviewedLASDcommunityengagementreports


• RevieweddraftsofLASDcommunityrelationsmaterial

• Receivedandfolloweduponcommunitymembers’calls,emails,andotherinquiries

informingtheMTofcomplaintstheyhavelodgedwiththeAVstationsorprovidingfeedbacktotheteam.

MTSiteVisits

MembersoftheMTattendedandgaveapresentationattheLancasterCACQuarterlyTownHallmeetingonFebruary22,2017.AfterabriefingabouttheMT’sprevioussix-monthreport,theroombrokeintosmallgroupsfora“DaysofDialogue,”formatteddiscussionwherecommunitymembersandAVdeputiessatincirclesanddiscussedpolice–communityrelations.Eachsmallgroupcontainedanumberofcommunitymembersandoneortwodeputies.TheformatallowedforgoodinteractionbetweenthecommunityandmembersoftheLASD-AV.ThecommunitymemberspresentmostlythankedandpraisedLASDwithafewcommentsofcritique.Inafewofthecircles,deputiesacceptedthecritiqueswellandrespondedtoappropriately.Inothercircles,defensivenessonthepartofLASD-AVpersonneldiscouragedcriticism.OnFebruary24,2017,theleadCommunityEngagementMTmemberrodealongwithapatroldeputyinLancasterfrom7pmuntilmidnight,observingthedeputyinteractingwiththecommunity.Therewerenomajorincidentsonthistour,therewerefewercallsforservicethanusual,andalloftheobservedstopswereconductedlawfully.OnFebruary25,2017,severalmembersoftheMTattendedacommunitymeetingorganizedbyTheCommunityActionLeague(TCAL),oneofthegroupsresponsiblefortheoriginallawsuitthatledtotheSA.Avarietyofcommunitymembers,aswellasseveralLASDpersonnel,attendedthemeetingandthecommunitymembersweregiventheopportunitytoprovide“testimony”andsharetheirobservationsaboutpersonalexperienceswithlawenforcementandthecriminaljusticesystemintheAV.ThecommunitymembersinattendanceincludedamixofknowncriticsofLASD-AVaswellasindividualswhohadneverattendedsuchacommunitymeeting.TherewerecomplaintsaboutseveralindividualincidentsinvolvingLASDwithpeoplecitingtheirviewsregardingunnecessarystopsandexcessiveforce.Therewerealsoanumberofcomplaintsaboutotherpartsofthecriminaljusticesystem,inparticular,thecourts.TheMTalsonotedthatanumberoftheattendeescomplimentedLASD-AVfortheirimprovementsinpolicingandcommunityoutreachoverthelastfewyears.MembersoftheMTattendedthePalmdaleCACQuarterlyTownHallmeetingonMarch14,2017.SimilartotheLancasterCACmeeting,afterabriefpresentationabouttheMT’sprevioussix-monthreport,theroombrokeintosmallgroupswherecommunitymembersanddeputiessatincirclesanddiscussedpolice-communityrelations.ThenewCaptainoftheLancasterStation,aswellasseveralLieutenantsandSergeantsfromLancasterandPalmdaleandLASD’sSAComplianceUnitmetwiththeMTonApril4,2017,todiscusstheprogressofcommunityengagementintheAV,howtoimproveit,andhowtheMTwilldeterminecompliancewiththeSA.


OnJune13,2017,severalMTandDOJrepresentativesrodealongwithdifferentpatroldeputiesandsergeantsinLancasterandPalmdalefrom2untilapproximately6pm,observingthedeputiesinteractingwiththecommunity.TheMTandDOJwereabletoobserveawiderangeofcallsandstops,fromvandalismreports,mentalhealthanddomesticviolencecalls,andseveralfires.Thedeputieswerewelcomingandhelpful.Alloftheobservedstopswereconductedlawfully.TheMTandDOJobservedtheLancasterCACmeetingonJune14,2017.TheonlyplannedeventforthenightwasabreakoutintofacilitatedsmallgroupscomposedofatleastoneCACmember,twotofiveothercommunitymembers,atleasttwoLASDdeputies,insomecasesotherLASDpersonnel,andaprofessional“DaysofDialogue”facilitator.Eachgroupdecidedwhichtopicstodiscuss.AttendancebyLASDpersonnelwassubstantial,particularlyincomparisontothesmallturnoutofcommunitymembersnotassociatedwiththeCACorLASD.Still,arangeofvoiceswereheard,fromverysupportiveoftheLASDtocritical.Theopennessandrichnessoftheexchangevariedbygroup.AllLASDdeputiesparticipatedtosomeextent,withsomerequiringdirectquestioningbythefacilitatorandothersmoreopenlyconversant.LASDCommunityEngagementActivityThereareindicationsthatLASDisparticipatinginnumerouscommunityeventsandhasbeenmakingamoreconcertedefforttoreachouttothevariousAVcommunitiesandtotracktheseoutreachefforts.Foroverayear,theLASD-AVstationshavemaintainedamonthlyCommunityEngagementTrackingReport,whichliststhevariousmeetingsandeventsthatLASDpersonnelhaveattended.AnenhancedCommunityEngagementTrackerreporthasbeendevelopedbyLASD-AVwithMTconsultation.ItallowstheDepartmenttotrackeverydeputyinbothstationsandalloftheirparticipationincommunityeventsandtocapturemoreinformationaboutthosemeetings.Inthelastsixmonthsbothstationshaveeitherhosted,attended,orhavehadapartinover80communityengagementevents.LASD-AVhascontinuedits“CoffeewithaCop”meetings,includinghostingseveralinSpanish.TheMTfindsthesetobeproductiveeventsbuildingbetterrelations.TheLASDhasincreaseditsoutreachtotheSpanishspeakingcommunityintheAVwithnewSpanishlanguagesocialmediatools.InJune,LASDcommunicationspersonnelintroducedtheMTandDOJtoseveralsocialmediaplatformsutilizedbytheAVstationstoreachouttoboththeEnglish-andSpanish-speakingcommunityincludingNixle,Facebook,Instagram,Spanishradio,andtheDepartmentwebsite.TheLASDsubmittedacomprehensivereport,BridgetoPeace,whichdetailedtheDepartment’scommunityengagementandcrimereductioneffortsintheAV.ThereportaddressedSAParagraph91,whichstates:Tocontinuallyimprovepolice-communitypartnerships,LASDwillassessandreportontheimpactofcommunityengagementinitiatives.LASDwillissuepublicreportsontheAntelopeValleystations'communityengagementefforts,identifyingsuccesses,obstacles,andrecommendationsforfutureimprovement.AfterafewroundsofeditsfromtheMTandDOJ,thereportwasfinalizedandapproved.ArecentmonthlyCommunityEngagementTrackerreportandtheBridgetoPeacereportarepostedattheAVmonitoringwebsite,http://www.antelopevalleysettlementmonitoring.info.LASDrecentlyrequestedthatMTobservationsandrecommendationsaboutthevariouscommunityandDepartmentalmeetingsandeventsitattendsberelayedtotheappropriateDepartmentpersonnelina


moretimelymannerinordertofacilitateanappropriateresponse.Theprocessforthisexchangeofinformationtothispointhasinvolvedacombinationofformalandinformalconversationsandemails.Inthenextreportingperiod,theMTandDepartmentwilldevelopamoreconsistentprocessfordeliveringanddiscussingthisongoingfeedback.MonitoringTeamRecommendationsFortheLASD

AlthoughtheLASD-AVhasmadesignificantprogressandtherearemanydocumentedcommunityengagementactivities,theMThasdiscussedwiththeDepartmentitsconcernsandrecommendations.TheMTstronglyrecommendsthattheDepartmentgofurthertogenuinelyembracethegoalofachievingreal,lasting,andpositivepolice–communityrelationsintheAV,beyond“paper”compliancewiththeSA.Inparticular,theMThasbecomeconcerned—basedoncommentsbysomeLASDpersonnelinmeetings—thatmembersoftheAVcommunitywhohavelegitimateconcernsarebeingdismissedandmarginalized.Asstatedinthelastsix-monthreport,theMTencouragesLASDtoviewCommunityEngagementopportunitiesasameansofworkingtoestablishopen,continuous,andproductivelong-termrelationshipswiththevariousAVcommunitiesandcommunitymembers,especiallywithyouthandincommunitiesofcolor(asspecifiedbytheSA)andthosecriticaloftheLASD.TheLASDcanachievetheseobjectivesbyincreasingthetype,quality,andquantityofcommunitydialogues;activelyparticipatingincommunitymeetingsandevents;consistentlyseeking,receiving,andrespondingtocommunityinput;anddevelopandimplementtrainingoncommunity-andproblem-orientedpolicing.TheMThasexpressedtoLASDthefollowingspecificsuggestionsonhowtheAVstationscanimprovecommunityengagement:

• Activelyengageanddonotsummarilydismisscomplainantsandcritics.Seekto

understandtheissuesunderlyingcriticalcomments(suchastrustandperceptionofbias)ratherthantocritiquetheirtechnicalmerits.Considerincorporatingcitizensuggestionsandrecommendationsintoreforms.

• BeyondtheCACmeetingsandsomeofitsregulareventslikeCoffeewithaCop,LASD

couldhostquarterlytownhall-stylemeetingsforthepurposeofhearingfromthecommunity,notjusttalkingatthecommunityorgivingreports.LASDshouldhavebroaderattendancethanjusttheCaptainsofeachstationandafewothersinleadership.Deputiesshouldattendthesemeetingsandsitwithandengagecommunitymembers.

• TheMTsupportsthecommunitymembers’suggestionthateachstationholda

communityeventorseriesoftownhalltypemeetingsinSpanish—notameetingheldinEnglishthatofferstranslation,butameetingheldinSpanishinthoseareaswherethereisahighconcentrationofprimarySpanishspeakerswhowouldbemoreinclinedtoparticipateiftheyfelttherewasawillingnessbydeputiestolistentoandengagewiththem.Ifneededanditwouldbeappropriatetodoso,thosemeetingsmightstilloffer


translationintoEnglishaswell.TheLASDshouldmakeitclearthattheundocumentedcommunityisinvitedtoallmeetingsandisguaranteedthatitwillbesafetoattend.

FortheCommunityAdvisoryCommittees

Theprevioussemi-annualreportincludedaseriesofrecommendationsfromtheMT.BelowaretherecommendationsandtheDepartment’sresponseorstatus:

• StandingAgendaItem:TheCACmeetingsdonotconsistentlyhaveanagendawithastandingitemforcommunityfeedbackorconcernsastheMTrecommendedinthelatestreport.However,bothLASDandCACmembersreportthatthereisalwaysanopportunityforCACmemberstosharefeedbackorcomplaintsfromthecommunitywithLASD.TheMThasobservedthisinthemeetingsithasattendedandacknowledgesthatitistrue.

• MTRecommendation:TheMThadrecommendedtheCACseitherkeepminutesoftheir

meetingsoratleastdocumentthespecificconcernsorissuesbroughttoLASDandhowtheyarebeingaddressed.LASDisnowtakingandissuingminutesoftheCACmeeting,buttheseminutesarecurrentlyveryminimal.Theminutesshouldhavemoredetailandfollow-uptoensureacomprehensiverecordoftheCACdiscussionsandtocapitalizeontheopportunityforstrengtheningtheLASD-Communityrelationship.LASDhasrequestedtheMT’sconsultationonthismatterwhichwillbeprovidedinnextreportingperiod.

• CACDiversity:ThePalmdaleStationrecentlyaddedacommunityleaderandlongtime

criticoftheDepartmenttotheirCAC.ThereisanopeningontheLancasterCAC,andtheMTishopefulthatthenewmemberselectedwilllikewisebearespectedcommunitymemberwhoiswillingtobringacriticalyetconstructiveperspectivetotheDepartment.ThePalmdaleCAChastwoyouthmemberswhohavesofarbeenunabletoattendthemeetings.Itwouldbeappropriatetodoadditionaloutreachoutandtrytomakeitpossiblefortheyouthmemberstoattendmostmeetings.

StepsTowardCompliance

LASDhasreachedpartialcomplianceonseveralprovisionsoftheSA.Thissectionwilldescribesomeofthosesuccessesaswellasfurtherstepsnecessary,sometimesrequiringsubstantialefforts,forfullcompliance.LASD-AVconsistentlyparticipatesinlocalcommunitymeetingsandhasformallyestablishedandmemorializedtheCACs(Paragraph94).

TheLASDsoughttheassistanceofcommunityadvocatesandwidelydisseminatedtothepublic,includingonthewebsite—inEnglishandSpanish—anexplanationoftheSArequirements,thuscompletingtheprovisionsofParagraph92.


TheLASDhasformallyestablishedCACsatbothstations.TheLASDisalsoincompliancewiththerequirementtoprovidetheCACwithreasonableadministrativesupport,includingmeetingspace.Inaddition,LASDhasfacilitatedtheMonitorprovidingadviceandtechnicalassistancetotheCACs(Paragraph96).

LASDassuresthattheCACswillnothaveaccesstoanynon-publicinformationregardinganindividualdeputyorallegationofmisconductordisciplinaryaction.TheLASDiscurrentlyincompliancewiththisprovision(Paragraph97).Diversion:AfterdiscussionswiththeLASDpersonnelandAVcommunitymembers,theMTmadethepreliminaryassessmentthattheSArequirementregardingdiversionprograms(Paragraph87)hadnotyetbeenmet.LASDforwardedinformationonexistingjuvenilediversionprogramsintheAVinApril,buttheseprogramswere,forthemostpart,notthetypesofdiversionprogramsneeded.LASDstillmustwork“withthecommunity”onthedevelopmentofdiversionprograms(Paragraph87).RegularityofDeputyEngagement:LASD,theMT,andDOJwillsoonnegotiatehowoftenLASDdeputiesareexpectedtoattendcommunityeventsandmeetingstocomplywiththeSA,whichmandates:“AllswornpersonnelattheAntelopeValleystationsshallactivelyattendcommunitymeetings…onaregularbasis”(Paragraph88).ReachingtheEntireAVCommunity:LASDwillworkwiththeMTtoformalizehowtheDepartmentintendstocomplywithParagraph88oftheSA,whichmandatesthattheAV’sCommunityEngagementplan“takeintoaccounttheneedtoenhancerelationshipswith...youthandcommunitiesofcolor.”

In-ServiceTraining:TheLASDagreestoprovidestructured,annualin-servicetrainingoncommunitypolicingandproblem-orientedpolicingmethodsandskillsforallAVdeputies,includingstationsupervisorsandunitcommanders(Paragraph89).ThisisanimportantandinvolvedtrainingmaterialthatLASDhasyettobegindeveloping.ImplementingsuchacomprehensivetrainingtoallLASD-AVpersonnelwillbealargeundertakingthatwilllikelyfollowasimilarprocessasthetrainingsdevelopedandrevisedforconstitutionalpolicingandbias-freepolicing.MonthlyCrimeManagementForum:Thesemeetingsareoccurring.TheyarewiththeAssistantSherifforhisdesigneeandsemiannualRiskManagementForumandincludediscussionandanalysisoftrendsinmisconductcomplaintsandcommunityprioritiestoidentifyareasofconcern,andtobetterdevelopinterventionstoaddressthem.However,thediscussionoftrendsandprioritiesarenotyetoccurringasnecessary(Paragraph90).ThisassessmentbytheMThasbeenexpressedinformallywithLASD,butaformalreporthasnotyetbeenprovided.Reporting:Asmentionedabove,LASD’sBridgetoPeacereportisthefirstofthedocumentsrequiredtoassessandreportontheimpactofcommunityengagementinitiatives,identifyingsuccesses,obstacles,andrecommendationsforfutureimprovement.TheDepartmentisnowfreetomakethisreportpublic(Paragraph91).CACfunction:Paragraph93states:

LASDwillcontinuetosupportLancasterandPalmdale'sCACstoadviceandprovidefeedbacktotheLASD'sAntelopeValleystations.Thepanelwillleveragetheinsightsandexpertiseofthecommunitytoaddresspolicingconcerns,including,butnotlimitedto,racialorethnicprofiling


andaccesstolawenforcementservices,andpromotegreatertransparencyandpublicunderstandingofLASD.Thecivilianpanelshallbeauthorizedto:(a)advisetheSheriffandthestationcommandersonstrategiesandtrainingtoimprovecommunityrelations,bias-freepolicing,andaccesstotheciviliancomplaintsystem;(b)workwiththeSheriffandstationcommanderstoestablishandcarryoutcommunitypublicsafetypriorities;(c)providethecommunitywithinformationontheAgreementanditsimplementation;and(d)receiveandconveytoLASDpubliccommentsandconcerns.

LASDwillneedtofacilitatetheCACstofullydevelopitscapacitiestomeettheSArequirements.CACReports:TheCAC'sreportsandrecommendationswillbepostedonLASD-AV'swebsite.LASDwillconsiderandrespondtothecivilianpanel'srecommendationsinatimelymanner.However,theCACshaveyettomakeformalrecommendationsorproduceareport(Paragraph95).ThroughLASD,CACmembershaverequestedtheMT’sconsultationonthismatterwhichwillbeprovidedinnextreportingperiod.AnnualCommunityandDeputySurvey:AccordingtotheprovisionsoftheSA(Paragraphs98–101),anannualsurveyisrequired.TheMThasbeenworkingtofinalizeanagreementwithLosAngelesCountyandaconsultantgrouptoconductanin-depthsurveyofresidentsoftheAVanddeputiestogaugethecurrentperspectiveofpolice-communityrelations.Oncetheagreementisfinalized,theMT,LASD,DOJ,andtheconsultantwillcollaborativelydevelopmutuallyagreeduponresearchmethodsanddatacollectioninstruments.Theconsultantresearcherswillconductphone,in-person,andonlinesurveysofAVresidentsandLASD-AVdeputiestoassesspublicsentimentofpolice-communityrelations.TheresearcherswillalsoconductaseriesoffocusgroupstogainadeeperinsightintocertainsegmentsoftheAVcommunity.Surveyadministration,focusgroupsandkeyinformantinterviewswillbegininthenextsix-monthreportingperiod.Afterthedataarecollectedandanalyzed,theconsultantwillproduceandpublishacomprehensivereportofitsfindings.E. UseofForceTheFindingsLettersubmittedbyDOJfollowingtheirinvestigationthatledtotheSAstatesthatsomeofLASD’s“policiesandpracticesappeartopermitandevenencouragedeputiestouseforcethatisoutofproportiontothethreatofharmpresented.”(Page6.)ThisfindingrequiredamajorreviewoftheLASD’suse-of-forcepolicies,whichisnowunderway.SectionVIIIoftheSAgovernsLASDpolicies,procedures,andcultureassociatedwithuse,review,andadjudicationofforcebyDepartmentmembers.ItstatesthattheLASD“agreestoreviseitsforcepoliciesandpracticestoreflectitscommitmenttoupholdingtherightssecuredorprotectedbytheConstitutionoftheUnitedStates,protectinghumanlifeandthedignityofeveryindividual,andmaintainingpublicsafety.”Inparticular,LASDhasagreed“toensurethatitsaccountabilitymeasuresareimplementedappropriately”sothatAVdeputies:

• Useforceonlywhenobjectivelyreasonable,andinamannerthatavoidsunnecessaryinjurytodeputiesandcivilians;


• Useforceasalastresortandde-escalatetheuseofforceattheearliestpossiblemoment;and

• Endeavortouseonlythatlevelofforcenecessaryforthesituation.”

Toachievetheseoutcomes,LASDagreedtoreviseitspoliciesandassociatedtrainingmaterialstoabidebyParagraphs102–123oftheSA,whichgovern:

• Theuseofforceandtheuseofadvisements,warnings,threatassessments,de-escalation,andproportionality;andtheprohibitionofretaliatoryforce(Paragraphs102–105).

• Theprohibitionordiscouragementofamemberofthepublicwholawfullytakes

photographsorvideoofpoliceactivities(Paragraph106).• Trainingandreportingrequirementsassociatedwithimpactweaponheadstrikes

(Paragraph107).Use-of-forcereportingrequirements,includingtheuseofunreasonableforceorboilerplatelanguagebyAVdeputies(Paragraphs108–110).

• Expectationsandrequirementsofsupervisorstorespondtothesceneofanyuse-of-forceincidentinvolvinganAVdeputy,toconductathoroughandcompleteinvestigation,andtosubmittheinvestigationthroughthechainofcommand(Paragraphs111–113,116).

• Themanagementreviewofuse-of-forceinvestigationsforcompleteness;trends

includingissuingorrevisingpolicies,directives,andtrainingbulletins,orprovidingadditionalmentoringandsupervisiontoindividualdeputies;theidentificationofpolicydeviationsandtrainingortacticalconcerns,alongwiththeexpectationsassociatedwiththeExecutiveForceReviewCommittee’sreviewofuse-of-forceincidentsandtheresponsebytheInternalAffairsBureauForce/ShootingResponseTeam(Paragraphs113–115,117).

• AVunitcommanders’reviewingandtrackingoffindings,recommendations,and

commentsrelatedto“trainingandtacticalreview”toensurethatinformalsupervisoryfeedbackisnotusedinplaceofformaldiscipline,whenthelatterismoreappropriate.TheLASDwillensurethatthesupervisoryfeedback—includingfeedbackdocumentedinthe“trainingandtacticalreview”portionofaSupervisor’sReportonuseofforce—isdocumentedinthePersonnelPerformanceIndex(Paragraph118).

• TherequirementsandcontentsofannualorbiennialtrainingforAVdeputiesintheuse

offorce(Paragraph119).


ReviewofUOFPolicyActivitiesinPreviousandCurrentReportingPeriodTheAVMonitor’sThirdSemi-AnnualReportincludedthefollowingassessmentofthereviewofLASD’suse-of-forcepoliciesandfoundthemtobedeficientinseveralareas,includingthefollowing:

• AlthoughtheLASDpolicydoescontainlanguagethataddressesde-escalation,itdoesnotsufficientlyemphasizeandreinforcede-escalation.Thisisnecessarytoconveyexecutivemanagement’sexpectationsonreducingtheuseofforce,anditiskeytoestablishingtheDepartment’supdateduse-of-forceculture.

• Therequirementonwhenause-of-forceincidentmustbereportedcanbeinterpreted

differentlybyindividualdeputiesandsupervisors.AlthoughseniorLASDexecutiveshavediscretionwithuse-of-forceinvestigationsandoutcomes,thereshouldbenoambiguityoruncertaintyatthelineandsupervisorylevelsastowhatconstitutesareportableuse-of-forceevent.

• Thereisnoprovisionthatexplicitlystatesarequirementforoff-dutydeputiestoreport

ause-of-forceincident.LASDhasarightandadutytothoroughlyinvestigateandreviewanyoff-dutyuse-of-forceincident.LASD’spolicystatesthatits“members”arerequiredtoreportforce,butdoesnotspecificallystatethatthisalsoappliestooff-dutypersonnel.

• Thepolicydoesnotincludeaspecificlistofthefactorsthatcommandstaffshould

considerwhendeterminingwhethertheforceusedbyaDepartmentemployeewasreasonable(althoughtheMTunderstandsthatcommandstaffdoconsideranumberofdifferentfactorsthatarenotlistedinpolicy).Aclearidentificationofthefactorsthatwillbeconsideredbymanagementinitsevaluationofuse-of-forceincidentswillestablishtheguidelinesforconsistency.

• Thepolicycontainsseveralnon-use-of-forceprovisions,suchastacticalincident

management,specifictacticalconsiderations,theDepartmentpsychologist’sresponsetocriticalincidents,rumorcontrol,andstatisticalcompilation.Cumulatively,thoseextraneoussectionsmakethepolicyexcessivelylongandburdensome;theyshouldberemovedfromtheuse-of-forcepolicysectionofLASD’smanualofpolicyandprocedures.

AsaresultofthereviewoftheLASD’suse-of-forcepolicy,theMTpreparedanoutlineofwhatan“improvedandcomprehensiveuse-of-forcepolicywouldcontainandhowitmightbestructured.”ThatoutlinewasthesubjectofdiscussionamongtheMT,LASD,andDOJattheNovember14–16,2016,onsitevisit.Thosediscussionsresolvedseveralsignificantissues,includingthedefinitionsofkeyelementssuchasreportableuse-of-forceincidents,off-dutyreportableuse-of-forcerequirements,andthespecificlanguagetobeusedregardingthede-escalationofincidentstoreducetheuseofforce.TheDepartmenthasagreedtodevelopareviseduse-of-forcepolicythatsatisfiesthetermsandconditionsoftheSA.LASDiscurrentlycirculatingadraftofareviseduse-of-forcepolicyandwillprovideittotheMTonceitisreviewedinternally.TheDepartment’sdevelopmentandpublicationofaclear,succinct,use-of-forcepolicyisofparamountimportanceandisacornerstoneinachievingSAcomplianceintheAV.TheSheriffhaspreviouslystated


thattheDepartment’sgoalisnottojustachieveSAcompliancebuttoachievebestpracticesandtruereform(seeboxbelow).TruereformintheAVwillrequireanorganizationalculturechangeaswellassystemimprovements.Forexample,theMT’sinitialinterviewsdeterminedthattheDepartmentcannottrackthemajorityofallegationsassociatedwiththeuseofforcethatarecontainedinitsuse-of-forceinvestigations.Althoughthisreflectsaneedtotweakdata-collectionproceduresandsystemcapabilities,italsoreflectsamanagementfailingandneedforimprovedaccountabilityatthatlevel.UseofForceAnalysisandSArequiredAuditsSAParagraphs120–123mandatethattheDepartmentconductaspecificuse-of-forceanalysis,incompliancewiththefollowing:

• ToanalyzetheAVstations’forcedataannually,includingrelatedoutcomedata,toidentifytrendsanddeficienciesandcorrectthem.

• Toassessthefrequencyandnatureofuse-of-forceincidentsthatarereferredfor

investigation,thesubjectofcomplaintsorcivilsuits,relatedcriminalobstructionorresistingarrestissues,orrepeatedcomplaintsagainstdeputiesorunits.

• Todeterminewhetherpolicyortrainingcurriculachangesareneeded.• Todocumenttheresultsoftheuse-of-forceanalysisinapublicreport.

ThereportentitledAnalysisofLASDStopandUseofForceDataforAntelopeValley(describedintheStops,Seizures,andSearchessectionabove)partiallyaddressedsomeoftheaboveanalysisrequirements,buthasnotyetbeenapprovedbytheMTandDOJ.WhiletheDepartment’sAuditandAccountabilityBureau(AAB)haspublishedseveralauditsthatcitevariousSAparagraphs,ithasnotperformedanyoftherequiredauditsforthepurposeofMTevaluationofSAcompliancewiththeseoranyotherSAparagraphs.TheDepartmentcurrentlyremainsoutofcompliancewiththeseparagraphsandwillremainsountilitsubmitsthespecificallyrelatedaudits,alongwiththeassociatedauditworkpapers.Thoseauditsmustultimatelyindicatethatcomplianceisachievedandsustainedforatleast12months.MonitoringActivitiesinthisReportingPeriodOnMarch16,2017,LASDprovidedtotheMTandDOJanoverviewoftheLASDSupervisor’sReportonUseofForce(Form438)forceinvestigationandincidents’analysisprocess.Theformandprocessisusedtodocumentuse-of-forceincidents.TheprocessiscurrentlyusedinLASD’sCustodyDivisionandhasnowbeenmodifiedforfutureuseintheirpatroldivisions.TheprogramisbeingpilotedatthetwoAVstations,beginninginJune2017.TheMTandPartiesalsodiscussedandreachedtentativeagreementonthecompliancemetricsthatwillbeusedintheMTauditsandassessments.ThesemetricswillevaluatetheDepartment’scontrolsandapprovalsprocessesandassistwiththeidentificationofanyriskexposuresandestablishtherationalefortheMT’srecommendationsforimprovementandfortheDepartmenttoachieveSAcompliance.TheMThasalsosubmittedcomprehensiveworkplanstoevaluatetheDepartment’scompliancewithSAParagraphs102–123,andseveralrelatedproductiveconversationswiththePartieshavetakenplace.


SheriffJimMcDonnell’sStatementontheSettlementAgreementFrompressreleasefollowingthesigningoftheSA,April28,2015IampleasedthattheLosAngelesSheriff’sDepartmentandtheUnitedStatesDepartmentofJusticehavefinalizedanagreementthatenablestheLASDtolooktothefuture,ratherthanthepast,aswebuilduponsignificantprogressoverthepastfewyearsandseektostrengthenthebondsoftrustwiththecommunityweserveintheAntelopeValley.ThisagreementwillenabletheLASDtobringthehigheststandardsofconstitutionalpolicingandrobusttrainingmodelstoourstaff,whileestablishingclearmetricsthatwillenableus–andothers–tomeasuretheprogressinourpolicingpracticesintheAntelopeValley.Ihavelongbelievedthatlawenforcementisonlyaseffectiveasthestrengthofourrelationshipswith,andthetrustof,thoseweserve.Whilemuchmoreworkisaheadofus,thisagreementhighlightsthepositivestridesthecommittedmenandwomenofthisdepartmenthavealreadymadeonsomanyfronts--includingtraininginregardtoconstitutionallawandracialprofilingawareness,practicesrelatingtoSection8housingcompliancechecks,andpoliciesregardingtrafficstops,arrestsanddetentions.Indeed,IamproudtosaythattheLASDhasalreadyimplementedathirdoftheapproximately150requirementsundertheDOJagreement.ButletmebeclearthatIwillnotbesatisfied,norshouldothersbesatisfied,untilweareinfullcompliancewiththehighbarthatwehavewillinglytakenon–andIwelcomethewatchfuleyeofourcommunitytoensurethatwemeetthosestandards.Thechallengeslawenforcementfaceseverydayinmaintainingpublicsafetyandbuildingcommunitytrustarenumerous.ThecollaborativeprocesswiththeDepartmentofJustice,theBoardofSupervisorsandthededicatedmenandwomeninthisdepartmentwhoservethepublicintheAntelopeValleyareanimportantandtimelyreminderofhowwecanproductivelyengageinresponsibleandrespectfuldialogueinregardtohowlawenforcementcandobetter.Idonotviewthisagreementasasetofmandates,butratherasasetofopportunitiesthatwillenabletheLASDtoenhanceourknowledge,improveourtraining,andraisethebarevenhigherinregardtoourpoliciesandpractices.


ExpectedActivitiesintheNextSixMonthsTheMTwillconductaUse-of-ForceInvestigationsandAdjudicationAudit,whichisanticipatedtobegininAugustorSeptember2017.TheMTwilldevelopandsubmittothePartiesacomprehensiveauditworkplanaswellastheaudit’sobjectivesandmethodologies.ThiswillinvolveinterviewsofkeyDepartmentpersonnel,anon-siteobservationofanyuse-of-forcerelatedtrainingthattheDepartmentexecutivesormanagementprovide;anevaluationoftheDepartment’sabilitytoretrieveuse-of-forcedataandpatternassessments;specificauditfindingsthatincludetheelementsoftheircause,condition,andeffect;andrecommendationstoaddressanyriskexposuresdetected.TheMTwillsubmitanauditreporttothePartiesandanauditexitconferencewillsubsequentlytakeplace.ThePartiesandMTwillattempttoresolveanydifferencesinprofessionalopinion.IncaseswherethePartiescannotreachagreement,eachopinionwillbeincludedinthefinalauditreport.AlthoughtheMTislookingforwardtotheDepartment’sdevelopmentandpublicationofause-of-forcepolicythatisconsistentwithnationalbestpractices,thisisonlyoneelementofthemulti-linkedprocessthatisrequiredtoachievetrueDepartmentculturechange.TrueculturechangewillrequireacommitmentonthepartofDepartmentexecutivestostate-of-the-arttraining,effectivemanagementoversight;closeaccountabilitymeasures;mentoring;andacomprehensive,transparent,andeffectiveauditprocess.TheDepartment’seffortsintheseareaswillbeincludedintheMT’sUse-of-ForceInvestigationandAdjudicationAudit.TheMTwillalsoaskforandreviewanysimilarauditsandrelatedworkpapersthattheDepartmenthascompleted.Whenapplicable,theMTwillcompareandcontrastitsownauditfindingsandrecommendationswiththoseofsimilarauditsconductedbytheDepartment.TheMTwillalsoevaluatetheDepartment’simplementationoftherecommendationsfromtheDepartment’sauditsandtheMT’sauditstoassistindeterminingtheDepartment’seffortstoachieveSAcompliance,culturechange,andimprovingandembracingtheauditprocess,whichisthecornerstoneofmanagementaccountabilityandlong-lastingorganizationaltransformation.F. PersonnelComplaintReviewSectionIXoftheSAgovernspersonnelcomplaintsandstatesthattheLASDagreestoensurethatallallegationsofpersonnelmisconductarereceived,thattheyarefullyandfairlyinvestigated,andthatpersonnelwhocommitmisconductareheldaccountable(Paragraphs124–140).Alawenforcementagency’spolicyontheintakeandclassificationofcommunitycomplaintsisathresholdtoitsentiredisciplinaryprocess.Complaintsthatareclassifiedorcategorizedatalowerlevelthantheymeritmaynotreceivethelevelofscrutinytheydeserve,thuscausingtheDepartmenttomissanopportunitytoidentifyandfixseriousproblems.ThoseclassifiedataninappropriatelyhighlevelmayunnecessarilyoverextendDepartmentresources.TheSAspecificallyaddressesthewaypersonnelcomplaintsaretobeclassifiedandrequirestheDepartmenttodistinguishthemfromnon-disciplinaryservicecomplaints.Specifically,LASDhasagreedtodothefollowing:

• Reviseitscomplaintinvestigationpoliciestoensurethatallpersonnelallegationsareclassifiedaccuratelysothateachallegationreceivestheappropriatelevelofreview(Paragraph127);

• Ensurethatpersonnelcomplaintsarenotmisclassifiedasservicecomplaints(Paragraph

128);and


• Reviseitspoliciesregardingallegationsthatmayrequiredisciplineandneedtobeinvestigatedasadministrativeinvestigations,ratherthanasservicecomplaints(Paragraph129).

MonitoringActivitiesinthisReportingPeriodDuringthisreportingperiod,theMTcontinueditseffortstofinalizetheworkplansforeachparagraphintheComplaintsectionoftheSA(Paragraphs124–143).Inparticular,therewasextensivecollaborationwithDOJandLASDtodeterminethemeasuresthatwillbeusedtoassesscompliancewitheachoftherelevantparagraphs.ReachingconsensuswiththePartiesontheDepartment’scurrentpolicies,rules,andproceduresgoverningcomplaintswasathresholdissuefortheMT.TheDepartmenthaspublishedmyriadpoliciesanddirectivesonitscomplaintprocessand—astheSArecognized—thereisalackofclarityandatleastsomeinconsistencyinthosedirectives(Paragraph127).Asafirststeptoaddressingthoseissues,theMTpreparedadetailedreportdescribingthecurrentprocessinwhichcommunitycomplaintsintheAVarereceived,classified,investigated,andadjudicated.Aswithanyprocesswithinalargeorganization,thisincludesacombinationofsomeactivitiesdictatedbypolicyorwrittenprocedureaswellassomeinformalpractices.ThePartieshavereviewedthatdocumentandagreedthatitaccuratelyreflectsLASD’scurrentpoliciesandpracticesonthehandlingofcommunitycomplaints.Withthatsharedunderstanding,theMTbeganitsevaluationofthecomplaintprocess.Itidentifiedasampleof51complaintsandwillconductadetailedauditofthosecases.Inadditiontoauditingspecificcases,theMTwillalsoreviewthewayinwhichcomplaints—bothServiceCommentReportsandAdministrativeInvestigations—areretainedandhowtheyareconsideredintheDepartment’sresponsetovariousadministrativeandjudicialrequestsforemployeecomplainthistories.Finally,theMTiscontinuingtoworkwiththeDepartmentonreviewingitspoliciesgoverningtheclassificationandprocessingofcommunitycomplaints.TheMT,DOJ,andComplianceUnithashadseveralinformalconversationsandtwoformalmeetings(inpersonattheAprilonsiteandbytelephoneinJune)todiscusstheSAitemsthataddresscomplaintsandthecurrentcomplaintsprocess.Followingthosediscussions,LASDstarteditsrevisionoftherelatedpolicy.PersonnelPerformanceIndexDuringthisreportingperiod,theDepartmentreplaceditsPersonalPerformanceIndex(PPI)withthePerformanceRecordingandMonitoringSystem(PRMS).Thischangeistransparenttotheuser,andqueriesandscreensappearthesame.However,PRMSusesaweb-basedapplicationthatwillmakedatainputandretrievalmuchmoreefficient,andwillallowforthesystemtobemodifiedeasierinthefuture.Thesystemwillcontinuetosystematicallyrecorddataonusesofforce,shootings,commendations,andcomplaints.Itwillalsotracktheprogressofadministrativeinvestigations,civilclaims,lawsuits,anddiscoverymotions.4

4Source:PRMSonlineHandbook.


Softwareupgradesnotwithstanding,theMTcontinuestoexperiencedifficultyobtainingreliabledatafromPRMS(orPPI)onfundamentalquestions.Forexample,ithastakennearlyfourmonthstoobtainareliablecountfromtheAVstationsonthenumberofcommunitycomplaintsmadeagainstAVpersonnelduringthefirstsixmonthsof2016.WhenthedatawereobtainedinApril2017,itappearsthatthefinaldispositionofaboutsevenofthe51ServiceCommentReports(14%)completedinthefirstthreemonthsof2016havenotbeenenteredintoPRMS.Theauditwillidentifywhenthosecomplaintswerecompletedandhowlongtheyhavebeenwaitingforinput.LASDRequiredComplaintAuditsTheSArequiresthattheDepartment,“conductasemiannual,randomizedauditofLASD-AV'scomplaintintake,classification,andinvestigations.Thisauditwillassesswhethercomplaintsareacceptedandclassifiedconsistentwithpolicy,investigationsarecomplete,andcomplaintdispositionsareconsistentwithapreponderanceoftheevidence.”OnAugust30,2016,LASD’sAuditandAccountabilityBureaupublishedanauditonpubliccomplaintsintheAV.TheauditwasforwardedtotheMTandDOJforreview.TheauditstatedthatitwouldsatisfysomeoftheSArequirements;howeverafterapreliminaryreviewitwasdeterminedbytheMTthatitdidnotsatisfytheSArequirements.ExpectedActivitiesintheNextSixMonthsInthenextreportingperiod,theMTwillfinalizeaworkplanincludingcompliancemeasurementsfortherelevantparagraphsintheSA.TheMTwillalsocompleteanauditofclosedcomplaintsfromthefirstquarterof2016toassesshowtheDepartmentreceives,classifies,investigates,andadjudicatescommunitycomplaints.Finally,theMTwillworkwiththeDepartmentandtheDOJtodeterminetheextenttowhichtheDepartment‘scurrentcomplaintpolicy—asoutlinedinManualofPoliciesandProceduresVolume3,Chapter4,ServiceReviews,PublicComplaintProcess,andPersonnelInvestigations—isconsistentwiththeprovisionsoftheSA.


G. AccountabilityTheSAspecificallyaddressesaccountabilityrequirements,whichincludesParagraphs141–143,PersonnelPerformanceIndex(PPI);andParagraphs144–145,PerformanceMentoringProgram(PMP).Theseparagraphsoutlinerequirementsrelatedtodata-collectioncapacityandproceduresandLASDmanagersevaluatingpersonnelperformance,makingpeercomparisons,5analyzingtrends,andprovidingmentoringandotherinterventionstopersonnelwhoseperformancefallsbelowtheexpectedstandards.However,managementaccountabilityismuchbroaderthanwhatisdefinedinParagraphs141–145.Infact,accountabilityconsiderationspermeateeveryaspectoftheSA.Thepresenceorabsenceoforganizationalaccountabilitybecomesmostevidentwhenobservingandevaluatingindividualbehaviorsaswellasthecollectiveperformanceofemployeesateveryleveloftheorganization.Itissupportedbyestablishingeffectiveorganizationalsystemsandstandardsthatservetoclarifyandreinforcethenorms,expectations,anddesiredoutcomessought;butitisalsohighlydependentuponthepersonalandprofessionalcommitmentthatmanagersandsupervisorsdisplayandmodelintheirdailyperformance.AccountabilitybeginsandendswithLASDmanagementandistheprocessofdeterminingtheindividualandcollectiveperformanceofpersonnelandidentifyingandremedyingsystemicdeficiencies.Theaccountabilityprocessincludesaconsiderationofeachstageofdetailedpersonnelperformanceevaluationandestablishingandupdatingthepolicies,procedures,andtrainingnecessarytocomplywiththeintentofeachsectionoftheSAregarding:

• Stops,Seizures,andSearches• Bias-freePolicing• EnforcementofSection8Compliance• DataCollectionandAnalysis• CommunityEngagement• UseofForce,and• PersonnelComplaintReview

EachoftheseSAsectionshasaccountabilitypolicyandproceduralrequirements.AccountabilityisalsoanintegralpartofimplementingpermanentchangeinpolicingintheAV.Accountabilityprocessesmustbebuiltintothefabricofoperationsandmanagementitself.Accountabilitysystemsarerequiredtomonitorandevaluateemployeeperformanceandriskexposures,6aswellasthepracticesofmanagementintheoversightofpolicyinday-to-dayoperations.Accountabilityprocessesenablemanagementtomonitorandevaluatenotonlysystemsandindividualperformance,butalsotheevaluationoftheperformanceofmanagementitself.Managementisresponsibletoprovidepolicy,traintothepolicy,monitorpersonnelperformanceandapplicationofpolicyinoperations,andtakecorrectiveorremedialactiontoaddressidentifiedindividualorsystemicdeficiencies.Thesefunctionsarenotpossibleifmanagementdoesnotensureconsistency.Sucha

5Peercomparisonsallowmanagementtoevaluatepersonnelperformancebycomparingthedecisionsandactionsofpersonnelinsimilarsituationsastheyapplypolicyandtraining.Thisallowsdeterminationsastowhethersub-standardperformanceisamatterofindividualorsystemicdeficiencyandtheidentificationoftrends.6RiskexposuresarethoseareasofoperationsandperformancethatleavetheDepartmentandthecommunityopentorisksthatthreatensafetyandposepotentialliability.


processalsoallowsfortheevaluationofmanagements’effectivenessinoversightandresponsibilityforoperations.Theseaccountabilitysystemsprovidetwoimportantfunctions.First,istoenabletheMTtoverifythatinfactoperationsareconsistentwithpolicyasagreeduponintheSA.But,secondly—andmoreimportantly—istopermanentlyprovidethemechanismsformanagementtoroutinelyreviewandevaluateoperationsandperformanceinreal-time,assessriskexposures,andensureandverifythatstandardsarebeingappropriatelymet.MonitoringActivitiesinthisReportingPeriodOnNovember7,2016,MTexpertsmetwiththeLASDComplianceUnittodiscusstheDepartment’sapproachtodevelopingandimplementingstandardprocessesformanagementaccountability.ThePartiesandMTdiscussedtherequirementsintheSAfordevelopingspecificplansformanagementtoreviewandanalyzeinformationnecessaryforaccountability.Itisnotenoughtohavesystemsthatcaptureandprovidedata.Itisnecessarytohaveprocessesinplacethatestablishguidelinesforreviewingandusingthedatatoensurethatperformancemeetstheestablishedpolicystandards.InAugust2016,theMTexpertsmetwithcommandstaffanddiscussedtheDepartment’splansforconductinguse-of-forceinvestigationsandrelatedmanagementoversight.Thestandardsforconductinguse-of-forceinvestigationsareclearlyestablishedintheSAandneedtobereflectedinpolicy.7TheDepartmentrecognizesthat,unlessmanagementhasastandardizedprocessforreviewingforceinvestigationstoensurethateachelementoftheinvestigationisbeingconductedproperly,itisunlikelythatdeviationsoromissionswillbeidentified,accountedfor,andremedied.TheDepartmentintendstoadoptasimilarprocesstowhattheLASDCustodyDivisionusesforreviewingforceinvestigations.Thisincorporatesareviewprocessestablishedtoensurestandardizationandconsistencyindeterminingcompliancewithpolicy.Toreceiveitsinput,theDepartmentsubmittedtheproposedforceinvestigationprocesstotheMTinMarch2016.InameetingonMarch16,2017,theDepartmentprovidedaninstructionaloverviewoftheprocessandproposedapilotforforceinvestigations.TheMT-proposedmodificationstotheLASD438ForceInvestigationReportprocesswerediscussedindetailatthatmeeting.Thepilotofthenewinvestigationprocessispending.StepsTowardComplianceThissectionsummarizestheworkthatremainsinorderfortheDepartmenttocomplywithParagraphs141–143,PersonnelPerformanceIndex(PPI).ThePPIisLASD’sDepartment-widedecisionsupportsysteminmattersrelatedtoriskmanagementandservicereviews.TheSArequiresthatthePPIbemodifiedsothatitcanmakepeercomparisonsbetweendeputiesandunitsthatwillenableAVunitcommandersandsupervisorstoconductperiodicreviewsofalldeputiesandunitsundertheircommandtoidentifypotentialtrends.Asdescribedintheprevioussectionofthisreport,thismodificationisunderway.ThePPIisnowreferredtoasthePerformanceRecordingandMonitoringSystem(PRMS).

7Theproposeduse-of-forcepolicyhasbeenreviewedbytheMT,returnedtotheDepartment,andispendingfinalization.


TheSAindicatedthatthedevelopmentofthePPIwasestimatedtotakethreeyearstocomplete.However,theSArequiresanalternativeprocessformakingsuchcomparisonsduringthecomplianceperiod,pendingthefulldevelopmentofthePRMSautomatedsystem.ThisalternativeprocessformanagementreviewandoversightpendingthedevelopmentofthePRMSautomatedsystemhasnotbeenpresentedtotheMTasofthiswritingandwillbenecessarytoevaluateandestablishcompliancewithrequirementoftheSA.LASDhascommittedintheSAtomodifyingitsprocedureforPerformanceLogEntriessothatallentriesaremaintainedinanelectronicformat—notedinPPI—ensuringthatPPIdataareaccurate,andholdingresponsibleAVpersonnelaccountableforanyinaccuraciesindataentered.TheSAalsorequiresanalternativeprocessforcollectingandreportingthesedata,pendingthecompletionofPPI/PRMSmodifications.Todate,theMThasnotreceivedanyproposedalternativeprocess.Holdingpersonnelaccountableforconductandperformanceisthegeneralintentofaccountability,andholdingpersonnelaccountablefor“inaccuraciesinanydataentered”asrequiredinParagraph142isappropriateandnecessary,butthemoreimportantoutcomeistoimpactfutureperformance.Anyprocessmustincludehowdatawillbecollectedandbywhom,whowillberesponsibletoreviewthedataandhowpersonnelarebeingheldaccountableforinaccuracies,includingaprocesstomeasureorevaluatehowtherequirement’sexistenceisimpactingperformance.EventhoughtheDepartmenthasnotfullydefinedtherequiredaccountabilityprocesses,theMTisdevelopingcompliancemeasurestoestablishhowitwilldeterminecompliancewiththeserequirements.ThesecompliancemeasureswillbediscussedwiththeDepartmentinthenextreportingperiod.IntheSA,LASDhascommittedtodevelopaplan—inconsultationwiththeMTandtobeapprovedbyDOJ—toperiodicallyanalyzetheAVstations’responsetoconcernsuniquetotheirstations,suchastrendsidentifiedthroughciviliancomplaints,theCAC,communitysurvey,orothermeans.Thisplanwillbecriticalinestablishingmanagementaccountabilityinproactivelyrespondingtoidentifiedtrends.Todate,theDepartmenthasnotdevelopedtherequiredplan.Oncetheplanisready,theMTwillconductreviewstodeterminewhethertheDepartmentisidentifyingtrendsandtakingstepstoaddressanyidentifieddeficiencies.ThissectionsummarizestheworkthatremainsfortheDepartmenttocomplywithParagraphs144–145,PerformanceMentoringProgram(PMP).LASDwillcontinuetoprovidementorshiptodeputiesintheNorthPatrolDivision’slocally-basedPMP,8aswellasthroughLASD’sDepartment-widePMP,baseduponanappropriatedeterminationofeligibility.Toincreasetheeffectivenessoftheremediesandcorrectiveactionusedtoaddressadeputy’sbehavior,LASDwillimplementaplantoensurethattheDepartment-widePMPprovidesmentoringofAVpersonnelwithin30daysaftertheneedformentoringisidentified,andthatappropriateproceduresareinplaceforsupervisingdeputieswhoseperformancefailstoimproveaftermentoring.TheDepartmenthasnotyetpresentedtherequiredplantotheMT.

8ThePMPisaprogramforestablishingaspecificmentoringplanforindividualpersonneltoaddressandremedydeficienciesinperformance.Mentoringplansaretailoredtoenhancethespecificperformanceoftheindividualstaffmember.


ProcessesforcommandpersonneltomonitorandmanagethePMPmustbeidentified.AnyplanshouldestablishcriteriaforplacementintothePMP,withgoalsordesiredoutcomesspecificallyidentifiedfortheinvolvedpersonnel.AstandardprocesswillalsobenecessaryforsupervisorstodocumenttheimpactsofthePMPonindividualperformance.TheSArequiresthattheDepartment-widePMPandtheNorthPatrolDivision’sPMPcoordinateasappropriateandshareinformationaboutdeputiesandtheirindividualmentoringprograms.TheMTwillassesstheDepartment’sprocessforassuringthisisdoneonaregularandeffectivebasis.TheMTisdevelopingcompliancemeasurestoestablishhowitwilldeterminewhencomplianceismet.ItisexpectedthatthesecompliancemeasuresbefinalizedandapprovedbythePartiesinthenextreportingperiod.


CONCLUSIONDuringthisreportingperiod,LASDhasengagedwiththeDOJandtheMTtoachieveprogressinseveralkeyareas.TheDepartmentiscurrentlyengagedinrevisingitsUseofForcePolicyandtheServiceCommentReport(SCR)HandbookandComplaintPolicy.TosupportandevaluatetherevisionstotheSCRHandbookandrelatedpolicies,theMTisconductinganauditofthecomplaintsprocess.TheMTanticipatesthisauditwillprovideconsiderablecontextfortherevisionstothepoliciesandtheSCRHandbook,therebyensuringgreaterclarityandconsistencyinthehandlingandprocessingofcomplaintsmadebythepublic.Additionally,thePartiesandMTaredevotingconsiderableandongoingattentiontoreachagreementaboutthecontentandprocessesforensuringtheLimitedEnglishProficiencypolicyandtheHousingNon-DiscriminationpolicyarecarriedoutinamannerthatisconsistentwiththerequirementsoftheSA.ThePartiesandtheMTarestillnegotiatingthecontentofthesepolicies.TheSArequirestrainingforAVpersonnelontopicsincludingcommunityandproblemorientedpolicing,constitutionalpolicing,andbias-freepolicing.Thetrainingsonconstitutionalpolicingandbias-freepolicingstartedinmid-June.Oncethepilottrainingiscompletedandevaluated,andthefinalcurriculumhasbeenapproved,allAVdeputieswillthenundergotrainingonthesetwocriticalsectionsoftheSA.Thispilotefforthasinvolvedasignificantinvestmentoftime,staffresources,andexpenseinanefforttobringLASDintocompliancewiththeseprovisionsoftheSA.InpriorMTreports,theteamhashighlightedaneedtoaddadditionalstafftotheComplianceUnittoensuretimelinesarehonoredandtheobjectivesoftheSAaremet.TheMTispleasedwiththeDepartment’sresponseindoingthisandwishestoacknowledgeandthanktheSheriffforallocatingadditionalstafftotheComplianceUnit.TheComplianceUnitisnowcommandedbyacaptain.Anadditionalsergeanthasalsobeenaddedtoassistincarryingoutthetasksassignedtothiscriticalgroup;however,onedeputypositionwaseliminated.TheMThasfoundLASDtobecooperativeandcommittedtoachievingthefullimplementationofthetermsandconditionsoftheSA.TheSheriffcontinuestoprovideexemplaryleadershipandhasstressedhisexpectationsandtheimportanceofLASDemployeesembracingcommunity-oriented,21st-centurypolicingprinciples.