(Washington, DC) – The District of Columbia Police Complaints Board (PCB), the governing body of the Office of Police Complaints (OPC), today released a report to the Council of the District of Columbia on the status of policy changes recommended by the PCB to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the District of Columbia Housing Authority Police Department (DCHAPD) in fiscal year 2019. The report also reexamines the implementation status of the policy recommendations made by the Board to MPD and DCHAPD from fiscal years 2015 to 2018.
To date, the PCB has issued 57 policy recommendations and reports for police reform. The recommendations address large-scale areas of concerns about District law enforcement policies, training, or supervision. The reports address substantive or procedural law enforcement matters.
OPC reviewed four reports with 11 separate recommendations published in fiscal year 2019. During its review, the agency found that of the 11 recommendations, four have been partially implemented and seven not implemented. The findings by report are as follows:
- Using Litigation Data to Improve Policing – Two recommendations: one partially implemented, one not implemented
- Updates for the Crisis Intervention Officers Program – Three recommendations: all not implemented
- Duty to Intervene – Two recommendations: one implemented, one partially implemented
- Handling Property – Four recommendations: two partially implemented, two not implemented
Additionally, OPC reexamined the recommendations to MPD from fiscal years 2015-18 that were partially implemented or not implemented at the time of the agency’s initial review in 2018. The agency found that six are now fully implemented; 10 are now or remain partially implemented; and nine are still not implemented.
“This report illustrates the level of responsiveness of MPD to recommendations from the community it serves,” said Michael G. Tobin, OPC’s executive director. “It is unfortunate that many of the recommendations from the PCB go unheeded by MPD, even during these times of heightened awareness of needed police reforms.”
To view the full report, visit www.policecomplaints.dc.gov.
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