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Chapter 1: Introduction <br />C ITIZEN R EVIEW OF P OLICE: APPROACHES AND I MPLEMENTATION <br />1 <br />KEY POINTS <br />•Citizen Review of Police:Approaches and Implementation is written primarily for local government officials and <br />legislators. Union leaders, local citizen groups, and new oversight staff may also find the publication useful. <br />• The publication describes nine citizen oversight procedures to enable these audiences to benefit from the <br />experiences of communities that have already established oversight procedures. <br />• While there is no single model of citizen oversight, most systems fall into one of four types: <br />— Type 1:Citizens investigate allegations of police misconduct and recommend findings to the chief or sheriff. <br />— Type 2: Police officers investigate allegations and develop findings;citizens review and recommend that the chief <br />or sheriff approve or reject the findings. <br />— Type 3: Complainants may appeal findings established by the police department to citizens,who review them <br />and then recommend their own findings to the chief or sheriff. <br />— Type 4: An auditor investigates the process by which the police or sheriff’s department accepts and <br />investigates complaints and reports on the process’ thoroughness and fairness. <br />• Oversight bodies can also: <br />— Recommend changes in department policies and procedures and suggest improvements in training. <br />— Arrange for mediation. <br />— Assist the police or sheriff’s department to develop or operate an early warning system for identifying <br />problem officers. <br />• If they wish to implement citizen review, to make an informed decision about which type of oversight proce- <br />dure to adopt jurisdictions need to examine tradeoffs inherent in choosing a model: Most features of every <br />model have drawbacks as well as benefits. <br />• Citizen oversight has the potential to benefit many groups. <br />• Complainants have reported feeling: <br />— “Validated” when their allegations are sustained—or merely appreciated having an opportunity to be heard <br />by an independent third party. <br />— Gratified they are able to address an officer directly. <br />— Satisfied the process appears to help hold police and sheriff’s departments accountable. <br />• Police administrators have said that oversight can: <br />— Improve their relationship and image with the community. <br />— Increase public understanding of the nature of police work. <br />— Promote the goals of community policing.