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In addition to investigating allegations of police miscon- <br />duct and reviewing the quality of completed investiga- <br />tions, citizen oversight bodies can undertake three other <br />responsibilities: <br />• Recommend policy and procedure changes and suggest <br />training improvements. <br />• Arrange to mediate selected complaints. <br />• Set up or assist with the operation of an early warning <br />system that identifies officers with potential problems. <br />Each of these activities has the potential to contribute to <br />helping police and sheriff’s departments remain or <br />become accountable to the local community as well as to <br />reduce police misconduct. <br />Policy Recommendations <br />“Many experts regard the policy review function as an <br />extremely important aspect of citizen oversight. Policy <br />review is designed to serve a preventive function by <br />identifying problems and recommending corrective <br />action that will improve policing and reduce citizen com- <br />plaints in the future” (emphasis in the original). <br />1 Policy <br />recommendations, including suggestions for training <br />improvements, can influence an entire department, not <br />Chapter 3: Other Oversight Responsibilities <br />C ITIZEN R EVIEW OF P OLICE: APPROACHES AND I MPLEMENTATION <br />69 <br />KEY POINTS <br />• Citizen oversight bodies can undertake three other important responsibilities in addition to investigating, <br />reviewing, or auditing complaints. <br />• Oversight bodies can recommend policy and procedure changes as well as training improvements. <br />— Many experts regard this policy review function as the most important responsibility citizen oversight <br />bodies can undertake because it can improve services throughout an entire department, not just among <br />selected officers. <br />— Many police administrators report that oversight bodies have made valuable policy and training <br />recommendations that they have implemented. <br />• Oversight bodies can make mediation available to selected complainants. Minneapolis and Rochester make <br />extensive use of formal mediation using trained mediators to conduct the sessions. Mediation can potentially <br />benefit: <br />— Complainants, many of whom are only interested in being able to express their concerns to the officer. <br />— Subject officers, who can learn how their behavior can affect the public and can avoid having the complaint <br />included in their files. <br />— The community at large, as citizens improve their understanding of police operations. <br />— Oversight bodies, which are spared the need to investigate and conduct hearings for these complaints. <br />Mediation can have disadvantages and has limitations. For example, use-of-force cases are not suitable for <br />mediation. <br />• Some oversight bodies assist police and sheriff’s departments to set up or maintain an early warning system to <br />keep track of complaints against officers who may need supervisory counseling or retraining.