Training, Technology, and Accreditation

By MIKE KANALAKIS

Areas for improvement in the Sheriff's Department include addressing key areas of Technology, Accrediation, Community Policing, and Training.

As the Internet revolution continues the department is faced with catching up to meet public needs. Different from investigating Techno/Cyber crimes, technology is an important component of the department's ability to interact with the public and other agencies. Not only must our web site be constantly updated and professionally maintained but also we must modernize it to become interactive with the public. In addition to what we currently support citizens should be able to report anonymous information, make police reports, inquire on the status of their cases, and communicate with their investigating deputy. Furthermore, our service should be in English and Spanish. Grant monies are available for these needs. We must pursue this funding and apply it to upgrading our department technology.

Accreditation

In 1979 The Commission on Accreditation for law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) was founded by four major law enforcement professional membership organizations. These included the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP); the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE); the National Sheriff's Association (NSA); and the police Executive research Forum (PERF).

The overall purpose of the Commission's accreditation program is to improve delivery of law enforcement practitioners, covering a wide range of up-to-date law enforcement topics. It recognizes professional achievements by offering an orderly process for addressing and complying with applicable standards.

Besides the recognition of obtaining international excellence, the primary benefits of accreditation include controlled liability insurance costs, administrative improvements, greater accountability from supervisors and managers, and increased governmental and community support.

Initially California was cool to the concept of national standards for police. However, in 1992 standards were mandated by the legislature in the wake of the Rodney King riots with the proviso that no Peace Officer training funds were to be used for development or implementation.

The California Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) took on the project and by 1994 came up with a draft proposal. In 1998 the draft proposal completed in 1994 was approved for release to California Law Enforcement Agencies for voluntary compliance and testing. POST still does not have funds available to test or implement the standards it has developed for California Peace Officers. Considerable work and testing lies ahead for POST before these standards become mandated, yet POST feels that these standards will be operational statewide by 2005.

The Monterey County Sheriff's Department has a unique opportunity to implement and test these standards before they become mandated. In order to demonstrate to the public that we are the leaders in public safety service in Monterey County this should become an absolute top priority. The benefits far outweigh the risks.

When implemented the standards will help the department strengthen crime prevention and control capabilities; formalize essential management procedures; establish fair and nondiscriminatory personnel practices; improve service-delivery; solidify interagency cooperation and coordination; and boost citizen and staff confidence in the agency.

The standards prescribe what agencies should be doing, but not `how' they should be doing it. That decision is left up to the individual agency and its Department Head. The accreditation process serves as an audit to determine whether or not the department's operational policies, written and unwritten, comply with the standards to which city managers, county administrative officers, police chiefs and sheriffs are held accountable by the courts and the public. The accreditation process will also help the Sheriff manage the department while giving the County Administrative Officer an objective measure of the department's performance.

Besides bestowing recognition on outstanding law enforcement agencies, accreditation confers such benefits as an improved, more effective administrative system, reduced liability potential, greater supervisory accountability and greater governmental and community support. As national and local incidents involving law enforcement continue to expose questionable police practices and increase public scrutiny we must be prepared to deal with criticism and public opinion. These demanding and difficult times emphasize the need for accountability and accreditation. We cannot afford to ignore it.

Community Policing

While community policing is nothing new to this agency (in place since 1993) we must continue to move forward by supporting the philosophy and empowering our personnel to continue their efforts. Community Field Offices, Rancho Natividad project, Juvenile Impact Programs, newsletters, community meetings, specialized patrols, neighborhood watch, crime prevention programs, problem solving, partnerships, citizens academy, explorers, every 15 minutes, DARE, SRO, PAL, ETF, teddy bears, and volunteer units are programs that we must continue and support to make the Community Policing philosophy work.

Equally important is breathing new life into our volunteer units which need new direction and leadership. Let there be no doubt that we are a committed Community Policing Department.

Training

Training will continue to be a major element of our operation. From Field Training to Community Policing and Ethics our needs will continue to grow. In order to limit liability and provide the best quality service our deputies must have the best training we can provide. The department has made great strides to provide training in our public safety building by bringing in qualified Instructors with excellent programs. This must continue to expand. The department must take the lead as a regional training center for all county law enforcement by providing fresh, innovative, up to date classes that are challenging, stimulating and in tune with today's needs. We must support and work hard to help establish a local full time police academy that meets our needs.

Racial Profiling

Although we have no documented evidence that this is a problem with the Monterey County Sheriff's department we must be vigilant that it does not become a problem. With a large Latino population and gang problems the opportunities for discriminatory practices by law enforcement are chilling. In his book "California in the New Millennium" Mark Baldassre reports that the Latino population of this state will grow from 10.7 million in 2000 to 28.1 million by 2040. It is the fastest growing segment of our society. Furthermore, he states that next to the Los Angeles area the San Francisco Bay region (including Monterey) will be the second most impacted with growth in the coming years. It means that the potential for abuse is ripe and that we must have strict policies in place to prevent it. We should also consider steps to track our traffic stops for future studies.