Title
Recommendation to Authorize the Chief of Police to Update Section 1030 of the Existing Alameda Police Department Policy Manual Entitled “Commendations and Awards” to Conform to Operational Changes. (Police 10031100)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Alameda Police Department (PD) contracts with Lexipol for the generation, retention, updating, and publishing of our policy manual. Part of the contract includes periodic review and revision of the policy manual to reflect current best practices, emerging case law, and new legislative changes/mandates. The Department also has the ability to modify policies when operational changes occur or when new internal procedures are identified.
BACKGROUND
Before Lexipol, PD operated on a set of General Orders that functioned as a policy manual for the Police Department. Under the General Orders concept, the policy manual was a paper document. PD and the City Attorney's Office were required to monitor evolving best practices, new case law, and changes in legislation. Those new practices and laws would then have to be distilled into a new or modified General Order, which would then be printed and disseminated for training at the PD. This was a time-consuming and cumbersome process that required a tremendous amount of City of Alameda (City) resources.
Approximately ten years ago, the PD entered into an agreement with Lexipol to create, maintain, update and publish a policy manual. Lexipol is a risk management company that specializes in the creation of electronic public safety policy manuals. It currently serves approximately 8,100 public safety agencies/municipalities. Last year, Lexipol reviewed about 9,000 legislative and regulatory changes to ensure the policy manuals it manages to stay as current and comprehensive as possible. In addition, the pooling of resources caused by having so many public agencies obtaining their policy manuals from a single source and utilizing an easily changeable electronic format allows for near real-time policy manual updating and instantaneous notification to employees of updates. In short, using Lexipol has resulted in the PD's policy manual remaining more up-to-date, more easily accessible, and constantly reviewed by industry experts outside of the PD.
On June 14, 2020, the City Council directed that no changes be made to the PD Policy Manual without bringing the changes before the City Council for discussion. The PD would like to create a Commander's Commendation Certificate that can be awarded to employees who demonstrate outstanding service while serving in their official capacity.
DISCUSSION
The PD would like to create a Commander's Commendation Certificate that can be awarded to employees who demonstrate outstanding service while serving in their official capacity. The policy presented is listed below with a description of the proposed change.
Policy recommended for update:
APD Policy #1030-Commendations and Awards
The PD would like to create a Commander's Commendation Certificate that can be awarded to employees who demonstrate outstanding service while serving in their official capacity as employees of the Police Department. The Commander's Commendation is a way for Staff to recognize the excellent work PD employees provide and bridges the gap in our current employee recognition system. Watch Commanders who identify employees they believe are deserving of the commendation need to complete a memorandum addressed to their Bureau Commander for consideration. If approved, the Watch Commander shall complete a letter addressed to the employee on Department letterhead. Personnel and Recruitment will generate a Commander's Commendation Certificate.
The current policy contains a Certificate of Commendation award. This award would be renamed the Chief's Certificate of Commendation to assist in distinguishing between the two.
ALTERNATIVES
• Approve the policy updates
• Do not approve the updates
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact from approving the policy updates from Lexipol. Funding for the Lexipol contract is currently included under the Police Administrative Services division budget.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
The policy referenced is from the APD Policy Manual, as published by Lexipol. See the Discussion section for the policy number.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. This action is not a project pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines section 15378.
CLIMATE IMPACT
There are no identifiable climate impacts or climate action opportunities associated with the subject of this report.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the Chief of Police to Update Section 1030 of the Existing Alameda Police Department Policy Manual Entitled “Commendations and Awards” to Conform to Operational Changes.
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager concurs with the Police Chief’s recommendation for an update to Section 1030.
Respectfully submitted,
Nishant Joshi, Chief of Police
By,
Jeffery Emmitt, Police Captain
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Annie To, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. Draft Policy
cc: Eric Levitt, City Manager