07.06.21 Work Session - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Meeting Minutes July 6, 2021 impaneled last fall to study and compare the police department's use of force policies to State and National best practices. Upon impaneling the committee, City Council provided direction that the group would select one or more spokespersons who would provide a report both to the Chiefs Advisory Panel and the City Council once their work was complete and any recommendations were made. Mr. Lumbreras reminded Council that the creation, review and maintenance of the Police Department's Operational Policies are the responsibility of our Chief of Police. Chief Standridge welcomed the opportunity that this committee provided to help inform his re -write of our Use of Force policies using feedback from members of our community. Mr. Lumbreras stated the presentation will be provided by Ad Hoc Council Committee members Dr. Kathy Martinez Prather and Mr. Cherif Gacis. Dr. Kathy Martinez Prather, Chair of Ad hoc Committee stated the mission and charge of the Ad Hoc Committee was comprised of 15 members appointed by the City Council to study the Use of Force policies of the San Marcos Police Department, compare those policies to national standards, and make recommendations. She thanked the council for appointing citizens to the committee which met six times over six months. She mentioned the committee had an in depth review of the 8CantWait, a campaign recommending several policy initiatives for cities around the use of force. In addition, the committee conducted a deep dive into the National Consensus Policy and Discussion Paper on Use of Force. The committee studied use of force from a legal perspective and the current force standard established in Graham vs. Connor. The committee utilized several resources to inform recommendations to the current policy, such as the Texas Best Practice Model for Use of Force Policy and other Texas municipal police departments' Use of Force policies. Every change was voted upon by the committee members. Dr. Martinez Prather presented the key recommendations: 1. A review of the current SMPD Use of Force Policy revealed no reference of de escalation. This term was added to the definition section of the policy, as well as the procedures section of the policy. 2. The Ad Hoc committee also observed through its review of the current policy that medical aid was lacking. The committee added a section to the policy on "Medical Attention", for anyone injured after use of force has been applied. Dr. Martinez Prather stated during review of the policy SB 2212 was approved during the legislative session that relates to a duty of a peace officer to request and render aid for an injured person while use of force is administered. SB2212 law passed and will be effective on September 1, 2021 City of San Marcos Page 3