Vancouver Community Task Force on Policing

Vancouver Police Department continues to implement improvements to use of force policies and practices

The Community Task Force on Policing was formed in the summer of 2020 to provide feedback to the Vancouver Police Department as it addressed 84 recommendations identified in a use of force report provided by the Police Executive Research Forum.

The City has created a chart to provide a look at the work that has been accomplished.

A majority of the use of force recommendations have been implemented and VPD continues to foster a culture of improvement by regularly updating training and policies according to legislative changes and best practices within the industry.

Ten of the 84 recommendations are not yet complete and are not reflected on this chart. Here’s how the remaining recommendations are still being addressed*:

• Seven recommendations (numbers 31, 22, 23, 24, 82, 81, 83) are related to the development of an internal Critical Incident Review Board. VPD has started this process and will likely begin work in 2022 after the department has addressed significant changes in policing aligned with new state laws.
• One (number 45) recommendation is related to data collection to quantify de-escalation and the department is actively working on procedures to capture this data.
• Two (numbers 72 & 73) recommendations are part of negotiations with the guilds and still need to go through that process.

*Page numbers referenced in the chart correspond to the page numbers that contain the recommendation in the PERF report

Update on police camera program

VPD continues to make progress on implementing a comprehensive camera program that will feature body-worn cameras and in-car cameras. The City of Vancouver has budgeted $3 million for FY 21/22 and is slated to receive $1.5 million in federal funding during 2022 secured by Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler to support the program.

Here is the most recent draft policy (PDF) developed for the use of the cameras. This policy will evolve and change as the review and feedback process continues through:

• Police union negotiations
• Input from the Community Task Force on Policing (a working group of community members, VPD, and City staff tasked with oversight of program implementation)
• Public procurement process that will determine the specific camera equipment, training, and maintenance for the program.

Community members are invited to provide their thoughts on this draft policy below in the section titled "Share your Ideas".

Next steps: In April 2021, the City of Vancouver procurement process began. This process included participation from two community members who reviewed vendor proposals that were submitted. Several vendors were selected to move forward to the second phase of the selection process, which occurred during the week of August 23, 2021. These vendors then provided in-person, half-day demonstrations of their products to police department and City personnel. The procurement process is continuing, and the department will begin testing equipment as part of a pilot program which begins in early November 2021. During the 60-day pilot program, ten officers will be equipped with body-worn cameras, which they will wear during their normal work shifts. Up to six vehicles will also be outfitted with a dash and rear-passenger compartment camera.

In preparation for the full implementation of the program, work has begun to prepare the City of Vancouver Information Technology department and the Vancouver Police Department Records personnel for the new and additional work associated with the camera program. Coordination with Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA) is also being done prior to the full implementation.

Task Force Member Presentation Spotlight:

• Council for the Homeless: Homeless Response System (PDF)
• NAMI SW WA: SEE ME (YouTube)
• Q&A: 10 Things to Know about Vancouver NAACP (PDF)
• LULAC: Changing Latino Lives & Building Latino Communities (PDF)

City Council Workshop Update:

Vancouver City Council received an update on the progress of the Task Force's work at it's February 22, 2021 Council workshop. You can view that session here.

City of Vancouver convenes Community Task Force on Policing

Vancouver City Manager Eric Holmes created the Community Task Force on Policing in June 2020 as a result of the Police Executive Research Forum's (PERF) use of force report on the Vancouver Police Department (VPD). The task force met for the first time in September 2020 and is expected to meet on a monthly basis through September 2021.

The official charge of the task force is to:

• Review and assure transparency and accountability during the implementation of the 84 recommendations in the Police Executive Research Forum's (PERF) use of force report on the VPD.

• Review and advise the city on establishing a body-worn camera program for implementation in the 2021-2022 biennium.

The task force is composed of the following community leaders:

• Ed Hamilton Rosales, Southwest Washington League of United Latin American Citizens

• Clayton Mosher, Washington State University Vancouver
• Shareefah Hoover, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Vancouver chapter
• Lynn Marzette, Vancouver Police Department’s Chief’s Diversity Advisory Committee
• Kim Schneiderman, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Southwest Washington
• Elvia Santos Dominguez, PointNorth Consulting and Vancouver resident
• Cody Shaw, Council for the Homeless
• Eric Holmes, Vancouver City Manager
• James McElvain, Vancouver Police Chief
• Anne McEnerny-Ogle, Vancouver Mayor
• Erik Paulsen, Vancouver City Councilmember
• Sarah Fox, Vancouver City Councilmember
• Commander Dave King, Vancouver Police Department, representing the VPD Command Guild
• Detective Neil Martin, Vancouver Police Department, representing the VPD Police Guild

To ensure transparency, the Vancouver Police Department also provides access to full reports, policy information and regular updates regarding this project and other public safety initiatives online. Please visit the "Webpage Links" in the sidebar to learn more.