Bias-Based Policing Policy PDF

Policy Des Plaines Police Department 401 Des Plaines PD Policy Manual Bias-Based Policing 401.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE This policy provides guidance to department members that affirms the Des Plaines Police Department's commitment to policing that is fair and objective. Nothing in this policy prohibits t...

Policy Des Plaines Police Department 401 Des Plaines PD Policy Manual Bias-Based Policing 401.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE This policy provides guidance to department members that affirms the Des Plaines Police Department's commitment to policing that is fair and objective. Nothing in this policy prohibits the use of specified characteristics in law enforcement activities designed to strengthen the department’s relationship with its diverse communities (e.g., cultural and ethnicity awareness training, youth programs, community group outreach and partnerships). 401.1.1 DEFINITIONS Definitions related to this policy include: Bias-based policing - An inappropriate reliance on characteristics such as race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, economic status, age, cultural group, disability or affiliation with any non-criminal group (protected characteristics) as the basis for providing differing law enforcement service or enforcement. 401.2 POLICY The Des Plaines Police Department is committed to providing law enforcement services to the community with due regard for the racial, cultural or other differences of those served. It is the policy of this department to provide law enforcement services and to enforce the law equally, fairly, objectively and without discrimination toward any individual or group. 401.3 BIAS-BASED POLICING PROHIBITED Bias-based policing is strictly prohibited. However, nothing in this policy is intended to prohibit an officer from considering protected characteristics in combination with credible, timely and distinct information connecting a person or people of a specific characteristic to a specific unlawful incident, or to specific unlawful incidents, specific criminal patterns or specific schemes. 401.4 MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES Every member of this department shall perform his/her duties in a fair and objective manner and is responsible for promptly reporting any suspected or known instances of bias-based policing to a supervisor. Members should, when reasonable to do so, intervene to prevent any bias-based actions by another member. 401.4.1 REASON FOR CONTACT Officers contacting a person shall be prepared to articulate sufficient reason for the contact, independent of the protected characteristics of the individual. Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2024/02/29, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Des Plaines Police Department ***DRAFT*** Bias-Based Policing - 1 Des Plaines Police Department Des Plaines PD Policy Manual Bias-Based Policing To the extent that written documentation would otherwise be completed (e.g., arrest report, field interview (FI) card), the involved officer should include those facts giving rise to the contact, as applicable. Except for required data-collection forms or methods, nothing in this policy shall require any officer to document a contact that would not otherwise require reporting. 401.4.2 REPORTING STOPS The Chief of Police or the authorized designee shall ensure stop cards are created and available to members, and contain all of the information required by 625 ILCS 5/11-212 for traffic and pedestrian stops. Officers shall complete one of these cards when they detain, conduct a patdown search of or arrest a pedestrian in a public place, issue a summons to a pedestrian, search a pedestrian’s property or conduct a traffic stop. 401.5 SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES Supervisors should monitor those individuals under their command for compliance with this policy and shall handle any alleged or observed violations of this policy in accordance with the Personnel Complaints Policy. (a) Supervisors should discuss any issues with the involved officer and their supervisor in a timely manner. (a) (b) Supervisors should document these discussions, in the prescribed manner. Supervisors should periodically review Mobile Audio/Video (MAV) recordings, portable audio/video recordings, Mobile Digital Computer (MDC) data, and any other available resource used to document contact between officers and the public to ensure compliance with this policy. (a) Supervisors should document these periodic reviews. (b) Recordings or data that capture a potential instance of bias-based policing should be appropriately retained for administrative investigation purposes. (c) Supervisors shall initiate investigations of any actual or alleged violations of this policy. (d) Supervisors should take prompt and reasonable steps to address any retaliatory action taken against any member of this [department/office] who discloses information concerning bias-based policing. 401.6 STATE REPORTING The Records Section shall compile the required data on the standardized law enforcement data compilation form and transmit the data to the Illinois Department of Transportation. This shall be done by March 1 for data collected during July through December of the previous calendar year, and by August 1 for data collected during January through June of the current calendar year (625 ILCS 5/11-212). Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2024/02/29, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Des Plaines Police Department ***DRAFT*** Bias-Based Policing - 2 Des Plaines Police Department Des Plaines PD Policy Manual Bias-Based Policing 401.7 ADMINISTRATION Each year, the Operations Deputy Chief should review the efforts of the Department to provide fair and objective policing and submit an annual report, including public concerns and complaints, to the Chief of Police. The annual report should not contain any identifying information about any specific complaint, member of the public or officer. It should be reviewed by the Chief of Police to identify any changes in training or operations that should be made to improve service. Supervisors should review the required state reporting forms and the annual report and discuss the results with those they are assigned to supervise. 401.8 TRAINING Training on fair and objective policing and review of this policy should be conducted as directed by the Training Section. Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2024/02/29, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Des Plaines Police Department ***DRAFT*** Bias-Based Policing - 3