Community Review Sessions

The Community Review Sessions hosted by this project, provided a forum during which members of the community were able to discuss and learn about updates to the use of force policies based on recommendations by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). The format for these sessions was an open forum whereby each of the recommendations, their corresponding policy and final decisions reached by the leadership team, were displayed on poster boards around the room. Community members were invited to view the posters, educate themselves about these updates and ask questions of the evaluators, all members of the Department, who were on hand to support the sessions.

"On behalf of the Mesa Police Department I want to thank all community members who attended our Use of Force Best Practices Community Review Sessions. The Mesa Police Department truly appreciates your participation and the feedback you provided on the industry best practices, use of force recommendations, showcased during these sessions." -- Assistant Chief Lee Rankin

Use of Force Best Practices Review Project

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The Mesa Police Department deeply values our relationship with the community and our continued partnerships to strengthen public safety. We work hand-in-hand with community leaders to improve our service delivery. Our commitment to improvement is also evidenced by our work with the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), Police Assessment Resource Center (Merrick Bob), former Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley, the Department of Justice (DOJ), Community Relations Service, and President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing.

Together with the community, we have been working tirelessly over the last 18 months to review all our policies related to discipline and use of force. The Use of Force Review Committee was established, consisting of 12 community members and 12 members of the police department, to meet every two weeks for nine months to evaluate industry best practice use of force recommendations from the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). Each recommendation received an evidence-based evaluation by a member of the MPD leadership team and considered industry trends, relevant policy, training curriculum, and implementation requirements. This guidance was ultimately presented to the Chief of Police and Assistant Chiefs for approval. As a result of this work, the following policy directions have been provided:

Implementation of concurrent investigations that ensure incidents involving force are promptly reviewed for legal, policy, and training issues.
The creation of the Critical Incident Review Board (CIRB) consisting of representation from the Labor Association(s), Advanced Training, a Legal Advisor, and three City of Mesa residents who serve as civilian members. The CIRB seeks to promote trust and legitimacy by fostering transparency in department actions, striving to improve police services, and helping hold the agency and its members accountable.
Provide an educational Critical Incident Community Briefing.
Prohibit shooting at or from a moving vehicle.
Prohibit strikes to the face, head, or neck other than when a suspect engages in active aggression or aggravated active aggression.
Prohibit the Carotid Control Technique except for when deadly force Is justified.
Require officers intervene when they observe objectively unreasonable force.
Emphasize that the policy of the Mesa Police Department is to value and preserve human life in all situations.

The examples listed above are just a fraction of the work that our department and community have accomplished together. We invite you to review each recommendation below, which includes the accompanying collaborative efforts from the committee, and the final guidance presented to the Chiefs, which are currently being implemented by the department.

Community Feedback Welcome!

Send your feedback to PDUFProjectFeedback@mesaaz.gov. Include the title of the Recommendation or Guidance presentation(s), along with your thoughts. Your feedback will be shared with the evaluators.

Use of Force Review: The Path to Implementing Best Practices
A comparative analysis of Departmental Use of Force Policies, Training and Operational Protocols measured against recommended best practices.

Committee Review Meetings

September 11, 2019

Recommendation	Guidance	Decision
Concurrent Investigations	Recommendation 1	Approved
Notifications	Recommendation 2	Approved

September 25, 2019

Recommendation	Guidance	Decision
Scene Response	Recommendation 3	Approved
Scene Responsibility	Recommendation 4	Approved
Category 2 Incidents	Recommendation 8	Approved
Less-Lethal Shotguns	Recommendation 37	Approved

October 9, 2019

Recommendation	Guidance	Decision
Executive Debrief	Recommendation 5	Approved
Administrative Investigations	Recommendation 6	Approved
Electronic Control Weapon	Recommendation 33	Approved
Vehicle Pursuits	Recommendation 42	Approved

October 23, 2019

Recommendation
Use of Force Review Board	Recommendation 7	Approved
Shooting At or From Vehicles	Recommendation 21 & 32	Approved
Neck Restraint	Recommendation 26	Approved

November 6, 2019

Recommendation	Guidance	Decision
Supervisor Scene Response	Recommendation 22 & 39	Approved
Mark Electronic Control Weapon	Recommendation 36	Approved
Blue Team Reports	Recommendation 40	Approved

November 20, 2019

Recommendation	Guidance	Decision
Persons Exposed to Taser Receive Medical Eval	Recommendation 28	Approved
Report When Taser is Pointed	Recommendation 29	Approved
Revise Drive Stun Definition	Recommendation 34	Approved
Revise Taser Deployment Procedures	Recommendation 35	Approved

December 4, 2019

Recommendation	Guidance	Decision
Release Use of Force Data Annually	Recommendation 62	Approved
Relocate Office for Professional Standards	Recommendation 54	Approved
Repository for Training Records	Recommendation 38	Approved
Track Trends and Emerging Issues	Recommendation 58	Approved

December 18, 2019

Recommendation	Guidance	Decision
Remove Warning on Making False Complaints	Recommendation 49	Approved
Update Definition of Deescalation	Recommendation 45 & 16	Approved
Update Policy for Leg Restraints	Recommendation 66	Approved
Update Website Access to Compliment Form	Recommendation 48	Approved

January 15, 2020

Recommendation	Guidance	Decision
Define Basis for Using Force	Recommendation 27	Approved
Revive Use of Force Terms	Recommendation 24 & 14	Approved
Authorized Face, Neck and Head Strikes	Recommendation 23	Approved
Define Limited Strikes and Strikes	Recommendation 25	Approved

January 29, 2020

Recommendation	Guidance	Decision
Consolidate Use of Force Policies	Recommendation 11	Approved
Duty to Intervene	Recommendation 17 & 19	Approved with Update
Sanctity of Life	Recommendation 18	Approved with Update
Use of Force Report Findings	Recommendation 41	Approved

February 12, 2020

Recommendation	Guidance	Decision
Professional Standards to Provide Findings	Recommendation 12	Approved
Replace Suppression Fire with Directed Fire	Recommendation 44 & 31	Approved
Reportable Use of Force	Recommendation 9	Approved
Policy & Procedure Access to Public on Website	Recommendation 61	Approved
Authorization to Use Firearm to Stop Fleeing Felon	Recommendation 30	Approved

February 26, 2020

Recommendation	Guidance	Decision
Disciplinary History Retention Period	Recommendation 10 & 53	Approved with Update
Consider Past Disciplinary History	Recommendation 13	Approved
Allow Feedback During Policy Creation	Recommendation 59	Approved with Update

March 11, 2020

Recommendation	Guidance	Decision
Commending De-escalation Techniques	Recommendation 65	Approved
Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT)	Recommendation 43	Approved
Squad Assignment Bidding Process	Recommendation 64	Approved
Supervisor Accountability for Directed Training	Recommendation 47 & 57	Approved

April 30, 2020

Recommendation	Guidance	Decision
Instructor Evaluation	Recommendation 55	Approved
Complaints Given a Formal Investigation	Recommendation 51	Approved
Complaints Are Not Discouraged	Recommendation 52	Approved
Website is Consistent and Accurate	Recommendation 50	Approved

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