Do you ensure accountability through civilian oversight boards?

Resolution 2018-097 Established the Police Community Relations Advisory Committee in October, 2018. The scope of the COMMITTEE’s advisory responsibilities shall be limited to advising and making recommendations to the City’s Police Chief, City Council or City Manager, as appropriate, related to the City’s Police Department. Specifically, the COMMITTEE’s advisory responsibilities shall be limited to the City of Cocoa and the following objectives:

1. Providing a vibrant community discussion forum to foster understanding, communication and collaboration between law enforcement (including and especially the Police City of Cocoa Resolution No. chief and Police Department leadership team) and concerned individuals and citizens about a variety of law enforcement issues or topics of concern;

2. Identifying and addressing community policing needs and police-community relations in a positive and constructive manner;

3. Promoting successful programs, initiatives and strategies to reduce crime and improve community safety;

4. Promoting and increasing community involvement in successful community policing programs, initiatives and strategies to build trust and confidence between the community and the City’s Police Department;

5. Informing and educating the community regarding crime awareness and prevention techniques, programs and strategies to generate community interest and involvement in crime prevention and to deter crime;

6. To review and advise the Police Chief on community related matters which have been expressly referred to the COMMITTEE by the Police Chief, City Manager or City Council;

7. Work to strengthen and ensure, throughout the community, the application of equal protection under law in the context of law enforcement; and

8. Promoting transparency and accountability regarding alleged police misconduct by publicly discussing with the Police Chief written findings of completed and closed internal investigation reports involving the conduct of law enforcement officers employed by the City pertaining to the use of force or police conduct toward a citizen so appropriate processes and strategies may be considered by the Police Chief in preventing the occurrence of future activities of misconduct, provided such public discussion occurs at an appropriate time taking into account any applicable lawsuits and legal claims that may be pending against the City and applicable law enforcement officers.

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1. Is there a ban on the use of chokeholds and strangleholds?
2. Are there several steps in the de-escalation process?
3. Do you require your officers to warn before shooting?
4. Do you require that your officers exhaust all other means before resorting to shooting?
5. Do your officers have a duty to intervene when they see another officer mishandling a situation?
6. What are you actively doing and what policies do you have in place to stop collusion?
7. Are officers banned from shooting at moving vehicles?
8. Do your officers employ the use of Force Continuum?
9. Do you require comprehensive reporting?
10. Does your department participate in the use of no knock warrants?
11. Do you carry less-lethal weapons as a proven method to curb violent behavior by officers of the law?
12. Do you restrict SWAT teams use for emergency situations?
13. Do you require body worn cameras for police officers?
14. Do you require officers to undergo training - including scenario-based training on at least a quarterly basis and involve the community - including youth of color – in its design and implementation?
15. Do you ensure accountability through civilian oversight boards?
16. Do you have funds and resources allocated for community-based programs?