Sound Off: Do Napa Police Need a Civilian Review Board for Officer-Involved Shootings?

The Napa County Grand Jury report on the by Napa police in front of his Alta Heights home finds fault with both city and county agencies and recommends a civilian review board for officer-involved shootings:

FINDINGS

The 2011-2012 Napa County Grand Jury finds that: 

F1.   The Napa Police Department is delinquent in not publishing the results of its Administration Investigation in a timely manner.

F2. Richard Poccia’s body was left on the street over thirteen hours, an inordinate and unacceptable amount of time. 

F3.   There is a need for more effective collaboration between Napa County Mental Health and the Napa Police Department in crisis situations. 

F4.  There is no civilian review board in Napa County for OIS incidents. 

F5.   Much of the Alta Heights community is estranged from the Napa Police Department as result of police actions during and after the Richard Poccia event.

F6.   It is commendable that the Napa Police Department provides access to psychological counseling for its officers following traumatic situations such as an OIS.

F7. Adequate psychological counseling is not currently available to Napa communities following traumatic situations that occur in public. 

F8. Mental Health’s two unanswered phone calls without more follow-up to Richard Poccia were inadequate.  

RECOMMENDATIONS

The 2011-2012 Napa County Grand Jury recommends that:  

R1.   The Napa Police Department explain the reason(s) the Administrative Investigation Report of the OIS of November 28, 2010, is delinquent, and release the report within 60 days. 

R2. The Napa Police Department publish future Administrative Investigation Reports within 180 days of the incidents giving rise to them.

R3.  Within 90 days the City of Napa establish procedures to utilize appropriate screening for sensitive crime scenes. 

R4.  Within 180 days the law enforcement departments in Napa County and Mental Health Department establish more effective coordination in situations of crisis intervention by (1) engaging in joint training exercises, and by (2) maintaining instantaneous communication and patching capability.

R5.  Within one year the Napa County Board of Supervisors and all Napa County incorporated local governments establish a civilian review board to examine all investigation documents of this incident and all future Officer involved shooting (OIS) incidents to provide feedback from a civilian point-of-view.

R6.  Within 90 days the Napa Police Department provide its staff effective public interface and/or appoint a liaison officer to inform and reassure the public during tense events.

R7.   Within 180 days the Napa County Mental Health Department (1) establish support programs for communities involved in traumatic incidents, and (2) establish additional programs to promote community awareness of resources for crisis support. 

R8.  Within 180 days the Napa County Board of Supervisors provide the necessary funding resources to assist Napa County Mental Health with (1) appropriate staff levels for crisis situations, and (2) effective communication routing and patching links with Napa Police.  

Source: Napa County Grand Jury: David B. Gilbreth, Foreperson; Jacob S. Arcanin; Patricia L. Bardwell; Robert L. Bianco Sr.; Beverly G. Brown; Victor J. Connell; Richard A. Faenzi; David P. Goleman; Jeffrey G. Hammond; Susan R. Hart; Edward M. Johnston; Richard B. Lyons; Klaus Niem; Kristi N. Pennington; Bernhold Rankenburg; Lester H. Reinke; Joe Savage; Maria D. Villegas; Duane H. Wall; and Mary M. Weese.

For the complete report, please see http://drupal.napacourt.net/sites/default/files/images/grandjury/grandjury11-12/Shooting%20in%20Alta%20Heights.pdf

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