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DATE: APRIL 3, 2025
TO: HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: POLICE CHIEF ANDREW BINDER
SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO IPA RECOMMENDATIONS IN REPORT COVERING INVESTIGATIONS AS OF NOVEMBER 30, 2024
RECOMMENDATION #1: PAPD should devise policy proscribing officers from becoming involved in police activity involving friends and family members unless there are extraordinary circumstances.
The Department agrees that an officer should avoid becoming involved in police activity where a personal relationship with an involved party could potentially create the appearance of a lack of objectivity. Clearly certain close personal relationships (e.g., romantic, familial) raise concerns regarding officer neutrality. At the same time, PAPD is committed to community policing, where officers are actively encouraged to involve themselves in community activities and get to know neighbors, business owners and others who work or live in Palo Alto. It is common for long- serving, effective PAPD officers to become acquainted with, and develop open lines of communication with, a considerable number of community members. In assessing the propriety of a police interaction, PAPD considers the professionalism and objectivity of an officer’s conduct (e.g., statements made, actions taken), in addition to the specific nature of any relationship the officer may have to the involved parties.
RECOMMENDATION #2: PAPD should devise a policy that instructs supervisors to initiate investigations of alleged misconduct even when a complaint form is not completed or returned.
The Department agrees that, consistent with existing policy, the Department should continue to initiate investigations of alleged misconduct even when a complaint form is not completed or returned.
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RECOMMENDATION #3: PAPD should advise complainants when it takes other remedial action short of discipline.
The Department agrees that, to the extent possible without violating state law protection of officers’ personnel records, the Department should advise complainants when it takes non- disciplinary steps to improve performance.
RECOMMENDATION # 4: PAPD should reform its protocols to ensure that before a new officer is authorized to conduct impaired driving investigations, the officer should have the requisite training and supervision to effectively do so.
The Department agrees and has reinforced its existing training protocols to ensure proficiency.
RECOMMENDATION # 5: PAPD should consider ways it can acknowledge shortcomings in officer performance that may have adversely affected a complainant's experience, even when these do not rise to the level of a policy violation.
The Department agrees that, to the extent possible without violating state law protection of peace officer personnel records, the Department should consider ways it can acknowledge shortcomings in officer performance that may have adversely affected a complainant's experience, even when these do not rise to the level of a policy violation.