Citizens' Input Can Help Make Police Department Even Better

MESA (By Mesa Vice Mayor Dennis Kavanaugh, Arizona Republic) Feb. 25, 2004 - Last year, Mesa received considerable publicity after several officer-involved shootings. Some Mesa residents called for the city to establish a civilian police review board similar to those that exist in some communities. Other residents noted that Mesa's city charter prohibits such review boards. Still others expressed concerns that review boards could adversely affect police practices and morale.

In response to these community concerns, the Mesa City Council established an ad hoc committee to study police oversight. The committee includes three members of the City Council and 12 citizens representing a broad cross section of Mesa. I have the honor of chairing this committee, which assesses Mesa's Police Department policies concerning equipment, training and investigations involving use of force. The committee also is reviewing the process for responding to citizen complaints and will examine the current relationship between the Mesa Police Department and the greater community, as well as review how other communities use citizen review boards. The goal is to provide recommendations to the City Council and the community that can improve the operation of Mesa's Police Department, while at the same time strengthen the relationship between law enforcement officers and residents.

So far, the committee has heard presentations from the Mesa Police Department on training, the internal investigation process and the citizen complaint process. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office also shared its procedures on police-shooting investigations, as well as the important role the Maricopa County medical examiner plays in such inquiries.

The ad hoc committee is asking Mesa's residents to share their thoughts and comments on the city's community-police relationship at town hall meetings. One was held Tuesday; another is scheduled for Saturday. The input gathered at the town hall meetings will be used to form recommendations for the City Council. Another forum will be held March 10 to gather input from members of the Mesa Police Department.

This is not the first time the City Council has sought community dialogue on this issue. In 1992, the mayor and council established a similar ad hoc committee that reviewed police policies and practices. Numerous recommendations made by that committee were subsequently implemented by the Mesa Police Department and worked to improve community-police relations.

Mesa Police Chief Dennis Donna and his staff should be commended for their work with the committee and their willingness to consider suggestions for improvement. Please join us as we work to make Mesa even better. Attend the following meeting and make your voice heard.

Saturday's town hall meeting will be from 10 a.m. to noon at the Red Mountain Multigenerational Center, 7550 E. Adobe St.

Spanish translation services will be available. Sign language services also may be requested by calling (480) 644-5033 before the meeting.