HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/07/2020 10B Protest and Community Policing Report BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. 10.B.
For Meeting of: July 7, 2020
ITEM TITLE: Protest and Community Policing Report
SUBMITTED BY: Matthew Murray, Chief of Police
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
Providing the protest and community policing report at the request of council from the 6/16/20
meeting.
ITEM BUDGETED: NA
STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Public Safety
APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL BY THE CITY MANAGER
RECOMMENDATION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date Type
U Protests and Community Policing Report 6/17/2020 Backup Material
U SIU Information 6/26/2020 Backup Material
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Chief Matthew Murray's Office
200 S 3rd Street I Yakima WA 9890
Telephone: (509) 575-6211 LI
June 16, 2020
Protests / Community Policing
Naturally, as the Chief of the Yakima Police Department, I, along with my command
staff and the entire department, have been paying close attention to the issues and
protests (after the horrific death of George Floyd in Minneapolis) in Yakima and across
the United States. I feel that some data might assist in determining what future course
Yakima might choose to take.
I started as the Yakima Police Chief on May 1, 2019.
• There have been ZERO community-initiated complaints of inappropriate force in
the past year.
• In the past FOUR years, department has had THREE complaints of
"Discrimination/Harassment" (ONE was sustained in 2017, ONE was unfounded'
in 2016, and the last was not sustained in 2016).
• The total number of community-initiated misconduct complaints in 2019 (not
necessarily sustained") was FIVE (19%), and misconduct complaints internally-
generated within the department was TWENTY-TWO (81%).
• In the past FOUR years, sustained"' allegations included (in descending order):
Unsatisfactory Job Performance (10), Conduct Unbecoming (10),
Courtesy/Disrespect (4), and Equipment - care of (3).
• In the past FOUR years, the department has referred three investigations to the
independent Yakima Valley Special Investigations Unit. One was a suicide in the
Yakima Municipal Jail, another was a man who jumped in the Yakima River and
drown as officers approached him, and a third is ongoing and involves a woman
who died of a medical emergency after being transported to the hospital by
police. None of these cases involve allegations of inappropriate force by
department. The first two cases are complete and did not result in discipline.
• Since 2016 (one of the cases was from 2014), there have been EIGHT lawsuits
closed regarding the department (most were dismissed). None involved claims
of racial discrimination. There are currently SIX open lawsuits — none of which
involve allegations of racial discrimination. There have been ZERO claims of
discrimination against the department by its employees since I was appointed in
May of last year.
"M 4!!1 G respect a part of every G ry interaction."
3
Chief Matthew Murray's Office
200 S 3rd Street I Yakima WA 9890
Telephone: (509) 575-6211 LI
• In 2019, the department responded to 54,052 calls for service. Of those nearly
55,000 calls for service, 474 included use of force (336 of those involved use of a
"control technique" — in simple terms, a mild twist of a suspect's wrist to apply
handcuffs, as an example). Therefore, last year, Yakima police officers DIDN'T
USE FORCE on 99.12% of the calls they responded to. The Yakima City Jail
(operated by the Yakima Police Corrections Division) had 1,812 inmates with
17,031 days served and used force TEN times — 99.95% of daily interactions DO
NOT INVOLVE FORCE.
• The department continually reviews and updates its policies. However, as Chief I
have convened a group to review all Use of Force and Anti-Discrimination
policies against recognized national "best practices" models. This review will
consist of careful and comprehensive examination and analysis of policy,
training, culture, reporting, and review of use of force incidents.
• The most immediate and formidable challenge facing the department is the lack
of necessary staffing. The department is budgeted for ONE-HUNDRED-FORTY-
THREE officers. Currently, the department is staffed with ONE-HUNDRED-
THIRTY-THREE officers. However, SIXTEEN of those are new hires in some
phase of training and EIGHT are on long-term leave or limited duty. That means
that only ONE-HUNDRED-NINE (76%) of our sworn police staff is currently
deployable. The department is also down 30% of its captains, and by July 1,
2020 will be down 50% of its lieutenants.
• Although there has been a consistent five-year decline in crime'", in 2019 Yakima
had the 5th highest violent crime rate and 2nd highest burglary rate in Washington
State. Simply stated, 92% of cities in America are "safer" than Yakima." In a
comparison of national cities the same size as Yakima, the homicide rate here
ranks as the 11 t" highest."'
• The good news is that Yakima has risen significantly in 2020 on the list of
Washington's safest cities (now 56th out of 69 cities —was 65th in 2018).""
• In the summer of 2019, the department and U.S. Marshal's Violent Offender Task
Force arrested TWO-HUNDRED-FORTY-SIX fugitives in Yakima County (54%
were gang related).
• In the fall of 2019, the department's Criminal Investigations Division assisted the
Washington State Patrol's Missing and Exploited Children's Task Force (MECTF)
and multiple local, state and federal agencies with the THREE-DAY "Operation
Net Nanny". Undercover detectives communicated with hundreds of suspects
around our area, SIXTEEN of which were arrested after they arranged and
traveled to meet underage children for sex.
"M 4!!1 G respect a part of every G ry interaction."
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Chief Matthew Murray's Office
200 S 3rd Street I Yakima WA 9890
Telephone: (509) 575-6211 LI
• In 2019, there were ONE-HUNDRED-THIRTY-TWO (132) Criminal Shots Fired
Cases, NINE (9) of which were Fatal Shots Fired Incidents and THIRTY-NINE
(39) were Non-fatal Shots Fired Incidents. By Comparison, Yakima's shots-fired-
per-1000 population is 19; Seattle is 4, Lakewood 10, and Tacoma 16.
• Many of the victims and suspects of violent crime in Yakima are juveniles.
• SEVENTY-SEVEN percent of all calls for police service come from the two police
districts east of Front Street. These are the residents who will have the greatest
negative impact from a change in police service if allocation changes in the
delivery of police services are made.
• Domestic violence incidents in Yakima remained disproportionately high when
compared to other cities in Washington State. Although slowly decreasing from
1,699 in 2018 to 1,513 in 2019, domestic violence incidents continue to impact
our community at an alarming rate.
• The department has made a significant investment in community policing over
the past four years. From establishing "Coffee with a Cop" to the "Beat Officer
Program" before I arrived, to the ONE-THOUSAND-SIX-HUNDRED-FORTY-
TWO community contacts documented in the department's quarterly reports to
the City Council, the department has clearly demonstrated its commitment to
strengthening its relationships with the people of Yakima. I have personally
walked (as of last week) 1,938 miles of Yakima's streets and met well over 1000
members of the community. I have also attended 33 houses of worship (prior to
Covid closures) and met additional thousands of people there.
• There has been an IMMENSE outpouring of community support for the
department in the past two weeks. The department has received so many
encouraging cards, emails, and calls, which are sent in summary to all officers
every day.
The Yakima Police Department is by no means perfect. But neither is it broken. I am
committed to continually seek to improve the department so that we can meet the
expectation of Exceptional Customer Service in every interaction.
'There are four outcomes for internal investigations: Unfounded (evidence exists that the allegation did not occur),
Exonerated (even if the incident occurred,the officers conduct was appropriate), Not-sustained (there is not
enough evidence to prove or disprove an allegation),and sustained (the officer violated policy).
"ibid
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"M 4!!1 G respect a part of every G ry interaction."
5
Chief Matthew Murray's Office
200 S 3rd Street I Yakima, WA 98901 CY
4fr -
Telephone: (509) 575-6211
IV https://www.yakimaherald.corninewsicrime and courtsgbi-homicides-increase-but-violent-crime-falls-significantly-in-
Yakima/article 72f65003-98aa-5115-a546-71f7fe61d71a.html
v https://www.neighborhoodscoutcom/waiyakima/crime#:—:text=With%20a%20crime%2Orate%20othere%20is%20one%20in%2025.
VI
https://www.yakimaherald.cominewskrime and courtsfibi-homicides-increase-but-violent-crime-falls-significantly-in-
yakimaiarticle 72165003-98aa-5115-a546-71171e61d71a.html
vll https://www.safewise.com/blog/safest-cities-washington/
"Make respect a part of every interaction."
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Chief Matthew Murray's Office
200 S 3rd Street I Yakima, WA 98901
Telephone: (509) 575-6211
June 24, 2020
RE: Requested Yakima Valley Special Investigations Unit Information
Honorable Mayor and City Council Members:
In response to the U.S. Department of Justice final report on 21st Century Policing and Initiative I-
940, Washington Administrative Code (WAC 139-12) incorporated independent investigations
when law enforcement officials use deadly force. There are five fundamental principals designed
to enhance public trust in the integrity of independent investigations: Independence, transparency,
communication, credible process and credible investigators. These standards are necessary for
the involved agency and the public in an effort to enhance accountability, increase public trust
and improve legitimacy of policing.
The Yakima Valley Special Investigations Unit (YVSIU)was formed in response to 1-940 and SHB
1064. The YVSIU is comprised of ten state and local law enforcement agencies in Yakima County.
Each agency has agreed to staff the YVSIU with command staff personnel, supervisors,
detectives and non-sworn crime scene investigators. The current configuration consists of three
command staff members, ten supervisors, twelve investigators, five crime scene, non-sworn,
investigators, and two non-law enforcement community representatives.
Respectfully,
y l3
' k4 /
Matthew Murray
Chief of Police
"Make respect a part of every interaction."