SHERIFF_AnnualReport_8.5x11_041521_WEB

PROFESSIONAL
STANDARDS UNIT
PROFESSIONAL
STANDARDS
AND TRAINING
fulfills an important role at the Sheriff’s
Office. The unit is responsible for
timely resolution of internal investigations,
evaluation of training needs in
response to changes in legislation, and
providing the highest-quality training to
our sworn and civilian personnel. The
Professional Standards and Training
Unit was created in 2011 by Sheriff
Parkinson to increase employee
accountability and meet the need for
continued modernization. Monitoring
trends and employee responses to
specific incidents are an ongoing and
crucial part of the process
COMPLAINTS
Citizen complaints are filed by the
public regarding personnel, policy, or
procedures. Department complaints
are initiated in response to actions or
incidents that require further investigation
and may result in employee
discipline. The total number of
complaint investigations in 2020 was
43. All complaints are investigated and
may identify the need for additional
training. All investigations include a
review of policy and procedure.
USE OF FORCE
First-line supervisors conduct investigations
in all cases in which force is
used beyond accepted control holds,
take-downs, and handcuffing, or when
an injury results from the use of force.
Each supervisor assesses the reasonableness,
compliance with policy, and
adherence to the law in use of force
reviews. In 2020, there were 77
use-of-force investigations. Use-offorce
investigations have evolved over
the past few years and continue to
provide needed oversight to adjust
training needs and requirements.
VEHICLE PURSUITS
In some circumstances, deputy
sheriffs must engage in pursuit of a
vehicle to prevent the escape of a
dangerous person and to protect the
public. All pursuits are monitored by a
supervisor as they are occurring and
each one is reviewed after its termination.
Often a pursuit is terminated
because the risk to the deputy and the
public, by continuing the pursuit,
outweighs the need to apprehend the
offender. In 2020, the Sheriff’s Office
engaged in 7 vehicle pursuits, which is a
decrease from 2019 (14) and 2018 (13). All
pursuits are reported to the California
Highway Patrol for data collection and
review of tactics. The Sheriff’s Office
reviews all pursuits to verify compliance
with law, policy, and procedure.
PATROL AND CIVILIAN
TRAINING
The training section is divided into two
sections: The Patrol/Civilian and the
Custody Training Sections. Each section
is managed by a training coordinator who
reports to the training manager.
The Patrol/Civilian Training Section
provides training courses developed and
instructed by members of the Sheriff’s
Office and certified through the California
Commission on Peace Officers
Standards and Training (POST) for sworn
and civilian members. Patrol deputies and
dispatchers are mandated to receive 24
hours of POST certified training within a
two-year period.
LEAD THE WAY ANNUAL REPORT 2020
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