Chief Baldy McGee explaining how to do the macarena "And lets forget all this reform nonsense"

"Go ahead, say one more fucking thing"

The problem is, the department is morally and ethically corrupt. Fire the chief and bring in some one from outside the system, then things will change

"Go ahead, say one more fucking thing"

Fairfax County Police Reform: More to Be Done

Five years after an officer shot and killed John Geer in Springfield, Implementation Group offers look at successful reforms, and recommends action in other areas.

By Ken Moore

Monday, October 15, 2018

Despite police departments not being “known for embracing change,” said Phillip Niedzielski-Eichner, “we’ve seen Fairfax County and its Police Department achieve substantial and meaningful reform.”

Since the county’s Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission formed after a county officer shot and killed John Geer in 2013, the county has implemented 88 percent (179 of 202) of the actions recommended by the Commission.

“The report of the commission could have remained on the shelf since its release three years ago,” said Niedzielski-Eichner, chair.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova encouraged seven commission members to continue to assist and advise the county and police department as commission recommendations were assessed and implemented.

The informal implementation group issued a Final Report on Fairfax County Police Reform on Oct. 10. The report was undertaken by the group on its own initiative, believing that the community might benefit from an independent discussion of progress.

POLICE REFORMS will increase police accountability, divert those with mental illnesses into treatment instead of incarceration, reduce use of force injuries and death, open public access to incident information, and maintain public confidence in the police department, according to the Implementation Group.

Implemented highlights, according to the FInal Report, issued last week, include:

Diversion First, alternatives to incarceration for people with mental illnesses or developmental disabilities

Revisions to the police department’s Use of Force General Order, with de-escalation as the strategy of first resort when confronted with a threat rather than the use of deadly force

An Independent Police Auditor who reviews investigations of death or serious injury cases

A Civilian Review Panel to review investigations of civilian complaints regarding “abuse of authority” or “serious misconduct” by an officer

A Media Relations Bureau led by a civilian professional who reports directly to the Police Chief

A predisposition to disclose information by making revisions to information-related general orders in order to increase public visibility of the department’s daily activities and performance,

Revisions to policies governing vehicle pursuit that constrains their use and strengthens supervisory oversight

Recruitment of high-caliber personnel that reflects the county’s diverse population

SOME RECOMMENDATIONS have been approved, but are still in the process of being implemented, including a call for full deployment of body-worn cameras and each patrol officer being equipped with “tasers” as less-lethal alternatives to the use of a firearm,.

“Still, we believe more is possible to further build and maintain community trust,” said Niedzielski-Eichner.

The Implementation Group recommends the Board of Supervisors direct the police department to formally respond to findings of an Independent Police Auditor and a Civilian Panel, and to give the public an opportunity to comment on the findings and recommendations. As the group understands, the Chief of Police has chosen not to respond because the Board of Supervisors did not specifically direct him to do so.

The Chief of Police and his command leadership should maintain a “neutral public posture pending an investigation of a police-involved use of force incident,” the report recommends.

THE INDEPENDENT POLICE Auditor’s responsibilities could expand in several areas. The implementation group advocates for: monitoring and reviewing investigations of Sheriff Deputies involved in shootings, in-custody deaths, and any use of force incident resulting in serious injury or death; auditing police use of body worn cameras, providing an annual report to the Board and the public with findings and recommendations; and participation on two internal police review committees, the Use of Force Technical Review Committee and the Vehicle Pursuit Review Committee.

“The Implementation Group urges Chief Roessler and his commanders to sustain FCPD’s reform efforts and, in particular, to unfailingly meet the ‘predisposition to release information’ standard with regard to openness and transparency, and to commit to respond to findings from the Independent Police Auditor and the Civilian Review Panel.”

The report also calls for a data-driven monitoring program that fully leverages data on police use-of-force and other data now being collected in response to the Commission’s recommendations.

Continued public involvement will be key to continuing to build trust with the community, the report says.

“Continued successes and improvements will depend on Chief Roessler, his commanders and continued meaningful collaboration with citizens engaged in implementation,” said group member Randy Sayles.

The Fairfax County police will hold this off as long as they can and then find an excuse not to use them...watch and see

 "Go ahead, say one more fucking thing" 

Police body cameras closer to implementation in Fairfax Co.

By Max Smith | @amaxsmith

October 16, 2018 2:03 pm

WASHINGTON — Fairfax County police expect to have initial results of a body camera pilot within a few weeks, Chief Ed Roessler said Tuesday.

A draft of the American University study is due for discussion before Thanksgiving, Roessler told the Board of Supervisors.

“All of our findings as far as the operation, the administration, data storage and a scope of projected cost” would then be presented this winter, Roessler said.

Initial reviews are positive according to supervisors, and Chairman Sharon Bulova expects body cameras will be rolled out county wide in the relatively near future.

“I think it’s not a question of if we’re going to do it, I think it’s a matter of implementing it in a way that is smart, … cost effective and essentially is most effective in our community, so I think there’s no question, at least that’s my sense from the board,” Bulova said.

The issue came up during a discussion about whether the county remains on the right track for changes recommended by an advisory commission formed in the wake of John Geer’s death in 2013. Geer was shot by a police officer who was eventually sentenced to one year in jail for the shooting. The county also settled a wrongful death lawsuit for $2.95 million.

Phil Niedzielski-Eichner, who was on the initial advisory commission and led a group of members who issued a separate follow-up report last week, said it is encouraging that police have revised directives on use of force to emphasize de-escalation and less-lethal options, but there is still additional progress to be made.

“While it is true that the vast majority of our officers today perform their responsibilities professionally and with integrity, it is also true that a very few bad actors, even one bad actor, can undermine the community’s confidence in all,” he said.

The county now has a police auditor and civilian review panel for incidents, and Niedzielski-Eichner said body cameras could supplement that.

“They offer a similar benefit as the independent oversight, with the additional advantage of reducing the risk of an officer being falsely accused,” he said.

“After an appropriately deliberate approach to evaluate risks, benefits and costs of implementation, we expect the pilot project to provide substantial insights that will strengthen the technology’s effectiveness for the county and provide adequate privacy protections. We look forward to your consideration of full deployment of this technology,” he told supervisors.

Even with cameras, it is critical that police share information about incidents quickly rather than holding information close to the vest, he said.

“Accurate, timely and complete information about incidents involving police actions are integral to sustained public confidence in the department,” Niedzielski-Eichner said.

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