NEW ORLEANS - At today's regular meeting, the City Council adopted Resolution R-20-175, supporting the creation of a public-facing database by the Independent Police Monitor (IPM) to increase community engagement, ensure timely data collection, and provide heightened transparency of local law enforcement encounters to create additional accountability. Building and maintaining community trust is the cornerstone of successful policing, and by expanding efforts to collect and publicly provide comprehensive data on the use of force and disciplinary action for law enforcement officers, the Council hopes to take one step closer toward achieving that.
In New Orleans, there is currently a five-year retention schedule for officer disciplinary files, meaning every five years these valuable records around active officers or those associated with active criminal cases are lost and no longer accessible to the public. The creation of this database would ensure vital access to information regarding officer performance to the local community, court system, New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), government, journalists and advocacy organizations alike.
In response to recent incidents across the country, the database would also provide critical information on Use of Force, such as sustained allegations of force against civilians, policy violations by the accused officers, the dates of occurrences and review board hearings, the level and type of force used, and any equipment, training and tactics related to the use of force.
"Working with the IPM, I'm proud to support this measure to greatly expand the public's awareness of any misconduct by police in our community," said Councilmember Helena Moreno. "We know that the police need the trust and consent of the community to effectively do their jobs, so any measures to build more transparency into the system help make our city safer and more accountable. This Council will continue to work to bring this and other measures of healing and reform to the forefront."
"This public-facing database is urgently needed and fits squarely with the accountability and transparency measures the Council has ushered in over the last two terms. In many instances, it is residents and community members are who help us to tell those real stories behind the numbers we make available," said Councilmember Jason Williams. "It is vitally important that citizens are able to participate in this broken system to fix it to hold law enforcement accountable. The IPM has been the necessary watchdog and has been a strong partner alongside city leadership in creating lasting reforms."
"On behalf of the hard working women and men of the IPM, I want to express my thanks to all of the Council for bringing this critical Resolution to this chamber. Over the years, the OIPM has achieved independence in its structure and funding from the voters of our city. And, through its working relationship with the Command Staff of the NOPD, we have achieved a large measure of access to the data that should be made public. However, to complete that access and ensure the timely release of detailed information to the community, the last issue to be rectified for our office is codifying and ensuring that our far reaching access continues in perpetuity. That is why this resolution is so critical. There can be no lasting change or lasting trust without community being at the table, as well as, other actors in the criminal justice system. This database puts all of us on the same footing. And, will help to lessen some of the advantages that some actors in the system have over others, thereby making it more fair," said Susan Hutson, Independent Police Monitor