Police Accountability Board: Overview of the Proposed Disciplinary Matrix

The Police Accountability Board’s Mike Higgins, Chief of Policy and Oversight, and Mozart Guerrier, Deputy Chief of Community Engagement presented to the UCLM membership at the September 10, 2022 meeting. PAB’s Jonathan Khoury was also present and provided operational/logistical support. Here are their key points:

·      The PAB is required by law to offer guidelines regarding its recommendations on disciplining police misconduct. Despite this mandate, the police chief is not required to use these recommendations. However, he is supposed to submit a written explanation of any deviations within 30 days. This is a change from the current system where no explanation from deviations is required.

·      PAB’s recommendations are not binding for RPD because of a law suit that is currently under appeal.

·      The purpose of creating a disciplinary matrix for different categories of violations is to express community values and pressure for the desired system. It’s also legally required.

·      PAB wants to propose a system of disciplinary justice that is fair to officers and the community

·      The PAB will make this a public process. They expect to have a completed first they Mike Higgins, Mozart Guerrier and  will conduct community engagement workshops that explain the matrix to the community and get feedback. They will then create a second draft, the PAB board, which represents the community, will vote on it and finally PAB will send the approved matrix to RPD.

·      Some of the differences between what RPD currently uses to define consequences and what PAB will propose are as follows:

.   RPD’s matrix is defined by maximum punishments

.  Instead of maximums PAB looks at the impact of the offense on the community, the departmental image or operations and relationships with other agencies  

.  RPD leaves it up to leadership to use their discretion on defining the specific punishments

.  PAB is more specific in defining aggravating and mitigating factors

.  PAB expands RPD’s set of disciplinary outcomes and offers an optional restorative process, whereas RPD has no restorative process. For example, where RPD’s discipline may be up to a three-day suspension for an incident that has minimal negative impacts, PAB suggests a written reprimand and/or counseling and training

·      If you attended the membership meeting or have seen the disciplinary matrix elsewhere, you can comment on it here.