KDPS New Unbiased Policing General Order

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

KALAMAZOO MICHIGAN

Index Number G-71

I. PURPOSE

To reaffirm this department’s commitment to the maintenance of public trust and confidence through unbiased policing and equitable treatment of all citizens while providing police services and enforcing the law.

DEFINITIONS

Investigative Detention: The temporary seizure of a person based on reasonable suspicion or probable cause, wherein the person being detained is required to submit to the detention and is not free to leave.

Consensual Contact: Voluntary contact between an officer and citizen(s) wherein the citizen(s) is not required to submit to, or engage in, the contact/interaction.

Biased Policing: Discrimination in the performance of law enforcement duties or delivery of police services. Defined in IACP Policy

POLICY

Unbiased Policing

Investigative detentions, traffic stops, arrests, searches, and seizures by officers will be based on a standard of reasonable suspicion or probable cause in accordance with the Fourth Amendment of the U. S. Constitution. Officers must be able to articulate specific facts and circumstances that support reasonable suspicion or probable cause.

Bias-based policing is prohibited in both providing police services and enforcing the law. Officers shall not solely consider race/ethnicity in establishing reasonable suspicion or probable cause, or in making law enforcement decisions.

For investigative stops of suspects (not consensual police/citizen contacts) officers may use the characteristics of a person, such as race/ethnicity in combination with other facts and circumstances to establish reasonable suspicion or probable cause in the same manner that characteristics like hair color, height, weight, or gender are used.

G.O. 71

Page Two

Equitable Treatment of All Citizens

To ensure our commitment to maintaining public trust and confidence in law enforcement, all citizens will receive equitable treatment. In effort to prevent inaccurate perceptions of biased policing during pedestrian and traffic stops, officers shall do the following:

Be courteous and professional.

Introduce themselves by name to the citizen and state the reason for the stop as soon as practically possible, unless officer/public safety may be compromised.

Ensure that the detention is no longer than reasonably necessary and explain to the citizen the purpose of the delay.

Answer any reasonable questions of the citizen regarding the stop and explain traffic citation disposition options to the citizen.

Provide name and employee number when requested.

If an officer determines the reasonable suspicion is unfounded (e.g., after an investigatory stop), explain the circumstances to the citizen.

SUPERVISION AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Supervisors shall ensure that all personnel under their command are familiar with the content of this policy and are operating in compliance with it. Violations of this policy shall result in disciplinary action pursuant to progressive discipline.

Effective: February 15, 2008 BY ORDER OF

Distribution: A, B, C, & E JAMES MALLERY A/CHIEF OF PUBLIC SAFETY

"I have read this General Order and

_________________________ have been given the opportunity to

SIGNED: Employee discuss its contents with my

_________________________

DATE: _________________________ supervisor". (Command Officer)

UNBIASED POLICING

GENERAL ORDER

January 25, 2008

Comments

[Brett Apelgren]

Well, Iwas at KDPS for over 26 years and unbiased was how it was always done. I believe nothing has changed, but a very few individuals' opinions.

Keep up the good work as you have always done.

Brett

[AJP]

I have to agree with Brett. KDPS is a great department. The taxpayers who pay the wages know they can rely on the members of KDPS. Hopefully, this general order will satisfy community members who have criticized the department in the recent months. For years, officers have gone above and beyond the call of duty when needed. The officers were anonymous and humble for the most part. It is time to toot the horns and the blog is a good way to do that. Keep up the good work with the website and the notification to the public. Don't let the critics wear you down!