http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/30/chesapeake-police-chief-retires/ It rankles me when somebody tries to tell somebody what to do. Sat, 05 Jul 2008 23:47:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/30/chesapeake-police-chief-retires/#comment-83439 F4GIB Mon, 31 Mar 2008 01:35:27 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/30/chesapeake-police-chief-retires/#comment-83439 Just "saying" it's confidential doesn't make it so although many Police Departments wish it did. The botched raid information as well as much of the impersonal personnel data should be available under the Virginia state Data Practices Act. Just “saying” it’s confidential doesn’t make it so although many Police Departments wish it did. The botched raid information as well as much of the impersonal personnel data should be available under the Virginia state Data Practices Act.

]]> http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/30/chesapeake-police-chief-retires/#comment-83438 Dave Hummels Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:55:02 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/30/chesapeake-police-chief-retires/#comment-83438 Making personnel matters at a department confidential is a prescription for disaster. It also looks terrible, considering the police are public employees. Whether government employees are policing or having closed door meetings with the CEO's of energy companies, ala Dick Cheney, their activities should be on the public record. I think it is sufficient to utilize advisory boards to help police departments to examine public safety matters and to formulate department policies. When it comes to discipline, I believe inspector general/auditor's offices at most levels of government (agencies that would complete auditing tasks, track/investigate complaints and set up integrity tests when necessary) should become commonplace. Of course, such agencies will require subpoena power. If police agencies wish to develop true partnerships with their communities, they must transfer some of their authority back to the people. Making personnel matters at a department confidential is a prescription for disaster. It also looks terrible, considering the police are public employees. Whether government employees are policing or having closed door meetings with the CEO’s of energy companies, ala Dick Cheney, their activities should be on the public record.
I think it is sufficient to utilize advisory boards to help police departments to examine public safety matters and to formulate department policies. When it comes to discipline, I believe inspector general/auditor’s offices at most levels of government (agencies that would complete auditing tasks, track/investigate complaints and set up integrity tests when necessary) should become commonplace. Of course, such agencies will require subpoena power. If police agencies wish to develop true partnerships with their communities, they must transfer some of their authority back to the people.

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