In 2016 Eugene Police Department commissioned Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) to conduct a review of the department’s progress implementing 57 recommendations made by a PERF study in 2005, and to examine the agency’s policies and practices regarding hiring, promotion and assignment of special units, and especially as pertaining to women and minorities, both sworn and non sworn. As an agency, we sought feedback on how, like any workforce, we can make the environment better for our employees. Copies of the Strategic Plan and PERF Report are on our website:
Strategic Plan: https://www.eugene-or.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=5066
PERF Report: https://www.eugene-or.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=5067
The 2017 PERF report details EPD’s considerable progress on the 57 PERF recommendations from 2005 regarding three topics: police-community relations, governance, and police management procedures and practices.
The 2017 PERF report also found that our employees feel we provide outstanding service to our community. And, similar to other businesses, organizations and departments, there are some ways we can improve our employees’ experience and work life. The report includes a discussion on incorporating the principles of internal procedural justice throughout our agency. These principles include ensuring that all employees are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness, regardless of their gender, race, or sworn/civilian status. According to PERF, “EPD is to be commended for requesting a review of this nature. EPD leaders have recognized that there are potential issues and perceptions regarding EPD’s business practices, particularly with respect to treatment of women and people of color within the agency’s ranks. The agency sought to bring in an independent, outside organization to conduct an unbiased review, with the goal of ensuring that EPD is providing a fair and equitable workplace for all its members. This report provides EPD with the information needed to help achieve this goal.”
As a department, we will be going through each recommendation, addressing any concerns, keeping up any good work, and tracking progress going forward.
Concurrently and fortuitously to the PERF studies, a team of our employees has been working since 2015 on a strategic plan that has ‘create an exceptional workforce’ as one of its three main goals, providing a jump start on some of the studies’ recommendations.
We will continue to press forward to incorporate the PERF recommendations with our Strategic Plan and and will ensure a solid baton pass to when we have a new chief in place.