Instructional information should include direction on how community members should interact with the police during enforcement or investigative contacts and how community members can make a complaint to the Sheriff's Office regarding alleged misconduct or inappropriate job performance by Sheriff's office members.
344.9 SAFETY AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Sheriff's Office members responsible for community relations activities should consider the safety of the community participants and, as much as reasonably practicable, should not allow them to be present in any location or situation that would jeopardize their safety.
Sheriff's Office members in charge of community relations events should ensure that participating community members have completed waiver forms before participation, if appropriate. A parent or guardian must complete the waiver form if the participating community member has not reached 18 years of age.
Community members are subject to a criminal history check before approval for participation in certain activities, such as citizen academies.
344.10 COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Sheriff should establish a committee of volunteers consisting of community members, community leaders and other community stakeholders (e.g., representatives from schools, churches, businesses, social service organizations). The makeup of the committee should reflect the demographics of the community as much as practicable.
The committee should convene regularly to:
- (a) Provide a public forum for gathering information about public safety concerns in the community.
- (b) Work with the Sheriff's Office to develop strategies to solve public safety problems.
- (c) Generate plans for improving the relationship between the Sheriff's Office and the community.
- (d) Participate in community outreach to solicit input from community members, including youth from the community.
The Training Sergeant should arrange for initial and ongoing training for committee members on topics relevant to their responsibilities.
The Sheriff may include the committee in the evaluation and development of Sheriff's office policies and procedures and may ask them to review certain personnel complaints for the purpose of providing recommendations regarding supervisory, training or other issues as appropriate.
344.10.1 LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS
The Sheriff and the community relations coordinator should work with the County Attorney as appropriate to ensure the committee complies with any legal requirements such as public notices, records maintenance and any other associated obligations or procedures.