ACTIONS THE CITY WILL TAKE

The ABLE report recommended that Oakwood commission an independent study of its current traffic stop data, and adopt policies and provide training to ensure that all people driving in Oakwood are treated fairly and without discrimination. In subsequent meetings with city staff, the ABLE authors also requested that the Oakwood Public Safety Department discontinue the use of random license plate checks.

The city will not commission an independent study because an independent study would not change the fact that the ABLE report cannot be interpreted meaningfully without additional data that is both unknown and unknowable.

In the delivery of public services, the city continuously looks for opportunities to improve. Notwithstanding that the ABLE report is inconclusive at best or invalid at worst, the city will take the following actions:

  1. 1) We will continue to regularly review and update as necessary our existing anti-bias policies to reflect law enforcement best practices. A copy of our existing policy, which has been in place since 2012, is attached hereto as Exhibit D;
  2. 2) We will continue our training of Oakwood Public Safety Officers and Command Staff on matters relating to cultural diversity, implicit and explicit bias and related topics, consistent with recognized law enforcement best practices. Our current training, which has also been in place since 2012, is effective and equals or exceeds training provided by other local jurisdictions. We will evaluate post-training impact assessment programs to determine if they add value to our training and provide measurable and meaningful benefits;
  3. 3) We will continue our policies and procedures relating to the conduct of lawful license plate checks;
  4. 4) We will continue to openly support the positive values of diversity in our community and encourage like support by all of our citizens; and
  5. 5) We will continue to support our Public Safety Department and its outstanding professionals to ensure they enforce our traffic laws and keep our community safe.
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