After Police Misconduct, SDPD Chief to Report to City Committee

SDPD Chief Shelley Zimmerman will present her responses to 40 recommended changes that could be made to the department

After several high-profile misconduct cases plagued the San Diego Police Department in 2014, a police research nonprofit moved in to see how the department can fix incidents and prevent future ones.

Since that time, the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) has identified 40 recommendations in which SDPD policies and practices can be improved.

SDPD Chief Shelley Zimmerman is expected to present her responses to the policy change recommendations on July 29 to the city’s Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee.

The initial report was presented in May, when 15 of the 40 recommendations were implemented. Zimmerman will provide an update on the remaining 25 recommendations.

For instance, recommendation 14 states “SDPD needs more training on accountability…” In response, Zimmerman wrote “Implementation is in process” and “all lieutenants and captains” are going through extra human resources and legal training, according to her report.

There’s also recommendation 33 where “SDPD should work to rebuild trust in the community.” The chief responded “a working group has been developing a model,” which includes an Assistant Chief, a police psychologist and a community leader/activist.

For all the recommendations and responses, click here.

2014 rattled the police department. Ex-SDPD officer Anthony Arevalos was convicted of demanding sexual favors from women. Another, Christopher Hays, pleaded guilty to assault, battery and illegally detaining women while on duty, and a husband and wife on the force, Jennifer and Bryce Charpentier, admitted to illegal activity to feed their own drug habits.

According to city documents, the presentation on July 29 is an “information item only,” meaning no action is required by the committee or city council.

NBC 7 reached out to the police department regarding the upcoming presentation and has not heard back.
 

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