Recommendations

Recommendation 46.2

MPD should evaluate EIP to determine recommendations for improvement and promising practices by including personnel experienced in early intervention from another policing agency or otherwise.

Current:

In late 2003, members of the Internal Affairs extensively researched early intervention systems across the country. At that time, the Phoenix Police Department was recognized as utilizing best practices with the development and implementation of police early intervention systems.

In 2008, MPD proactively developed its Early Intervention Program (EIP) including an EIP focus group. In 2012, MPD engaged a focus group to assess the program and the efficacy of the benchmarks based on alert notifications. As outlined in New South Wales Police Integrity Commission publication, nationally, very little research exists on EIP best practices. The commission’s recommendations included the review of literature on misconduct prevention and existing early intervention systems and secondly, to conduct reverse engineering of the agencies data and system. As a result, in 2012, MPD conducted extensive research to include the review of the publications of The US Department of Justice’s series of Early Intervention Systems Guides written by Samuel Walker, Ph.D. MPD conducted national surveys of other law enforcement agencies and reviewed publications authored by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, New South Wales Police Integrity Commission, International Association of Chiefs of Police and other national EIP annual reports. In addition, MPD conducted a reverse-engineered the EIP system to develop a comprehensive EIP and provide empirical data, predictive analysis, and union and employee corroboration. MPD SOP 440.20(C) – Early Intervention Program requires a focus group to ensure department employees are included in the EIP development process as it meets once a year. MPD recognizes the EIP focus group should meet more regularly.