Independent Police Auditor City of Eugene | 2024

The Police Auditor

The Police Auditor is an employee of the City of Eugene and is one of three directly supervised employees of the City Council. The Police Auditor provides independent, external oversight of investigations and complaints involving police department employees. The Police Auditor's responsibilities include receiving and classifying complaints, monitoring or participating in internal investigations to ensure objective, thorough and high-quality investigations, and preparing reports on complaint trends and police practices in general. The office processes approximately 300 cases annually.

The Auditor promotes organizational changes to improve police services and community relations by identifying, analyzing, and making recommendations regarding the complaint investigation process and policies, practices and training. The Police Auditor provides staff support to the all-volunteer Civilian Review Board appointed by the City Council. The Police Auditor's Office has an annual budget of approximately $1 million and a staff of four. The Auditor receives general supervision from the City Council and exercises exclusive authority to hire, supervise, and to make all other employment decisions regarding the Police Auditor's support staff.

Essential duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Plans, implements and oversees the operations of the Police Auditor's Office, which receives complaints about police employee conduct; establishes program priorities and procedures; manages the implementation and evaluation of work programs to achieve program objectives.
• Unilaterally classifies and routes external and internal complaints based on established criteria, including identification of cases suitable for mediation, and acts as liaison to complainants on case status and resolution. May initiate a complaint based on reported public statement, news report, or other feedback of police activity.
• Identifies "community impact cases" and refers these cases, and other cases the Police Auditor determines are appropriate, to the civilian review board and assists them in the review of these cases.
• The Auditor and Deputy Auditor actively monitor internal affairs investigations for thorough¬ ness and fairness; reviews evidence and may attend witness and employee interviews; recommends additional investigation and/or contacts and outside investigations as warranted; can hire outside investigators; may recommend case disposition to the Chief of Police and may review discipline administered for consistency.
• Researches and analyzes problems identified through the monitoring of investigations and reviews of risk and tort claims; makes recommendations to the Police Department or the Police Commission regarding training, policies, procedures and best practices to prevent future complaints and allegations of misconduct and improve performance.
• Responds to the scene of critical or major incidents, such as field force deployment, or use of force incidents to be a first-hand observer; participates in the review of use of force as a member of the use of force review board.
• Oversees the development and implementation of a management information system to track complaints in coordination with the Police Department's internal affairs section; uses data from the system to report case statistics and trends, and provide performance indicators to evaluate the effectiveness of the Police Auditor's Office and Police internal investigations.
• Conducts public outreach in tandem with the Civilian Review Board to educate the community on the role of the Police Auditor's Office and the process for police complaint intake and investigation.
• Prepares and delivers reports to the Civilian Review Board, City Council, Police Commission and the public on the status and resolution of complaints, trends and patterns analysis, recommendations for system improvements, and other performance indicators.
• Provides staff support to the all-volunteer Civilian Review Board. Develops procedures for the operation of the Civilian Review Board, including establishing standards of professional conduct, ensuring confidentiality, and implementing a comprehensive training program for board members.
• Supervises Police Auditor's Office staff, including: hiring and evaluations; scheduling and work assignments; monitoring and directing activities; coaching and training.
• Ensures implementation of, and adherence to the City's diversity initiatives. Facilitates staff development on such issues as diversity and creating a respectful working environment.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

The Ideal Candidate

This high-visibility position is characterized by the Police Auditor's ability to provide fair and objective oversight of the police complaint process, build credibility among diverse audiences, and instill public confidence in the complaint system. The responsibilities of the Police Auditor are broad in scope and require the highest degree of professional, independent judgment, personal integrity, and accountability. The Police Auditor performs work that is highly complex, and often involves issues that are sensitive and confidential.

The ideal candidate will possess the following characteristics and abilities:

• Model the highest standards of honesty and integrity.
• Make sound and well-informed decisions affecting multiple stakeholders.
• Commit to action when dealing with pressure and ambiguity of complex, controversial issues and situations.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing with a variety of cross-cultural audiences.
• Creatively solve problems using superior analytical ability.
• Respond in an objective, professional, and credible manner in highly-charged situations.
• Apply impartiality and demonstrate fairness and diplomacy under the most difficult of circumstances.
• Establish and maintain highly effective working relationships with diverse individuals and groups.

The Council is seeking a candidate who is willing to make a long-term commitment to Eugene.

Qualifications

The Police Auditor must have five years of progressively responsible experience overseeing and performing adminis¬trative investigations and performing program development, analysis, and complex professional staff support, preferably in the public sector and a Bachelor's degree in a related field. A Juris Doctorate is preferred.

Candidates must also possess or have the ability to obtain and maintain an appropriate, valid, Oregon driver's license, and respond to incidents within a reasonable amount of time.

Fluency in Spanish is desirable.

Additional Requirements

Candidates for this position are subject to a background investigation.

Candidates for this position may not have worked for the Eugene Police Department as an employee within the past twenty years. In addition, candidates should have no other prior relationship with the Department that might create actual or perceived bias for or against the Department or Eugene Police Officers. Candidates will be required to disclose prior employment, contracts, and affiliations with the Department.

Knowledge of

• Principles and practices of program planning, management, and administration.
• Principles and practices of police operations, policies and procedures.
• Fundamentals of administrative investigative principles and methods, including interview techniques and rules of evidence.
• Principles of law enforcement policy development and evaluation, training and instruction, and work performance assessment.
• Relevant employment laws, including discrimination laws and labor laws, and relevant administrative rules.
• Principles and practices of employee and labor relations, including effective disciplinary policies and procedures.
• Oregon Public records law.
• Principles and practices of public process, public information and community relations.
• Methods and techniques of research, policy review, data analysis and evaluation.
• Procedures for the intake and review of complaints and methods of complaint resolution, including alternative dispute resolution models.
• Automated data systems and associated software such as spreadsheets, word processing or information tracking data bases.
• Public policy issues related to police complaint systems and civilian oversight.
• National trends and research affecting police complaint systems and civilian oversight.

Skills

• Take responsibility for program and policy development; determine how to effectively implement operating procedures and practices by identifying potential problems and constraints and involving key people.
• Make timely decisions about program direction and evaluate operations and make recommendations for improvement.
• Establish long range objectives and specify the strategies and actions to achieve those objectives.
• Identify complex problems and review related information to develop and evaluate options and recommend solutions.
• Use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weak¬ nesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Oversee and monitor the investigation of personnel-related matters in a unionized, public agency. Plan and evaluate the results of independent investigations of sensitive police conduct matters.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing to a variety of audiences.
• Identify measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
• Exercise sound, professional judgment in all phases of program implementation and operation, weighing all interests and ramifications of decisions.
• Develop training, operating procedures and professional standards for civilian volunteers charged with reviewing policy complaints and investigations.
• Use relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Abilities

• Articulate information, procedures and practices clearly and concisely one-on one or before groups
• Listen effectively to individuals and groups and build trust with diverse populations.
• Use tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive and controversial situations.
• Bring together divergent groups and individ¬uals, and work issues through to a mutually acceptable solution.
• Establish and maintain constructive and effective working relationships over time with diverse groups and individuals, including city elected officials and managers, community groups, police employees, the public, media and others.
• Maintain highly sensitive and confidential information.
• Demonstrate sensitivity for individuals' rights and differences in ethnic and cultural heritage, age, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, beliefs, interests, or economic status.
• Effectively manage staff and create a welcoming and productive work environment.
• Model highest standards of professional integrity and demonstrate a commitment to protecting the constitutional rights of all affected parties.

Application and Selection Process

Candidates may apply for the position and find additional information by clicking the link below.

Each candidate's background will be evaluated on the basis of information submitted at the time of application to determine the level and scope of the candidate's preparation for this position. The resume should include any additional information which the candidate wishes considered. Only the more qualified candidates, as determined by the screening process, will be invited to participate in the selection process. This position closes on January 1, 2025 and we anticipate that interviews will occur in February 2025.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Ms. Valerie Gaeta Phillips at (916) 784-9080.

The annual salary range for this position is $125,798-$169,811.

Upon eligibility, the City will contribute an employee contribution of 6%, as well as the employer contribution to a retirement program administered by the Oregon Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). The competitive benefit package includes comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision insurance, Life and Long-term Disability insurances, generous vacation and sick leave, and 11 paid holidays.

The City of Eugene is committed to a respectful work environment. We value the cultural, educational, and life experiences of each employee. We believe that a diverse workforce enables us to deliver culturally responsive services to all members of our community. As part of our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion we desire to welcome, respect, and create a sense of belonging for a wide range of identities and experiences in our workforce. Women, people with disabilities, and persons of color are strongly encouraged to apply.