Given the recent national conversation on policing in the 21st Century, how does Lexington plan to evaluate policing methods to ensure we are leaders in this conversation and not followers?

The Lexington Police Department was the 17th police agency in the Commonwealth to be accredited by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission in 2016. There are over 400 police agencies (including colleges and universities) in the Commonwealth, and less than 25% have adopted the best practices in policing as required in the police accreditation program.

These standards require us to review our services and methods annually. The accreditation program requires re-accreditation every three years, and we are required to prove to independent, external inspectors that we do actually adhere to the policies and procedures that we have adopted and our officers follow.

Police departments who are committed to their community welcome public scrutiny and input. All Lexington Police policies are online for public viewing and comment. We are committed to looking at any complaint, including anonymous complaints. The Town Manager is routinely briefed on police operations. We believe most individuals who have worked with our department during Town Meeting, or in other public forums, will say police officials are open, honest, and frank with their information. We believe we can only be successful if we are open to productive criticism and are willing to consider changes.

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1. Do we have sufficient staffing numbers to ensure that police officers are not working too many hours per week and facing burn out?
2. What types and topics of training are required for a Lexington Police Officer? What types and topics of training required annually?
3. How does training rebalance into cultural competency training, practices for preventing racial profiling and de-escalation training?
4. Can you share any analysis of the effectiveness of each source and mode of training?
5. Given the recent national conversation on policing in the 21st Century, how does Lexington plan to evaluate policing methods to ensure we are leaders in this conversation and not followers?
6. How does civilian oversight work? Can you describe what a "weak chief" is?
7. Can you please describe accountability mechanisms for police behaviors that are outside what is expected?
8. Can you explain why we need detail officers for traffic? Can't flag holders be used instead?
9. Why do police detail officers carry their firearms with them?
10. What role do police unions play with regard to the Lexington Police Department?
11. What is approach of the Town and the Police towards membership of its police officers in police fraternities?
12. What are the Town/Police Department's views on qualified immunity for police officers?
13. With officers working overtime shifts, how do you work to prevent burnout?
14. Has there ever been a civilian board/committee that has worked with the Police Department?
15. How do you ensure that Department policies are followed and that there is a culture of accountability?