Decatur police Chief Todd Pinion on Tuesday released a comprehensive plan aimed at improving the public's confidence in his department and fostering healthier relationships between police officers and civilians.
"While it is impossible to guarantee that our community will never face another crisis like the one resulting in the loss of Mr. Perkins, I firmly believe that we can reduce the likelihood of such incidents and enhance our ability to respond effectively to trust and transparency issues," said Pinion in a written statement.
Steve Perkins was shot and killed by a Decatur police officer on Sept. 29. After months of protests and demonstrations, former officer Mac Marquette was indicted by a grand jury for murder on Jan. 5. He has pleaded not guilty; a trial date has not been set.
The Decatur Police Department has been under scrutiny ever since, and some nonviolent demonstrators — dozens of whom have been arrested and charged with disorderly conduct — claim they've been unfairly targeted by aggressive police tactics.
City Council President Jacob Ladner announced an independent review of the department after DPD's command staff testified at a gag order hearing in Marquette's case in May. There, Capt. Rick Archer said that the command staff felt Marquette's case had been misrepresented by the District Attorney's Office. The review, by Green Research & Technology out of Huntsville, is scheduled to be completed by Jan. 1.
"Together, we can work toward a safer and more trusting community environment," Pinion said. "The plan identifies key points including crisis preparedness, building trust and legitimacy, police policy and oversight, technology and social media usage, community policing, crime reduction, officer training and education, and officer wellness and safety."
Six components
The plan consists of six components:
- Develop a crisis management communication system.
- Conduct structured sessions with concerned citizens.
- Conduct a thorough review of current police policies and procedures.
- Implement a support system for Decatur Police Department leadership.
- Implement an officer wellness program.
- Secure confidence in the comprehensive plan.
To support a crisis management plan, Pinion suggests reallocating funds from "current crisis consultant sources" to reinvest in a more effective system. The plan also suggests hiring a crisis consultant and a communications specialist.
Parts of the plan are already underway, according to Councilman Carlton McMasters. He praised the work of recently hired communications specialist Tim Hall.
"Our communication as a city was struggling," McMasters said. "We're seeing more pertinent information across the city's social channels now."
The plan recommends restructuring the citizen advisory council and holding listening sessions with the advisory council, community advocates and concerned citizens.
Concerning policies and procedures, the plan advocates for an enhanced " Community Police Advisory Board to review, examine, and advise on DPD's current and new policies." Community education on policies and procedures and a review of other law enforcement professionals who might assist in an outside audit are also included in the plan.
Pinion suggests expanding wellness programs for his officers, such as professional coaching services and hiring a licensed and certified mental health professional. DPD currently employs a mental health liaison who is not certified as a licensed professional counselor.
The Decatur Police Citizens Advisory Council, according to the plan, should be restructured to include 10 members appointed by City Council members (two from each district) and three members appointed by the mayor. The advisory council should support the Internal Affairs process for citizen complaints and provide members to Incident Review Boards.
"As the Chief of Police, I will continue to work and provide the leadership required to achieve restoration," Pinion said. "I am committed to leading our department with honesty, integrity, transparency, and dedication to our community's well-being."
Since Sept. 29, the City has repeatedly refused to provide records of citizen complaints to The Decatur Daily when police personnel files were requested pursuant to the Public Records Act. For example, The Daily on April 23 filed a public records request seeking citizen complaints and other personnel documents relating to Decatur police Lt. Joe Renshaw, who has since retired, and Officer Jack Brown. Brown has been accused of punching a Perkins demonstrator in late March and gloating about it. The city responded with personnel files from Human Resources that included no citizen complaints, although numerous Decatur residents said they had filed such complaints against the officers with the Police Department.
City Attorney Herman Marks said the complaints were exempt from the Public Records Act, since the release of the complaints could impact future personnel and legal proceedings.
On Wednesday, the city announced on its Facebook page that it would begin deleting comments deemed "inappropriate."
"Our goal is to restore confidence and build a stronger, more united Decatur," said Pinion. "By working together, we can create a community where trust, transparency, and mutual respect thrive."
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Reactions
Reactions to the plan were mixed on Wednesday.
"I do believe it outlines some critical action items that the DPD needs to execute, some of which we've heard as requests from the public," said Councilman Kyle Pike. "I would like to see realistic timelines for the completion of some of these actions. I understand that the plan will continue to evolve and remain fluid, but I am glad it has been released.
"I hope Chief Pinion and the DPD will provide further context and details to the council and community in the near future."
Aneesah Saafiyah said DPD, having had months to deliberate, should already have implemented and begun to adhere to many of the plan's points. Saafyiah is a cofounder of grassroots activist group Standing in Power.
"This is not progress," she said. "This is a setback. Chief Pinion and Mayor Tab Bowling need to go."
McMasters said "plans are coming together" for structured community listening sessions and changes to the advisory board.
" Chief Pinion called me about this time last year expressing his desires to engage with the community more," he said. "The health and wellness area of the plan will benefit our officers, which is vital due to the nature of their job.
"This is a roadmap to build relationships and reestablish trust between our community and Police Department."
Morgan County NAACP President Rodney Gordon criticized what he perceives as a lack of disciplinary consequences, other than desk duty, for officers who violate policies and procedures. He said the plan fails to address this.
"There must be zero tolerance for insubordination," said Gordon. "The plan is a smokescreen to make it look like he (Pinion) is doing something."
Concerned citizen Mike Stovall said the plan has "no meat."
"I worked with Youth Services for years and when we created a plan like that, it was pages long," he said. "It's a basic outline, that's what I see. I just thought it was worthless.
"I think (Pinion) needs oversight. I think it's time for the council — the plan is out — I think it's time now for the council to sit down and find a commissioner to put over him and help him get this thing on the right track. I just think (Pinion) is not strong enough to deal with that department."
Councilman Billy Jackson questioned whether the plan is the work of Pinion, someone within the department, or a communications expert, and said it didn't make him feel that the city is on a path of "major improvement."
"I was left feeling that I had just read a very generalized and repetitive report that lacks depth," he said. "For months our city has been promised a plan that would serve as a guide to lead our Police Department into the future through specific and achievable goals. As a result, it appears that we received a report that could have been written in a matter of days.
"This not-so-comprehensive report left me with as many, if not more, questions than before reading it."
Mayor Tab Bowling on Wednesday said he had yet to review the final version of the plan, since he's focused on preparing for personnel hearings involving two Decatur Fire & Rescue firefighters on Thursday and Friday.
Council President Jacob Ladner said most people would agree that the plan holds objectives that are "good things."
"How those things get accomplished are up to Chief Pinion," he said. "The plan is the first step. I'm interested in positive results."
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