Town of Trophy Club issued the following on Sep. 16
A guiding principle of the Trophy Club Police Department is its commitment to treating all people with dignity, fairness, and respect. It is crucial for our members to carry out their duties in a manner free from bias and eliminate any perception of policing that appears biased. Biased policing is unsafe, unjust, and ineffective. It also alienates the public, fosters distrust of police, and undermines legitimate law enforcement efforts.
“The Trophy Club Police Department is dedicated to ensuring our officers and professional staff provide unbiased, quality service to the community we work for,” stated Town Manager Steve Norwood. “Our goal is to provide fair and positive interactions between Trophy Club officers and the people we are proud to serve.”
The TCPD’s efforts to identify and root out explicit and implicit bias are codified in department policy. Any Department employee who becomes aware of biased policing or misconduct is required to report it.
TCPD conducts ongoing training which is based on the principles of procedural justice. Procedural justice centers on the belief that when officers engage in the fair and respectful treatment, the public is more likely to view their authority as legitimate. The principles of procedural justice include:
- Giving people a voice
- Fair treatment
- Respect
- Providing a trustworthy process
As part of TCPD’s commitment to detecting and eliminating bias, audits are performed on department-issued cellphones, email accounts, and computers for biased language. All "hits" of potentially biased language are investigated.
The TCPD takes all allegations of biased misconduct seriously, whether reported by members of the public or TCPD employees or discovered through an audit of department electronic equipment. Investigations of alleged biased misconduct are handled by members of the Internal Affairs Division (“IAD”) and are prioritized over other types of disciplinary cases.
While complaints of bias may be difficult to sustain given that bias incidents are often reported as one-on-one occurrences, IAD investigators are trained to use current best practices to:
- Identify bias when reviewing investigatory stop, arrest, and use of force data,
- Respond to a complaint of bias practices,
- Use investigative tools that do not rely solely on a complainant’s statement,
- Conduct a preliminary investigation to preserve key evidence and witnesses, and
- Evaluate complaints of improper pedestrian stops for bias practices.
The TCPD understands that our employees are our greatest assets and an essential part of the department’s success. Part of that success centers on the ability of our employees to connect with the Trophy Club community we serve. Having employees with a range of diverse backgrounds helps to strengthen community relations and build partnerships between the department and community to reduce crime and increase trust. The TCPD is dedicated and committed to creating a culture of diversity and trust.
“The Trophy Club Police Department is committed to providing the resources, training, policies, protocols, and systems necessary to identify and eliminate biased behavior that negatively impacts our encounters with the public,” stated Chief Patrick Arata. “By providing safety with respect for all, we strive to uphold the values of our department and Town and build a stronger bond with the community we serve.”
If you have any questions, please contact the Trophy Club Police Department (682) 237-2953.
Original source can be found here.
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