LTC 255-2008 Internal Affairs ReviewOFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER 2008 OCT -8 AM I I ~ 13
NO. LTC # 255-2008 LETTER TO COMMISSION
TU. Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the City Commission
FROM. Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager l~
DATE October 7, 2008 '
SUBJECT: Internal Affairs Review
This Letter to the City Commission is in response to inquiries made by various
Commissioners regarding a perceived increase in the number of Internal Affairs related
complaints and use of force incidents involving the Police Department. As a result, an
examination of Intemal Affairs records was completed using a 2007 versus 2008 statistical
comparison of complaints received and investigated.
An analysis of Internal Affairs activities for 2007 as compared to 2008 (year to date),
revealed that no increase is evident. Furthermore, a projection for the fourth quarter using
figures consistent with the previous three quarters, estimate the total number of Internal
Affairs Investigations will decrease by approximately five (5%) percent.
INCIDENT TYPE 2007 2008 Year to Date 2008'
INTERNAL AFFAIRS I 52 39 52
INVESTIGATIONS _ ; _
SHIFT LEVEL INVESTIGATIONS_ I 37 23 31
I GENERAL INVESTIGATIONS I 7 7 _ 9
`TOTALS I 96 69 92
'2008 Total based on projecting the last quarter's activity to be consistentwith the first threo quarters.
An examination of Control of Persons reports (which are required in all cases where force is
used to affect an arrest) for the time period January 1 through September 29, 2007, revealed
218 reports, while the same time period in 2008 had 164 reports. This represents an
approximate 25% decline thus far this year.
It should be noted that although both the number of Internal Affairs complaints and use of
force incidents are down for 2008 versus 2007, the number of disciplines issued for the
same period are up by approximately 30%, (51 for 2007 versus 65 for 2008). This trend is
indicative of the increased focus on accountability that the Miami Beach Police Department
has adopted.
JMG:CN:tr