Local NPR affiliate KPCC reports that Anaheim Police Chief Raul Quezada has strongly voiced his displeasure at a new report about the department's policing tactics. The report made several suggestions but Quezada has said he refuses to implement them.
The report was ordered by the city in response to two officer involved shootings in Anaheim in 2012. The recent high-profile police shootings in the nation over the last several months made the report, perhaps, even more widely anticipated than it would have been otherwise. It was completed by the OIR Group a professional police oversight and evaluation organization. Some of their suggestions relate to foot chases, the use of deadly force, and other procedures and policies. The Chief argues that the suggestions are cumbersome and unnecessary especially given the changes the department has made in the wake of those 2012 shootings. According to the NPR story, "officers are wearing body cameras, a civilian public safety board was created, more officers are being hired, an officer homeless task force was established and it has increased the number of community policing officers from four to 12."
Perhaps the Chief is correct and the Anaheim Police Department, and the public, are better off without the new policy suggestions. However, the OIR group's work is appreciated because, if nothing else, it forces the police to consider their policies and review what they are doing on a daily basis to ensure public safety.