Volunteer (Non-Paid) Position - Police Review Board

Job Description:

Volunteer (Non-Paid) Position - Police Review Board

Description

The Position

Apply Here: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/00086b18df234e63a319150aa5c42109

The City is also seeking applicants for four other public safety-focused advisory bodies:

- Portland Committee on Community-Engaged Policing (learn more)

- Focused Intervention Team Community Oversight Group (learn more)

- Police Bureauwide Advisory Committee (learn more)

- Citizen Review Committee (learn more)
You can apply for any or all of these groups through the single application linked above.

The Police Review Board (PRB) is an advisory body to the Chief of the Portland Police Bureau. The Board makes recommendations to the Chief regarding findings and discipline and may make recommendations regarding the adequacy and completeness of an investigation. It may also make policy or training recommendations to the Chief.

The Board reviews incidents and complaints of misconduct about Portland Police Bureau personnel in the following situations: those that may result in suspension of pay, instances when officers discharge their weapons, and in-custody deaths. Other cases can be referred for Board review by the Chief, high-ranking Police supervisors, or the Independent Police Review Director.

The Board is made up of Police personnel, a representative of the Independent Police Review (IPR), and community members. PRB members hear evidence presented from a number of perspectives and vote on recommendations that go to the Chief.

Candidates are recommended by the Independent Police Review (IPR) and confirmed by City Council to serve as needed. Community volunteers are appointed for a term of no more than three years, but may serve two full terms plus the remainder of any unexpired vacancy they may be appointed to fill.

The PRB supports the City by:

• Making recommendations as to findings and proposed officer discipline to the Chief of Police;
• Reviewing incidents and investigations of alleged misconduct by sworn officers who are employed by the Portland Police Bureau in certain cases;
• Making recommendations regarding the adequacy or completeness of an investigation;
• Optionally making policy or training recommendations to the Chief of Police.

Independent Police Review provides support to PRB members so they can advance their priorities. IPR staff also provides volunteer community members serving on the PRB with guidance on how to best connect with City Council and other City bureaus.

Police Review Board Members are expected to:

• Receive training on ethical and effective official service to the residents and to the City of Portland, and then maintain these standards of conduct.
• Participate in trainings and activities to increase cultural awareness and responsiveness;
• Engage in training and other activities to learn about policing;
• Maintain high standards of confidentiality;
• Become familiar with the relevant City Code and protocols in conducting appeal hearings and other duties;
• Interact with elected officials and police leadership;
• Prepare and actively participate in Police Review Board meetings when called.

Time Commitment

• Police Review Board members serve renewable three-year terms and may not exceed eight years of total continuous service.
• The Police Review Board meets as needed, usually for a three-hour period at a time to hear a specific case. Members may be called to meet more often if cases require. Meetings are conducted in accordance with the operating procedures of the group and are hybrid.
• There is an additional time commitment required to review misconduct investigations prior to the meetings, including case file review.

To Qualify

To be eligible to serve on a City of Portland advisory body, members must live, play, worship, go to school, or work or do business in the City of Portland. Additionally, PRB members must:

• Be capable of fair consideration;
• Not have real or perceived conflict of interest in a case of the involved agencies;
• Must pass a criminal background check performed by the Police Bureau;
• Must demonstrate an ability to review complex investigations;
• Demonstrate an ability to make rational and independent decisions under pressure;
• Participate in orientation and training about Police Bureau training and policies;
• Occasionally ride with Police officers to maintain sufficient knowledge of patrol procedures;
• Sign confidentiality statements and uphold the tenants of those statements;
• Be sensitive to cultural and ethnic diversity and respectful of Board member differences.

What We Look For
We want people from every part of Portland here to share their voice on this committee, especially people who have not been involved before. Selection criteria shall include a record of community involvement, passing a criminal background check performed by the Police Bureau, and absence of any real or perceived conflict of interest. The selection committee will nominate individuals who are neutral, unbiased, and capable of making objective decisions.

Every effort is made to select qualified persons who represent the demographic and ethnic diversity of Portland. The attributes listed below are what will guide our selection process.

Required
Availability to attend meetings and events. Able and willing to keep regular communications through e-mail, text and phone in a reasonable and timely fashion. Ability to prepare for meetings on their own time. The amount of preparation time may vary depending on the issues the Board is considering. Applicants should expect to spend extra time outside the meetings on Board business. Willing to work with a diversity of people, in terms of age, ethnic background, sexual orientation, gender, disability, culture, religious preference, etc.
Volunteer Ethics

People who join this committee will become what we call “Public Officials,” which means that while you serve you must behave fair and ethically. We will provide training on this once you are accepted. Part of following Public Officials Ethics laws means you must tell the group when you or a relative may financially benefit (or avoid fees) by your recommendations. This is called a “Conflict of Interest.” If you tell us about potential Conflicts of Interest that does not mean you cannot serve, in fact, many committees have potential members with Conflicts of Interest. We appreciate your ethical inclusion of possible Conflicts of Interest on the form included in the application.

We Remove Barriers
Let us know if there are barriers to your participation.

The Recruitment Process

Apply Here: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/00086b18df234e63a319150aa5c42109

This application allows you to simultaneously apply to the PRB as well as four other public safety-focused advisory bodies (PCCEP, FITCOG, PBAC, and CRC).

This application will be used to fill current vacancies, and applications will be kept on file for up to a year for filling any future vacancies that may arise. Additional vacancies are expected for this committee each March .

Applications received by 11:59 PM on the last day of each month will be reviewed beginning the following the month for any vacancies that exist at that time .

To talk with someone about this opportunity or to receive assistance completing the application, please contact Ocean Eale at ocean.eale@portlandoregon.gov .

Applications are evaluated and scored by a selection committee and the most qualified applicants are asked to appear for an interview. Selected applicants are asked to submit to a background check (each applicant is reviewed individually and results of a background check do not necessarily preclude service on Police Review Board) and are then submitted by the IPR Director for City Council appointment to a three-year term.

An info session will be held in September.

Voluntary & Confidential Demographic Questionnaire

The City is committed to diversity, inclusion, and equity. Following the application, there is a separate demographic questionnaire; completing the questionnaire is voluntary, but we encourage you to provide that information. The City uses this information to help ensure that advisory body appointments represent a broad cross-section of the community. State and federal law prohibit use of this information to discriminate against you. Questions about this may be sent to AdvisoryBodies@Portlandoregon.gov

General Questions

For general questions about the Advisory Bodies program, the volunteer recruitment process, or other upcoming advisory body opportunities please email AdvisoryBodies@Portlandoregon.gov .

We Encourage You to Apply

We welcome you to browse the Police Review Board’s website to learn more: https://www.portland.gov/police/divisions/prb-reports

We welcome you to browse our website to learn more about IPR: https://www.portland.gov/ipr

Do you have questions or need more information? Email ocean.eale@portlandoregon.gov .

Additional Information

Meeting Location

Currently, this advisory body is meeting both remotely and in person (hybrid model). In the future, meetings could: 1) be conducted fully remotely, or 2) be conducted remotely and in person (hybrid model). As the situation evolves, the exact meeting location may change.

Terms
As the City of Portland shifts to a new government structure, advisory bodies may undergo updates and changes. If applying for a vacant position on this advisory group, please note that the term may be shorter than what is listed elsewhere in this recruitment post.

City of Portland volunteers are unpaid; therefore, employment benefits are not available.

Closing Date/Time: 12/31/2099 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$0.00 Annually