WPD Report Recommends More Community Involvement, Officer Training

WATONGA – The Watonga Police Department should increase community outreach and offer more training opportunities for its officers, a new report says, among other tweaks that will increase its effectiveness moving forward.

The recommendations were made in a review from the Oklahoma Municipal Management Services and were based on extensive interviews the OMMS conducted with current police officers, the Watonga mayor and city council, Watonga citizens, and others.

In addition to recommended changes, the report also commended the city for equipping its officers well and said the department’s policies are in better shape than in many other towns.

“The officers of the department are well trained and equipped to perform their daily duties,” the report says. “This review will provide the City and Police Department a clear plan to move them forward into the future of law enforcement.”

The review comes as Watonga begins its search for a new police chief and months after former Chief Shawn Kays was fired. It was led by Rick Rumsey, OMMS’ north central regional manager who was previously the chief of police in Sapulpa.

Here are a few takeaways from the major sections of the report:

Staffing

The OMMS reviewed towns of comparable size and found that Watonga’s ratio of officers to citizens is about 1/352, or squarely in the middle of the pack. Therefore, the OMMS says Watonga’s eight full-time officers are likely enough to serve the city for now.

The department currently has one reserve police officer. The OMMS recommends, at minimum, that cities have half as many reserve officers as they do full-time positions. That would give Watonga four reserve officers and 12 total officers available for special events, weather events, major crimes and other unforeseen circumstances where additional support might be needed.

Hiring

The OMMS recommends that the city “adopt a standard hiring procedure and that it be followed each time hiring is conducted.” They advise that procedure involve a written test, physical test, oral interview, background check, medical exam and psychological evaluation.

Training

Watonga officers have had to train mostly online lately, the OMMS reported, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and manpower levels. But officers should receive more in-person training whenever possible, the OMMS says.

What’s more, the OMMS recommends that Watonga develop a 12-week field training program for officer recruits, and that it designates a field training supervisor and a training officer to maintain training records and make sure officers are current on required training.

OMMS says Watonga officers need more driver training in particular, as none have taken Law Enforcement Drivers Training since attending the CLEET Police Academy when they were certified.

Use of Force Reviews

Citing a need for greater transparency and connection with the community, the OMMS report recommends that the WPD involve “community representatives to act as independent monitors for the Chief of Police.”

“These representatives act as passive monitors in police use of force or complaint review boards,” it says. A Serious Incident Review Board, comprised of “sworn staff and community members,” might be established “to review cases involving officer-involved shootings and other serious incidents that have the potential to damage community trust or confidence in the agency.”

Such oversight groups should be trained in use-of-force policies and be diverse in their makeup, the OMMS said.

Equipment

“Overall, officers seem happy with the equipment they are provided,” the OMMS said, commending the city of Watonga for “providing adequate equipment for the Police Department to perform their duties to the citizens.”

The OMMS did note, however, that most WPD officers are currently carrying their own sidearms while on duty and not their issued sidearm. It recommends the city mandate that officers carry their issued weapon, and that the city “conduct a full inventory of all fixed assets” that the police department has.

That inventory should be updated yearly and maintained by the city, the report says.

Property/evidence room

The OMMS report found inadequate oversight of the department’s evidence room, which it says is currently managed by the chief of police. It recommends that the WPD “immediately” change the locks on the room and designate two officers, a primary and a backup, as property room managers. They would be the only officers with keys to the room.

The report further recommends that the department work with the district attorney or sheriff’s office to make a complete inventory of the room. A random check would then be conducted each month by selecting a number of items from the room to be inventoried.

The department should also replace the doors to the room and install cameras inside it, the OMMS said.

Building community relationship

Despite the tumultuous summer, the OMMS noted that the police department “has a fairly positive view from the citizens” of Watonga. “As in any community, there will always be the general population that are anti-police,” the report says, “but overall, that is not the general thought or belief in Watonga.”

Still, the OMMS recommends that the WPD use data, transparency and “community policing” to further connect with citizens. “The public has a right to know what their police department is doing,” it says.

A great way to build community trust and involvement is through Facebook and other social media, the OMMS said. “The Facebook page should create something that people visit each day to keep current on items of importance.”

Policies

The OMMS said Watonga’s “policies were not in as bad of condition as have been found with other departments.” It identified a few minor tweaks that should be included in the WPD policy manual, most involving issues already outlined in the report.

The report also determined that the Watonga K-9 policy “was not being followed,” recommending that the policy “be followed as written and that the current canine program be adjusted to accommodate the current requirements.” The report does not specify how the K-9 program is deviating from requirements.

Chief of Police position

Finally, the report outlines some characteristics the city should look for as it hires the next chief of police. The chief should be “the most visible position within city government,” the report asserts, especially in smaller communities.

“Chiefs who go beyond their day-to-day work and communicate with officers and the community will move the view of the department forward and continue to grow much needed support,” the report says.

It adds that Watonga should look for a chief who is experienced, supportive, honest, forward-thinking, openminded, transparent and inspiring, listing those as a chief’s most important traits.

Implementation

The Watonga City Council was briefed on the review’s findings on Aug. 31. Mayor Bill Seitter told the Watonga Republican that the council has not discussed them since then.

He anticipates that, while the department might be able to implement some minor changes immediately, most of the recommendations will be considered jointly by City Manager Karrie Beth Little and the new police chief once he or she has been hired.

Little declined to comment, but said the report is currently under review. The city’s police chief position was posted for hiring last week; those interested must submit a resume and application to watongacm@gmail.com no later than Sept. 23.

The application can be obtained at cityofwatonga.org.