BPD continues to implement LEMAP recommendations

In an April 13 memo to city councilmembers, Blaine police chief Donnell Tanksley provided an update on his department’s efforts to implement recommendations from an outside review of the department conducted in 2018.

On March 28, 2018, the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) provided its report to the Blaine Police Department (BPD) identifying areas in need of improvement to align the department with best practices and standards in law enforcement. A month earlier, at the direction of interim police chief Michael Knapp, WASPC had conducted a Loaned Executive Management Assistance Program (LEMAP) assessment of BPD.

The goal of the LEMAP program is to provide law enforcement administrators with an opportunity to undergo a critical review of their organization through the eyes of peer professionals. WASPC’s report identified areas in need of strengthening, and BPD began implementing the report’s recommendations right away, Chief Tanksley said in his memo. “Immediately after receiving the report, the police department launched a massive effort to implement most of the report recommendations,” he wrote.

Chief Tanksley said about 80 percent of the recommendations have been completed to date, and that the department “is on par to complete most of the recommendations by the end of 2021.” His 22-page memo provides councilmembers with a list of each recommendation, the BPD staff member assigned to the recommendation, the percentage of the task completed and progress notes. “The goal of this memorandum is to give you a snapshot of the progress,” he wrote.

The LEMAP recommendations were divided into different categories: Goals and Objectives; Role and Authority; Use of Force; Management, Staffing, Organization and Utilization of Personnel; Records Management; Information Technology; Unusual Occurrences; Health and Safety; Fiscal Management; Recruitment and Selection; Training; Performance Evaluations; Code of Conduct; Internal Affairs; Patrol Function; Investigative Function; Evidence and Property Control Function; and Prisoner Security.

One of BPD’s remaining goals is to develop a strategic plan. “This strategic plan should be based upon main objectives that support the needs of the organization and community and may include general topics such as personnel, training, equipment and large capital projects,” said the LEMAP recommendation. “These main objectives can be broken down into achievable, affordable tasks in one-year increments so that stakeholders can readily identify what is occurring and why.” BPD’s progress note states that this will be part of the department’s goals for 2020 and 2021.

Another remaining goal is to conduct a staffing study. “Complete a personnel review (including civilian positions) and staff the agency at a level that ensures safe, efficient and effective police services,” said the LEMAP recommendation. BPD’s progress note states that a staffing study will be conducted this year.

An additional priority is to review and update the city’s emergency operations plan (EOP) at least once every five years. “Blaine’s EOP should either be updated or completely removed with reference made to the city’s adoption of Whatcom County’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP), to which they are a member,” said the LEMAP recommendation. “Whatcom County has a current CEMP which has been approved by Washington state’s Department of Emergency Management.” BPD’s progress note states that this process will be initiated this year, requiring “input from various internal and external stakeholders.”

BPD also plans to conduct training on public alerts, how these alerts are initiated and who is authorized to issue these alerts. BPD’s progress note states that the department still needs to complete research and review state laws regarding public alerts. Other priorities include devising a more secure system for bike storage; conducting random tests of BPD’s alarm monitoring system; and developing an interlocal agreement with fire officials regarding the handling and transport of sick, injured, mentally ill or disabled persons.

To view BPD’s status report of the LEMAP recommendations, visit the city of Blaine’s website, cityofblaine.com, and view the city council agenda for the April 13, 2020 meeting.