Office of Constitutional Policing and Policy

Office of Constitutional Policing and Policy
Abbreviation	OCPP
Organizational structure
Part of	Los Angeles Police Department Office of the Chief of Police
Headquarters	Police Administration Building, 100 West 1st Street, Los Angeles
Command staff
Director	Police Administrator III (civilian)

The Office of Constitutional Policing and Policy (OCPP) of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) develops the LAPD's policies and procedures, conducts internal auditing and programs to ensure compliance, handles litigation, forms and ensures compliance with the LAPD's long-term strategic plan and risk management strategies, and coordinates local, state, and federal government legislative matters.

The Office of Constitutional Policing and Policy, first known as Special Assistant for Constitutional Policing, was born out of the former Risk Management Bureau (originally the Consent Decree Bureau). The Consent Decree Bureau was created following the discovery of the LAPD's Rampart Area Corruption Incident. The United States Department of Justice notified the City of Los Angeles that it intended to file a civil suit alleging that the department was engaging in a pattern or practice of excessive force, false arrests and unreasonable searches and seizures. The Consent Decree was lifted in May of 2013 following major reforms the LAPD had to implement and the frequent audits it was required to undergo by a federally apponted consent decree monitor.

Director

The Director, Office of Constitutional Policing and Policy, is a civilian police administrator holding the rank of Police Administrator III. The Director leads the OCPP. This position was originally known as the Special Assistant for Constitutional Policing.

Audit Division

The Audit Division is responsible for developing the department’s annual audit plan; coordinating, conducting and scheduling audits; carrying out any special tasks or projects as directed by the Chief of Police or the Board of Police Commissioners; serving as a resource to other LAPD entities on audit-related issues, and periodically assessing the quality of audits performed by other LAPD entities; reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of internal control systems; reviewing established systems, policies and procedures to appraise compliance with laws and regulations; evaluating plans and actions taken to correct reported conditions; and providing adequate follow-up to ensure corrective action is taken and to evaluate its effectiveness.

Governmental Liaison Section

The Governmental Liaison Section maintains liaison with the Mayor's Office, City Council, and other City government entities, and reviews and coordinates legislative proposals that directly impact the department.

• Mayor Liaison — responsible for developing and maintaining liaison between the Chief of Police and the Mayor and their staff; advising the Chief of Police of matters pending before the Mayor in which the department is involved or has an interest; and meeting with the Mayor's staff to explain issues and answer inquiries relative to department operations.

• Council Liaison — responsible for developing and maintaining liaison between the Chief of Police and members of the City Council and their staffs; advising the Chief of Police of matters pending before the Council and its committees in which the department is involved or has an interest; meeting with individual Council members to explain issues and answer inquires relative to department operations; coordinating the appearance of persons representing the department before Council or its committees on matters directly related to the department; and representing the department before the Council or its committees when necessary.

• Legislative Liaison — responsible for monitoring State and Federal legislation and coordinating department analysis of legislative bills which could affect the department; coordinating the dissemination of newly enacted State legislation for department review of impact and for action toward implementation to ensure compliance; coordinating the department’s response to the City Council’s request for department legislative proposals for inclusion in the City’s Legislative Program; tracking the department’s legislative proposals through the City, State, or Federal Legislative process; liaison with various City and State lobbyists, legislators, law enforcement agencies, and governmental and organizational entities with a common or opposing interest in various proposed bills and laws; reviewing notifications by department employees to determine if their activities are reportable under the provisions of the Political Reform Act of 1974; and reporting to the Office of the Mayor activities and communications by department employees, as required by the Political Reform Act of 1974 and the City Council.

Community Policing & Policy Group

Community Relationship Division

The Community Relationship Division is responsible for

• answering requests for information regarding the department
• assisting geographic area Commanding Officers with community-relations solutions during unusual occurrences
• conducting research and preparing written assignments as directed by the Chief of Police
• conducting surveys to measure police effectiveness within the community
• developing and promoting community relations programs designed to foster mutual trust and respect between the department and the community
• evaluating overall department operations and policies which affect community attitudes and making appropriate recommendations to the command staff
• identifying and evaluating areas of tension in the community and rumors from within the community and the department
• reviewing and evaluating the department's community relations training and developing recommendations when needed
• working closely with the Assistant to the Director, Office of Operations to ensure government based community policing goals are achieved

Risk Management and Legal Affairs Group

Policies and Procedures Division

The Policies and Procedures Division is responsible for the following (among other things):

• conducting research and preparing directives and correspondence for the Chief of Police;
• reviewing staff work submitted for approval by the Chief of Police and coordinating the distribution of all directives from the Chief of Police;
• conducting follow-up evaluations as required to ensure that standard procedures and policies are adhered to by all organizational units within the department;
• evaluating and implementing recommended changes in policies and procedures;
• evaluating and analyzing the performance of, and the procedures used by, department employees;
• evaluating resources utilized by the department;
• making appropriate recommendations in order to ensure the highest level of efficiency and effectiveness;
• researching and developing operational standards for the department;
• conducting studies and making surveys of field-related problems; and
• researching and analyzing short-term and long-term matters which affect department operations.

Legal Affairs Division

The Legal Affairs Division is responsible for:

• developing, reviewing, coordinating, and standardizing department-wide legal training in civil law, search and seizure, evidence, criminal procedure, risk management, and civil liability;
• responding to all requests for department documents in Council matters, lawsuits, claims and settlements;
• providing department documents to outside entities in compliance with the Public Records Act;
• providing advice to department employees regarding civil liability;
• providing civil investigative support to the Office of the City Attorney by investigating civil claims or lawsuits against the City relating to actions by department employees;
• representing the department in small claims actions against the department;
• monitoring lawsuits involving, or of interest to, the department;
• accepting subpoenas duces tecum, pre-trial discovery motions, and court orders served on the department and routing such processes, when appropriate, to the appropriate department entities;
• forwarding all civil subpoenas received for officers and private persons to the involved divisions;
• maintaining liaison with the City and District Attorneys' Offices concerning civil litigation involving the department;
• representing the department as the Custodian of Records in civil court proceedings relating to request for production of police personnel records;
• coordinating the delivery of records and reports to court in response to court orders, and testifying to the confidential and protected status of such documents;
• recording and responding to the receipt of legal processes, and coordinating court appearances to such processes;
• determining the confidential nature of items requested by legal processes, and coordinating the activities concerning the production of evidence or records in court;
• providing training and information on the proper release of documents relating to civil law, Pitchess Motions, and the Public Records Act;
• maintaining liaison with outside agencies concerning trends in civil litigation; and
• responding to inquiries concerning the effect of existing law and legal decisions on the department.

Risk Management Division

The Risk Management Division is responsible for:

• reviewing and approving all department training bulletins and videos, and obtaining the City Attorney's review prior to publication;
• identifying, collecting, analyzing, processing, tracking, and disseminating information on risk management and liability issues likely to affect the department;
• developing and maintaining a system designed to identify liability trends and issues;
• receiving, for preliminary investigation, all claims for damages against the department and department personnel resulting from on-duty activities;
• investigating and making recommendations for resolving disputed claims to property held by the department;
• providing information to the Office of the City Attorney concerning department policies, procedures, practices, and personnel;
• providing twenty-four hour response to incidents involving the department that have the high potential for liability or litigation;
• maintaining liaison with other law enforcement agencies and City risk management personnel; and
• preparing work history summary reports of potentially at-risk personnel for evaluation.

Ombuds Section

The purpose of the Ombuds Section is to prevent minor interpersonal conflicts from escalating into personnel complaints, grievances, or lawsuits. This is done by providing confidential, third party neutral assistance through mediation and facilitation of disputes.

The Ombuds Section also provides functional supervision to the department's Wellness Coordinator and Women's Coordinator, which are administrative roles assigned to personnel who may not necessarily be assigned to the Ombuds Office.

• The Wellness Coordinator responds to critical incidents on behalf of the Chief of Police involving department personnel. Other responsibilities of the Wellness Coordinator include: visiting injured or sick officers in the hospital or at their homes; assisting with death notifications of officers killed on or off duty; assisting families dealing with death, injury and other matters of a personal or confidential nature; and facilitating the mediation of personnel concerns. They also supervise the Military Liaison Officer which is a centralized point of contact to assist with issues associated with military service, including: payroll discrepancies (LAPD/military), reintegration training, department assignment/transfer issues, casualty assistance, family emergency notifications, and military personnel locator assistance.

• The Women's Coordinator is available to all department employees as a counselor and advisor for assisting sworn and civilian female employees in promotional and assignment opportunities. The Women's Coordinator also acts as spokesperson for female officers in the resolution of problems unique to women; assists and monitors the efforts to recruit and retain female officers; advises on matters involving affirmative action relating to women; and counsels and advises on personnel, equipment and uniform problems involving female sworn employees.
  • Captain Sharon Raydor was the Women's Coordinator in Season 6 of The Closer,(“Help Wanted”) though we don't know if she retained these duties until her death.

Public Communications Group

The Public Communications Group is responsible for directing and coordinating the LAPD's public affairs programs, and it also prepares the Department magazine and the Department Annual Report.

Media Relations Division

The Media Relations Division is responsible for coordinating requests from department personnel for radio and television time, responding to the scene of a serious police incident, whenever practicable, to assist news organizations in the performance of their functions, and approving requests to ride in police vehicles for the purpose of gathering information for use in feature articles.

---