The Chapel Hill Police Department released its first quarterly report of the year recently and should be commended for its attempts to improve transparency.
In 2011 the department’s Office of Professional Standards began publishing online quarterly reports that detail information about complaints the department receives and ongoing investigations into its actions.
The editorial board is glad to see the department review its practices in order to improve future services.
It is evident from the report that the Chapel Hill Police Department does not directly receive a high volume of complaints about its services to the community or launch many investigations. From January to March, the Chapel Hill police reviewed six investigations.
The quarterly report from the first three months of 2013 does not go into great detail, however. There were two allegations each of harassment, improper conduct and unsatisfactory job performance. Three of the allegations were deemed unfounded after review.
Of course, transparency in this regard doesn’t make up for the department’s past and current opacity on other issues. The Faith Hedgepeth case is still ongoing and remains inscrutable to the public.
Further reviews by the Chapel Hill Police Department should expand on these complaints — while protecting the anonymity of those who submitted them — in order to continue improving public service. Chapel Hill residents have the right to know what other locals consider the downfalls of their police department.
The publication of the quarterly review helps fulfill the town government’s responsibility to reflect on its performance, and use that review to improve services to the people.
