Racial Profiling Compliance Information
Pflugerville ISD Police Department Compliancy with Senate Bill 1074 Racial Profiling
The Pflugerville ISD Police Department supports the 77th Texas Legislature’s mandate prohibiting racial profiling in Texas. Our school district police officers work under a departmental policy that is consistent with all state and federal laws. The policy includes provisions for citizens to contact us if they have a conflict with a school district police officer.
The Pflugerville ISD Police Department realizes that there will be disagreements, from time to time, with individuals that come in contact with our school district police officers. We realize that confusion, different perceptions or possibly the timeliness of information could result in information that may produce different accounts of the same incident. These disagreements between citizens and school district police officers need to be addressed. We trust that the vast majority of contacts between citizens and school district police officers are conducted in a positive and professional manner. The relationship between the community and our school district police officers is based on confidence and trust. We cannot be effective without both the community and our school district police officers working together to achieve this goal.
Citizens feeling that they have a legitimate concern may make a formal complaint to the Pflugerville ISD Police Department at any time by contacting any member of this department for information on the complaint process. Additional information about this process may be obtained by calling us at 512-594-1990 and asking for a supervisor.
The Pflugerville ISD Police Department would like to know about positive school district police officer contacts. Please write or e-mail the Chief a letter or note to let him know about a positive contact with our school district police officers. The Chief will let the school district police officer know about your letter and a copy will be placed in the school district police officer’s personnel folder.
We are very proud of the relationship the Pflugerville ISD Police Department shares with our community and we look forward to hearing from you.
Chief Patrick Petherbridge
Pflugerville ISD Police Department
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to gather data to comply with racial profiling legislation. This is to reaffirm the Pflugerville ISD Police Department's commitment to unbiased policing in all its encounters between school district police officers and any person; to reinforce procedures that serve to ensure public confidence and mutual trust through the provision of services in a fair and equitable fashion; and to protect our school district police officers from unwarranted accusations of misconduct when they act within the dictates of departmental policy and the law.
Policy
It is the policy of the Pflugerville ISD Police Department to police in a proactive manner and to aggressively investigate suspected violations of the law. School district police officers shall actively enforce state and federal laws in a responsible and professional manner.
The Pflugerville ISD Police Department prohibits any profiling based on ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, religion, economic status, age, cultural group, national origin, or any other identifiable group.
The Pflugerville ISD Police Department strictly prohibits school district police officers from engaging in racial profiling. School district police officers will ensure that the stopping, detaining, arresting, or frisking and/or searching of any person is based upon solid legal principles that conform to their training in arrest and search and seizure. Police action must be based upon credible information known to the school district police officer, which leads him / her to believe that an individual is, has been, or is about to be engaged in activity which is in violation of the law. Any other motivation for such actions is strictly prohibited. Racial profiling is an unacceptable patrol tactic and will not be condoned.
This policy shall not preclude school district police officers from offering assistance, such as upon observing a substance leaking from a vehicle, a flat tire, or someone who appears to be ill or confused. Nor does this policy prohibit a school district police officer from stopping someone suspected of a crime based upon observed actions and or information received about the person.
Violation of Policy
A school district police officer found in violation of this policy shall face disciplinary action up to and including termination.
Citizen Complaints
Employees of the Pflugerville ISD Police Department shall never attempt to dissuade any citizen from lodging a complaint. Employees of the Pflugerville ISD Police Department may attempt to resolve the complaint, but if they cannot readily resolve the complaint, they will promptly and courteously refer the citizen to the appropriate person or department. Written, verbal and e-mailed complaints are accepted; written complaints are preferred. All Pflugerville ISD Police Department employees will report any allegation of racial profiling to their supervisor before the end of their shift.
All complaints will be conducted in a thorough and timely manner as prescribed in policy.
If there is a departmental video or audio recording of the events upon which a complaint of racial profiling is based, upon commencement of an investigation by this department into the complaint and written request of the school district police officer made the subject of the complaint, this department shall promptly provide a copy of the recording to that school district police officer.
How to file a complaint:
Complaints against a Pflugerville ISD school district police officer must be submitted in writing and signed by the person making the complaint. Verbal complaints, telephone, or anonymous complaints may be taken and investigated dependent upon the circumstances and information provided. Complainants are encouraged to identify themselves. A signed letter will be sufficient to serve as a complaint after the information has been verified.
Texas Government Code, Title 6, Chapter 614.022. COMPLAINT TO BE IN WRITING AND SIGNED BY COMPLAINANT states that for the complaint to be considered by the head of a state agency or by the head of a fire department or local law enforcement agency, the complaint must be:
- in writing; and
- signed by the person making the complaint.
Formal complaints may be lodged by phone, by letter, or in person. In order to lodge a complaint, you may contact Pflugerville ISD Police Administration or the Police Supervisor on duty.
The department does not accept complaints later than 90 days after the alleged occurrence, except when:
- The complaint is criminal activity. The criminal statute of limitations prevails
- The complainant shows good cause for not making the complaint earlier
- Pflugerville ISD Police Professional Standards accepts the complaint
Paper Complaint Form – to be completed, printed and returned in person to:
Pflugerville ISD Police Department
Attn: Professional Standards Division
700 W. Pecan St.
Pflugerville, TX 78660
Phone: 512-594-1990
Use of Video and Audio Equipment
Each motor vehicle regularly used by Pflugerville ISD Police Department to make traffic and pedestrian stops is equipped with a video camera and transmitter-activated equipment and/or body-worn camera. School district police officers will utilize this equipment on every call for service including traffic stops, pedestrian stops, arrests, and contacts with the public in their official capacity. Equipment that is inoperable or becomes inoperable on shift shall be immediately reported to a supervisor and the unit will be exchanged for a unit that is fully operational.
Supervisors will ensure school district police officers of this department are recording their traffic and pedestrian stops. A supervisor will review a recording of each school district police officer at least once every 28 days.
The Pflugerville ISD Police Department shall retain the video of each traffic and pedestrian stop for at least 90 days after the date of the stop. If a complaint is filed with this department alleging that one of our school district police officers has engaged in racial profiling with respect to a traffic or pedestrian stop, this department shall retain the video of the stop until final disposition of the complaint.
Citation Data Collection and Reporting
The Pflugerville ISD Police Department shall submit a report to the Pflugerville ISD School Board and Texas Commission On Law Enforcement (TCOLE), on or before March 1st for the preceding calendar year, of the results of the reported statistics. The report will include:
01 A breakdown of citations by race or ethnicity;
02 Number of citations that resulted in a search;
03 Number of searches that were consensual;
04 Number of custodial arrest for the cited violation or any other violations.
Public Education
The Pflugerville ISD Police Department will inform the public of its policy against racial profiling and the complaint process. Methods that may be utilized to inform the public are the news media, school district newsletters, service or civic presentations, the Internet, as well as governing school board meetings. Additionally, information will be made available, as appropriate, in languages other than English.
Training
School district police officers are responsible to adhere to all Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) training and the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT) requirements as mandated by law.
All school district police officers shall complete a TCOLE training and education program on racial profiling as required by law.
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