In San Diego, Commissioners approved an “Official
Interpretation” to clarify the issue of performance evaluation for reserve
officers. The following text will be included with the existing commentary
for both standards 16.3.1 “Agency reserve officer program” and
35.1.2 “Annual performance evaluation for employees.”
Commission Interpretation: The Commission
acknowledges that some agencies utilize reserve officers who do not meet the
definition of an “employee.” For example, some agencies utilize
volunteer reserve officers and the absence of wages or salaries exclude them
from the definition. For the purpose of this Standards Manual, all reserve
officers shall be considered “employees” when applying standards dealing
with performance evaluations. Procedures and forms used for evaluating the
performance of the agency’s reserve officers may be the same as those used for
full-time sworn officers, or they may differ significantly based on distinctions
made in the role, scope of authority, or responsibilities of the reserve
officer.
Another issue that needs clarification is compliance
documentation. Assessors verify standards compliance in part by ensuring
various performance activities with time lines for administrative or audit
review, reports, analysis, evaluation, or inspection have been completed.
In some instances, agencies state that they did not have any activity in some
areas to perform the required activity so compliance proofs are limited or
non-existent. Often this activity is in the areas of use of force,
employee grievances, pursuits, program evaluations, or audits. In other
instances, the agency may state the process was routinely completed but no
record was maintained.
These instances require that some documentation be created
at the time of the activity. This can be as simple as a dated and signed
memo indicating the review task was addressed, but there was little or no
activity for that item in the current time frame.
The effort on the part of the agency is minimal, agency
tracking of their accreditation responsibilities is enhanced, agency actions can
be considered later for adjustment, assessors can make a quick determination of
compliance, and agency creditability is enhanced.
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