Policy Recommendations
What is a Management Action Recommendation?
During an investigation, OPA sometimes identifies issues with SPD policies or practices that have implications beyond the case at hand. To address them, OPA can issue a Management Action Recommendation (MAR) in the form of a letter to the Chief of Police identifying specific issues and recommending changes.
A MAR is a tool for correcting gaps, ambiguities, or other concerns with SPD policies and/or training.
SPD is not required to implement the suggestions that come from OPA in the form of MARs, but they do actively collaborate and attempt to find solutions as much as possible.
Below are all MARs issued by OPA since 2018, as well as the responses provided by SPD, if available. Links to MARs issued between 2015-2017 are located below their related Closed Case Summary on our Closed Case Summaries page.
Status Definitions
Received: OPA submitted the MAR to SPD, but SPD has not yet provided a substantive response.
In Development: OPA received a response from SPD indicating a plan to address the recommendation(s). The MAR is still open.
Partially Implemented: OPA considers the MAR complete. SPD implemented one or more recommendations. For the recommendation(s) SPD did not implement, a rationale was provided.
Fully Implemented: OPA considers the MAR complete. SPD implemented all recommendation(s) proposed by OPA.
Declined Action: OPA considers the MAR complete. SPD indicated why no action was taken on the recommendation(s). This rationale may be based on feasibility, law, policy and/or a difference in opinion.
Management Action Recommendations - Current Year
Date Issued |
Case # |
Topic |
OPA Status |
November 14, 2019 | 2019OPA-0364 2019COMP-0033 |
Search Warrant Exception | Received |
November 8, 2019 | 2019OPA-0168 2019COMP-0032 |
Ruses | Received |
November 1, 2019 | 2019OPA-0280 2019COMP-0031 |
Vehicle Pursuits | Received |
October 15, 2019 | 2019OPA-0015 2019COMP-0030 |
Use of Force: Neck and Cartoid Restraint | Received |
October 10, 2019 | 2019OPA-0225 2019COMP-0029 |
Search Warrant Exception | Received |
October 10, 2019 | 2019OPA-0105 2019COMP-0028 |
Canine Deployment | Fully Implemented |
September 19, 2019 | 2019OPA-0308 2019COMP-0027 |
Search Warrant Exception | Received |
August 1, 2019 | 2019OPA-0069 2019COMP-0025 |
Custodial Search | Received |
July 3, 2019 | 2017OPA-0886 2019COMP-0024 |
Medical Leave | Received |
June 25, 2019 | 2019OPA-0097 2019COMP-0017 |
Criminal Justice Information Systems | Received |
June 18, 2019 | 2019OPA-0172 2019COMP-0021 |
Canine Deployment | Fully Implemented |
June 11, 2019 | 2018OPA-1107 2019COMP-0016 |
Custodial Search | Received |
June 11, 2019 | 2018OPA-0740 2019COMP-0015 |
Taser Application | Fully Implemented |
June 11, 2019 | 2018OPA-1037 2019COMP-0020 |
Canine Deployment | Fully Implemented |
May 29, 2019 | 2018OPA-0783 2019COMP-0014 |
Canine Deployment | Fully Implemented |
May 29, 2019 | 2015OPA-0370 2019COMP-0013 |
Secondary Employment | Received |
March 15, 2019 | 2018OPA-0872 2019COMP-0019 |
Taser Application | Fully Implemented |
March 15, 2019 | 2018OPA-0772 2019COMP-0010 |
Impact of Swatting | Partially Implemented |
March 15, 2019 | 2018OPA-0751 2019COMP-0009 |
Detainee Checks | Fully Implemented |
March 15, 2019 | 2018OPA-0198 2019COMP-0008 |
Pursuit Termination | Declined Action |
March 15, 2019 | 2018OPA-0582 2019COMP-0007 |
Roadblocks | Fully Implemented |
March 13, 2019 | 2018OPA-0704 2019COMP-0018 |
De-Escalation/Threats of Force | Fully Implemented |
March 13, 2019 | 2018OPA-0661 2019COMP-0006 |
Spit Sock Hood Screening and Reporting | Fully Implemented |
March 13, 2019 | 2018OPA-0201 2019COMP-0004 |
Ferrier Warning | Fully Implemented |
January 18, 2019 | 2018OPA-0250 2019COMP-0023 |
Terry Template | Received |
January 17, 2019 | 2018OPA-0577 2019COMP-0001 |
De-Escalation/Threats of Force | Fully Implemented |
Management Action Recommendations - Previous Year
OPA submitted the following MARs to the SPD Chief of Police on the dates listed below.
January 10, 2018
Fully Implemented
Bias Reviews (2017OPA-0938, 2017OPA-1014, 2017OPA-1016, 2017OPA-1017, 2017OPA-1018, 2017OPA-1077, 2017OPA-1079, 2017OPA-1108)
Chief of Police Response - Issued February 7, 2018
January 25, 2018
Fully Implemented
2017OPA-0571 - Specialty Unit Manuals
Chief of Police Response - Issued February 7, 2018
March 9, 2018
Declined Action
2016OPA-0719 - Secondary Employment: Volunteer Work
Chief of Police Response - Issued April 10, 2018
Declined Action
2017OPA-0270 - In-Car Video: Exception to Stop Recording
Chief of Police Response - Issued April 10, 2018
April 5, 2018
This letter contains 14 MARs covering various topics. The status of each policy recommendation is shown below.
Fully Implemented
2017OPA-0031 - Collision Review Board
2017OPA-0751 - In-Car Video: Following Ambulances
2017OPA-0755 - Secondary Employment at Large Events
2017OPA-0813 - Reporting Misconduct
2017OPA-0820 - DUI Training
2017OPA-1131 - In-Car Video: Following Ambulances
2017OPA-1015 - Follow-Up Investigations
Partially Implemented
2017OPA-0318 - Use of Force Tools: Taser
Declined Action
2017OPA-0420 - Involvement in Vehicle Pursuits
2017OPA-0667 - High-Risk Felony Stops
2017OPA-0705 - Scheduling Training
2017OPA-0909 - De-Escalation
2017OPA-0937 - In-Car and Body-Worn Video Equipment
2017OPA-0967 - Terry Template
July 2, 2018
This letter contains 10 MARs covering various topics. The status of each policy recommendation is shown below.
Fully Implemented
2017OPA-1132 & 2018OPA-0053 - Searches
2017OPA-1301 & 2018OPA-0101 - Recording on Both In-Car and Body-Worn Video
Partially Implemented
2017OPA-0980 & 2017OPA-1008 - Handling Evidence
2017OPA-1196 - Patrol Officer Inspections
Declined Action
2017OPA-0511 - Social Media
2017OPA-1091 - Terry Template
2017OPA-1289 - Acting Sergeants
November 15, 2018
Fully Implemented
2018OPA-0129 - In-Car Video: Following Ambulances
Fully Implemented
2017OPA-1121 - Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
SPD Response - Issued August 14, 2019
Partially Implemented
2017OPA-1218 - Use of Force Reporting
SPD Response - Issued September 11, 2019
Declined Action
2018OPA-0074 - Emergency Vehicle Operations: Vehicle Takedowns
SPD Response - Issued October 4, 2019
November 29, 2018
Fully Implemented
2018OPA-0165 - Body-Worn Video: Recording in Sensitive Areas
SPD Response - Issued September 11, 2019
Partially Implemented
2018OPA-0061 - Use of Force Tools: Taser
In Development
2018OPA-0353 - Search Warrant Exception: Community Caretaking
2018OPA-0118 - Search Warrant Exception: Vacant Homes
December 18, 2018
Partially Implemented