Police data collection project (West Valley Police Department)

Hi,

Our supervisor is working with our attorney's office and our statistical analyst to get you the information you need. Please be advised that we may not have any reports created that we keep as records for some of this information, but we will try to get you the information as quickly as possible.

Thank you,

Kent Jensen

Records Clerk
WVCPD
3577 South Market Street
WVC, UT 84119
Records 801-963-3226
Fax 801-963-3333
HelpDesk.Records@wvc-ut.gov
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To whom it may concern,
This email is in response to your GRAMA Request that was sent to the West Valley City Police Department on July 5, 2020. Attached you will find Use of Force incidents for the years 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. Below is an explanation of how our data is captured, along with information regarding civilian complaints. Please note: Our annual reports have not yet been published to our website. Currently our 2019 Annual Report has not been finalized and is under review.

Thank you,
Ashley LeClaire
Records Director
West Valley Police Department

1. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by year and by type of force used from 2016-2019 (for example, "27 taser incidents in 2016, 3 baton incidents in 2017, etc.)
Use of force information for each year is attached.

2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained, separated by year (for example, 8 complaints in 2016, 2 complaints sustained in 2017, 4 complaints in 2018, 1 complaint sustained in 2019, etc.)

2016 - 19 civilian complaints 24 civilian complaints, 2 sustained
2017 - 11 civilian complaints, 9 civilian complaints, 2 sustained
2018 - 51 civilian complaints, 59 civilian complaints, 11 sustained
2019 - 61 civilian complaints, 91 civilian complaints, 16 sustained

3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained from 2016-2019, separated by year

2016 - 2 civilian complaints, 0 sustained
2017 - 0 civilian complaints
2018 - 3 civilian complaints, 0 sustained 2018 - 1 civilian complaint, 0 sustained
2019 - 3 civilian complaints, 0 sustained

4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained from 2016-2019, separated by year

2016 - 1 civilian complaints (discrimination against person who is deaf ) - 0 sustained
2017 - 1 civilian complaint (discrimination against person who is deaf) - 0 sustained
2018 - 1 civilian complaint (racial discrimination) - 0 sustained
2019 - 0 civilian complaints of biased policing or racial profiling

* The complaint numbers from IA Pro did not match the Department's annual report, and the CALEA annual summary of complaints, so these are corrected below.
* This explanation is included in the 2018 and 2019 Annual Statistical Summary of Complaints:
**The increase in external complaints in 2018 and subsequent years is due to the
fact that prior to 2018, many 'complaints' that were of a less serious nature were
handled informally by the supervisor speaking with the person and satisfying their
'complaint.' However, beginning in 2018, we wanted to ensure that we were in line
with all CALEA reporting requirements and we began capturing anything resembling a complaint, even if in the past the issue was resolved and the
complainant satisfied with the supervisor's explanation of events. Now, all such
incidents are documented in IAPro/Blue Team and reviewed through the chain of
command. The primary reason for the increase in 2019 is that this was the first full
year that all complaints of this nature were handled in this manner.