The following report concerning the City of Hillsboro Police Department outlines the Sheriffs Office role and issues addressed responding to the City's request for support.
Original Title
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office executive summary of Hillsboro investigation
The following report concerning the City of Hillsboro Police Department outlines the Sheriffs Office role and issues addressed responding to the City's request for support.
The following report concerning the City of Hillsboro Police Department outlines the Sheriffs Office role and issues addressed responding to the City's request for support.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
Executive Summary
Hillsboro Police Department
January 10"-January 14*, 2019The following report concerning the City of Hillsboro Police Department outlines the Sheriff's Office role
and issues addressed responding to the City’s request for support. Most importantly, are critical
recommendations for keeping their Police Officers safe, ensuring citizens get the best protection within
their resources, justice for citizens when they are victims of crime, and the city reduces their liability
exposure to prevent catastrophic civil payouts. The report summarizes some of the issues identified
since meeting on January 10". This report isin preparation for the council meeting schedule for January
15",
Criminal investigation Request and Response:
(On January 9, 2019 we received a request from the City of Hillsboro to investigate alleged criminal
behavior of Police Officers with the City of Hillsboro Police Department. The allegations focused on theft
of city monies via falsifying documents for working hours. On January 10, 2029, around 8:30 A.M., we
‘met with Mayor Joe Phillips, and City Administrator Jesse Wallis. As a result of that conversation, two
investigators from the Criminal Investigations Section were assigned the task of investigating the
allegations,
Non-Criminal issues Demanding Attention
City Administrator Wallis and Mayor Phillips shared concerning information relating to internal issues
within the police department. NOTE* The Sheriff's Office does not investigate Human Resource issues
externally. Frequent requests from taxing entities throughout Jefferson County promulgated a letter to
all taxing entities around the New Year outlining our response (a copy of the letter is attached with this
summary). However, the issues that were brought to our attention were so egregious and alarming,
that this situation demanded intervention for the Safety and Security of Hillsboro and Jefferson
County. The issues went far beyond poor leadership and harassment, they impacted the safety of
police officers and every resident. It should also be noted that two Hillsboro Police Officers recognized
the seriousness of the issues, and docume in the form of a Grievance to City Le is
Grievances outlined inappropriate behavior, inappropriate use and downloads of inappropriate
‘material, and violation of administrate rules common to employment.
Leadership and Supervision
‘As a result of the criminal investigation, there was no leadership at the Police Department. From a
historical perspective, Hillsboro has not had supervision on every shift because of their size and
resources, but the basic role of police supervision is to ensure compliance with organizational policies
and procedures. Without supervision on every shift, compliance and continuity are difficult. in the
absence of supervision, and considering the criminal investigation, we agreed to provide emergency
leadership support to the Hillsboro Police Department for al shifts.
‘Throughout the day (January 10"), we were briefed as the criminal investigation progressed and learned
of other information related to the workings of the Hillsboro Police Department. As a result of
information that was obtained, we immediately coordinated support from our CALEA and Special
Operations Divisions to support basic law enforcement functions in the City of Hillsboro. We agreed to
‘meet back at their City Hall at 3:30 for a meeting with government leadership and the Police Officers.
‘At approximately 3:30 P.M., we proceeded to the City of Hillsboro. In attendance were Sheriff Dave
Marshak, Lt. Colonel Tim Whitney, Lieutenant Patrick Hawkins, Sergeant Matt Moore, and for the City ofHillsboro, Mayor Joe Philips, ity Administrator Jesse Wallis and 8-9 Part-time and Full-time police
officers. Prior to our arrival, Mayor Phillips and CA Walls had already been speaking with the officers.
Through open honest communication, we shared our goal of immediately addressing issues that
impacted their safety, the community, and the liability exposure of the City of Hillsboro. The Hillsboro
Police Department has officers working twelve-hour (12) hour shifts, which is an accepted common
practice/schedule for policing, We adjusted their schedules from 7-7 to 6-6 to coincide with the Sheriff's
Office for supervision.
Initial Findings:
To prepare them and our Watch Commanders for the shift beginning at 6:00 P.M. and not knowing their
experience levels, we discussed their capabilities, training, certifications, etc. The general “Immediate
Issues Identified” outlined below attempt to describe some of the deficiencies, but there is difficulty
in dissecting the multitude of problems that result from some of the brevity. For example, one officer
that was hired admittedly was provided a firearm that he/she had not been trained on. When attempts
to qualify he/she with a basic firearms qualification course failed, leadership chose to allow them to
work anyway.
Training a new officer from the academy included up to two weeks with another officer (not certified as.
2 Field Training Officer (FTO) and with no documentation) before being allowed to patrol on their own.
In contrast, most police standards have a new police officer assigned to a police officer that is certified
a8 Field Training Officer for 12 weeks. In that time, there is a documented training program to ensure
the officer is trained. They are then on probation and continually evaluated prior to full employment.
Immediate Issues Identified:
No documented qualification for equipment they were provided including handguns, rifles, Tasers, etc.
Lack of/or no policies for basic police functions
Lack of knowledge of policies and procedures
Lack of training on policies and procedures
Lack of supervision
Lack of documented training for nearly every police officer
‘Assignment of Lt, Patrick Hawkins
Lt. Patrick Hawkins was directed to temporarily command the Hillsboro Police Department. The
immediate scope of Lt. Hawkins assignment was to diagnose the extent of issues that needed to be
addressed. In addition, he would coordinate the repair of critical components that impacted the safety
of the officers and community. Arrangements were made to have every police officer trained and tested