The Elkhart Police Department will be implementing some changes as a result of an ongoing review of policies and standards.
Elkhart’s Police Department was under scrutiny last year after a video surfaced showing officers beating a handcuffed man after he tried to spit on one of them.
This prompted an ongoing review of the department’s policies. An outside organization called the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) is conducting the review.
The Department will change the language in its vehicle pursuit policy, how it handles complaints, and create a new advisory board made up of community members. Chief Chris Snyder will choose the members on the board. He hopes to have regular monthly meetings with the board starting in November.
Snyder said the department’s 'Use of Force' policy is still being reviewed.
“We want to make sure that what we’re putting in our policies is the correct thing for the Elkhart Police Department and our community so we continue to work through that until we have a product we’re all happy with,” he said.
The review is expected to wrap up by the end of this year. These recommendations still need to be approved by the Board of Public Safety. Snyder expects that to happen at the next board meeting.
Contact Annacaroline at acaruso@wvpe.org or follow her on Twitter at @AnnacarolineC16
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