Police Release Use of Force Review Review Explained at Latest Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission Meeting

Police Release BurkeBurke Use of Force Review News, Page 3 Bruins Burst Forth Graduations, Page 10 Follow on Twitter: @BurkeConnection on Twitter: Follow Classified, Page 18 Classified, ❖ Lake Braddock class of 2015 graduates celebrate by flinging their caps in the air on June 17. Sports, Page 16 ❖ Entertainment, Page 14 New Giant Opens at Inside Kings Park Graduations 2015 News, Page 6 Photo by Tim Peterson/The Connection www.ConnectionNewspapers.comJune 25 - July 1, 2015 online at www.connectionnewspapers.comBurke Connection ❖ June 25 - July 1, 2015 ❖ 1 2 ❖ Burke Connection ❖ June 25 - July 1, 2015 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Burke Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic News 703-778-9414 or [email protected] Police Release Use of Force Review Review explained at latest Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission meeting. early a year ago, Fairfax County sought an outside N opinion on its police department’s use of force. That July 2014 commission went to the Subcommittee member Jose Santos Washington, D.C.-based Police Executive of Great Falls asks for the Police Research Forum. Executive Research Forum’s opinion The organization gained access to on how Fairfax County Police re- unredacted files and case information go- lease information. “There’s a knee- ing back ten years, as well as police acad- Police Executive Research Forum executive director Chuck Wexler (right) jerk reaction,” he said, “a reluc- emy training sessions and other areas of the and director of applied research and management Tom Wilson speak to tance to air out their dirty laundry.” department while conducting the review. the ad hoc commission on June 23. While not pursuing cases currently under Photos by Tim Peterson/The Connection In answering a commission member, investigation, the review team did look at Board of Supervisors chairman Sharon use of force cases and deadly force cases. Bulova explained this review was separate The concept then was to compare Fairfax from the outside review of police policies County’s policies and practices to other ju- for releasing information, something the risdictions and best practices, and make supervisors decided to move forward with recommendations for how the county could earlier this year. That review, being a bud- improve. get item for the new fiscal year in Fairfax Fairfax County published the completed County (July 1), has not moved forward review report online the weekend immedi- much. ately after they received it. The following “I’m disappointed in the timing,” Bulova Monday, June 22, Police Executive Research said. “It’s no excuse.” Forum executive director Chuck Wexler and director of applied research and manage- FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATION by ment Tom Wilson attended the meeting of Wexler and Wilson, Dr. Steve Band spoke the Fairfax County Police Practices Review to the commission on the “human element” Commission to give an overview of the — the psychological and biochemical effects document. of being a police officer faced with life- threatening situations. THE REVIEW includes 71 recommenda- Commission chairman Michael Hershman asks Police Executive Research “It’s ‘Oh sh-t, that awareness of extreme tions, spanning 92 pages. It and Wexler are Forum executive director Chuck Wexler follow-up questions after his pre- vulnerability,” said Band. “Once you jump generally positive about Fairfax County’s sentation over the forum’s report on Fairfax County police use of force. on that continuum, it’s like deer in the head- police. lights. Gaining control of that situation re- “This is a good department that wants to escalate a situation. It requires officers to making sure electronically controlled weap- quires muscle memory and committing to be better,” said Wexler, “not just good but slow down or take a step back. ons are used appropriately, prohibiting action.” one of the best in the country.” Next were recommendations for police chokeholds and discontinuing the use of the The meeting concluded with reports from If the organization’s recommendations recruit training. The review organization “precision immobilization technique” for each of the five subcommittees — Use of are implemented, the review text states, it found new Fairfax County officers were first stopping moving vehicles. Force, Communications, Mental Health and would “significantly enhance the [Fairfax given firearms training, rather than start- “The department is already doing a lot,” Crisis Intervention Training, Recruitment, County Police Department’s] internal opera- ing “with the most significant principles of Wexler said, “and we have suggestions for Diversity and Vetting, and Independent tions and its ability to serve the community policing,” Wexler said. how they can do more.” Oversight and Investigations — all of which in ways that build trust and cooperation, “They ought to hear… about the sanctity Commissioner Eric Clingan of the NOVA have different deadlines for submitting rec- while increasing the professionalism with of human life, those terms, before being Law Firm asked how long Wexler expected ommendations to the full commission. which use-of-force incidents are handled in handed firearms.” it would take to “change the culture” with Monday, July 27 is the next date sched- the county.” The fourth area was how Fairfax County respect to the recommendations from the uled for the meeting of the full Ad Hoc com- Wexler chose five main areas for improve- responds to people who are emotionally Police Executive Research Forum, and what mission at the Fairfax County Government ment to highlight in his presentation of the disturbed or have mental illness. Accord- kind of monitoring should be done. Center. Chairman Hershman said county review. These included more comprehen- ing to Lt. Col. and commission member Tom Wexler responded that changes would staff is working on securing an alternate sive use of force training for police officers Ryan with the police department, 43 per- have to come both from Fairfax County Po- location that would be convenient to resi- that is scenario-based, holistic and would cent of officers have received Crisis Inter- lice leadership and the training academy. dents that may have difficulty reaching the be implemented department-wide. vention Training to better handle such situ- “I don’t think the leap is that far to go,” he government center. The second area was a recommendation ations. Police Chief Edwin Roessler has said. “The department is already going in The full text of the Police Executive Re- to explore implementing a policing practice stated his goal of having 100 percent of of- that route.” search Forum review of Fairfax County po- called the Decision Making model, adopted ficers trained, which Wexler said the review Commissioners John Lovaas, a Reston lice use of force and practice can be found from use in Scotland and across the United fully supports. resident, and Sal Culosi, father of Dr through the county website’s pages on the Kingdom. On improving use of force policies, the Salvatore “Sal” Culosi Jr., who was killed ad hoc commission, www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ “What they’ve done is designed a format Police Executive Research Forum recom- by a Fairfax County Police officer, asked if policecommission, or directly at for officers to look at any given situation,” mendations include prohibiting officers citizen oversight and use of Special Weap- www.fairfaxcounty.gov/policecommission/ said Tom Wilson, and answer, “What is your from shooting at moving vehicles, investi- ons and Tactics teams were covered in the materials/fairfax-county-police-dept-final- threat?” This method, Wilson and Wexler gating all cases where deadly force was used review. Wexler said those topics were “not report-june19.pdf. Dr. Band’s presentation said, is a crucial part of any effort to de- regardless of if the officer hit the target, part of the scope” of the review. is also available on the commission website. www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Burke Connection ❖ June 25 - July 1, 2015 ❖ 3 Week in Burke Police Investigating Sexual Assault of 17-Year-Old Female A 17-year-old female was walking on the Roberts Parkway Bridge, near Premier Court, between 1 and 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 18 when she was reportedly offered a ride by a man in a silver sedan, Fairfax County Police said. At first she said no to the man, but after he persisted, the teenager agreed to get in the car. He drove them to a dead-end around the 10400 block of Premier Court. When she tried to get out of the car, the suspect allegedly held her and prevented her from leaving. Then, police said, the man sexually assaulted the 17-year-old. Afterwards, he left her at the spot and fled in the car. The female called police, was taken to a local hospital and evalu- ated. Police reported the suspect was described as Hispanic with short brown hair, in his late teens up to early twenties, about five feet ten inches tall and wearing an orange-and-blue striped T-shirt and blue shorts. — Tim Peterson Faith Notes Send notes to the Connection at Station, 703-323-8100 or [email protected] or call www.fbtministries.org. 703-778-9416. Deadline is Friday. Dated announcements should be submitted at The Guhyasamaja Buddhist least two weeks prior to the event. Center, 10875 Main St., Fairfax City provides free classes to both newcomers Fairfax Baptist Temple, at the and advanced practitioners of Tibetan corner of Fairfax County Parkway and Buddhism. The center emphasizes work- Burke Lake Roads, holds a bible study ing with the mind and learning how to fellowship

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