Page 360 - FortWorthFY23AdoptedBudget

Horizon Issues

community and law enforcement interact. As a result, financial resources are needed to support these key efforts.
To help fill the staffing void, the Division partnered with Texas A&M School of Law to bring on legal interns to
research promising police policies and procedures and outreach ideas, as well as draft guidance documents,
policies, and procedures that serve as recommendations. The Division received a one-year grant to support part-
time, temporary employment of two legal interns focused on a restorative justice mediation program between
community members and police that was initially proposed in CY2020. The Division has collaborated with FWPD
and other key officials regarding the first mediation program of this kind, and now it is in the process of creating
draft templates, policies, procedures, and practices to continue to move forward. It has also established
relationships with outside community, county and educational partners to create a pool of mediators; however,
there will be a fiscal and personnel impact.

The data compilation and analyses component are inherently important to identify trends, patterns, and
circumstances in order to address root causes and systemic challenges within law enforcement that will allow the
Police Oversight Monitor Division to recommend solutions. The Division examines complaints, investigations, and
uses of force patterns that might provide opportunities for law enforcement and the community to reduce
complaints, incidents, and injuries. Following the identification of such patterns, the Police Oversight Monitor
Division and law enforcement jointly can undertake problem-solving to determine the reason(s) for any patterns
and whether there are opportunities to eliminate or reduce root causes. Where feasible, these projects should
involve both affected officers and the community.

The Police Oversight Monitor Division needs to ensure that all formal mechanisms are put in place to ensure full,
independent collaboration between it and law enforcement, including full, unfettered access to law enforcement
personnel and records. Through a written agreement, the format to be agreed upon for the timely exchange of
information and efficient coordination between the Departments will be essential. The Division is committed to
ensure this formal mechanism is put in place in the fiscal year to ensure accountability.

The Division has two additional goals that should be accomplished in the fiscal year. They include the production
of its annual report, which has been delayed due to workload and staffing shortage. Additionally, with the Mayor
and Council’s approval, the creation of the City’s first police accountability board would be a notable
accomplishment. The Police Oversight Monitor Division has collaborated with community and City leaders on the
recommendations to create such a board. Those recommendations will be discussed with the Mayor and City
Council beginning in August/September 2021. The Board will require administrative support that should be
addressed in the current Division’s budget.

City leadership also continues promoting strong partnerships to execute on the Fort Worth Economic
Development Strategic Plan completed in FY2017. This plan involves every sector of the community and remains
a top priority to attract and retain top talent, bring high-paying jobs to Fort Worth, promote the City of Fort Worth
on a larger stage both domestically and internationally. Mayor Price promoted the City on several international
trips to London, Paris, Brussels, and Mexico City.

The actions taken by the State legislature continue to be of concern at the local level, due to the potential
substantial impact on city services. The State legislature has the ability to reduce the level of revenues that a city
can generate in order to pay for core services and programing requested by the citizens of Fort Worth, as currently
experienced with the application of Senate Bill 2. Moreover, the legislature will attempt to pass bills to prevent
local governments from protecting the people within its city limits by passing bills to impose additional restrictions
and limitations on local governments without any consideration for the consequences of their actions.

Page 360 of 623