Mayor selects former US Attorney to assess Elkhart Police Department

ELKHART, Ind. -- Elkhart Mayor Tim Neese announced he has selected former US Attorney and US Assistant Attorney General Deborah J. Daniels to conduct an assessment of the Elkhart Police Department.

The mayor says he believes the assessment will reaffirm and enhance the credibility of the department.

Daniels, with Krieg DeVault LLP, will assess the department for use of force, disciplinary processes and agency culture.

She will also work with the Police Executive Research Forum to assess the department and share best practices for the future of the department.

“The assessment team will work with officers of all ranks to empower change and develop collective solutions,” Neese said. “We know that our police officers are making positive contributions to the City of Elkhart on a daily basis, however, if there are opportunities for improvement, we should not hesitate to address those. We have an obligation to provide the highest level of service to the community, and this assessment is about making certain we do just that. This is an opportunity to learn from other communities, and then help others to learn from us.”

Krieg DeVault and the research group will:

• Conduct onsite interviews and focus groups
• Review complaints against EPD personnel and the EPD disciplinary process
• Use of force policy review and assessment
• Review of use-of-force accountability
• Review three years’ worth of use-of-force investigations and documentation
• Review of use-of-force training
• EPD culture assessment

The mayor will request $150,000 at the February 11 council meeting to pay for the assessment.