Santa Monica City Council Receives Independent After-Action Report for the Events of May 31, 2020

May 12, 2021 9:21 AM

At its meeting last night, the Santa Monica City Council received the OIR Group’s independent after-action report and evaluation for the events leading to, during, and following May 31, 2020 in the City. OIR Group’s analysis included 44 recommendations to improve the City of Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Police Department’s (SMPD) emergency response.

Council directed SMPD to prepare within 60 days a response to the report through an information item, setting out a plan for implementation of the report’s recommendations, with priorities being leadership, planning, use of force, and officer mental health. Council directed the newly created Public Safety Reform and Oversight Commission (PSROC) within 60 days after the issuance of the information item to review the information item and prepare a work plan for consolidating their consideration of other policing issues and setting out additional recommendations for consideration by Council. Council also directed staff, working with the PSROC, to develop a work plan, including oversight by the PSROC, for prioritization, independent evaluation, and public reporting on the status of SMPD’s implementation of the recommendations. Finally, Council gave direction to ensure that usage of body-worn cameras by SMPD personnel is enforced, and to create an opportunity through events like National Night Out to bring the community and SMPD together later this year to make connections and share appreciation for their service. 

“OIR Group’s independent analysis is a roadmap to our goal of preventing another May 31. The Council looks forward to SMPD’s report back with a plan for implementation of recommendations and to the work of the Public Safety Reform and Oversight Commission in driving the long-term change we need to rebuild public trust and provide public safety for all,” said Mayor Sue Himmelrich. “I also want to thank the officers of SMPD who dedicate themselves to Santa Monica every day.” 

OIR Group’s analysis was informed by SMPD documentary and digital evidence; available body worn camera footage; four community listening sessions with residents and business owners; interviews with SMPD officers and City leaders; and the content of a draft SMPD internal after-action report. The 44 recommendations cover policies, training, and best practices for large incident emergency response. Some of the recommendation highlights include the following, with all recommendations listed on page 111 of the report

“The Police Department accepts all of the recommendations contained in the OIR Group’s After-Action Analysis and continues to be committed to rebuilding trust within all segments of our community,” said Interim Police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks. “We certainly understand that our transparency and accountability are crucial to that rebuilding process.  We welcome the opportunity to provide an Information Item response setting forth our plan for implementation of the OIR’s recommendations in accord with the Council priorities of leadership, planning, use of force, and the mental health and well-being of our police officers.” 

Since May 31, 2020, SMPD has taken a number of steps to learn and improve. Many of these steps are recommendations from OIR Group. Actions taken over the last year, include: 

The after-action report can be viewed at www.santamonica.gov/may31afteraction.

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Constance Farrell
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Constance.Farrell@santamonica.gov

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