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Agency Description

The Citizens Police Oversight Commission (CPOC) is an independent agency composed of staff dedicated to professional, unbiased, and thoughtful oversight of the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD). CPOC works to:

Increase the transparency and accountability of the PPD

Improve police conduct

Enhance the quality of internal investigations

Improve the relationship between the community and the police department

Civilian oversight of police can take many forms. Review-focused models allow civilians outside of a police department to review police misconduct investigations once they are completed. Investigation-focused agencies employ professionally trained investigators to investigate police misconduct complaints. Auditor/monitor-focused agencies engage in policy and trend analysis and promote broad organizational change within the police departments they oversee. CPOC is uniquely envisioned to be a hybrid of these three models of oversight, with expansive authority and a broad mission.

The authorizing legislation for CPOC comprehensively lists the oversight functions that CPOC is meant to fulfill. The legislation notes that CPOC may conduct investigations, data analysis, and audits related to any pattern, policy, or practice of the police department. These investigations shall include, but are not limited to, misconduct, policy, training, practice, and customs.

Additional functions mandated in the legislation include investigations of complaints made by residents or PPD personnel about any misconduct ranging from verbal abuse to sexual misconduct, critical incident reviews and investigations, large-scale data reviews, disciplinary recommendations, hosting public meetings and hearings to share information with the public, participation as adjudicators in PPD discipline hearings, administrative prosecution of discipline cases, reporting on data and statistics, and reviewing and investigating all police uses of force, among other functions. CPOC is a growing agency and is working to operate all important functions of civilian oversight of police.

CPOC approaches police accountability from many different angles, and as such, has a variety of divisions to focus on different aspects of police oversight. Each division is led by a division director who oversees the functions of their division.

The Director of Investigations for the Citizen Police Oversight Commission is a critical role within CPOC's leadership team. The Director of Investigations leads the Investigations Division which is responsible for investigating specific allegations of misconduct by Philadelphia Police officers, monitoring ongoing investigations at PPD's Internal Affairs Bureau, responding in real time to police shootings, and advising CPOC's leadership on serious uses of force by PPD officers. The role requires knowledge of best practices from police oversight agencies around the country and the Director's own extensive experience and expertise with investigations. This position requires a dynamic and motivating leader who can propel a team of investigators through the challenges of conducting frontline oversight of police through investigations. The Director will supervise a team of investigators in carrying out the Division's tasks while also advocating for additional investigative power. The Investigations Division will grow considerably as CPOC operations expand over time, as it is the office's intention to initiate independent investigations into individual instances of misconduct. The goal of such investigations is the accurate, objective, and timely gathering and analysis of facts to determine whether the allegation misconduct occurred. The Director of Investigations may also undertake large-scale investigative projects, such as systemic patterns related to departmental practices. Because the position is responsible for being on-call to respond to police shootings, and because many interviews and other investigative activities will occur outside typical business hours, the Director of Investigations must be willing and able to work evenings and weekends as required. The Director of Investigations is expected to appear before the media and provide information and analysis at the direction of the Executive Director.

Investigations may overlap with projects completed by other divisions, and cross-division cooperation will be essential to CPOC operations. The Director of Investigations must therefore be knowledgeable and competent in all CPOC operations. This position reports to the Executive Director.

Essential Functions

Note: This list of essential functions is not intended to be inclusive.

In collaboration with CPOC executive staff, develop and implement standard operating procedures for the Investigations Division using established oversight practices and investigative expertise.

Responsible for ensuring that the Investigations Division meets all reporting requirements listed in the authorizing legislation.

Direct and conduct complex and high-level investigations relating to policing, police operations, misconduct incidents, and other related topics. 

Regularly report to CPOC Executive Director regarding investigations, development of division benchmarks, and all investigative operations.

Manage a team of investigators as the Investigations Division grows; the size of the Investigations Division may grow to potentially dozens of investigators as agency operations expand.

Develop and execute investigator training program to ensure all investigators receive proper training on CPOC procedures and PPD procedures.

Review investigations, case files, reports, and other work products upon completion to ensure that all appropriate steps have been taken and the findings match the evidence and information presented.

Work with CPOC executive team to help develop and implement complaint intake processes; sensitively conduct complaint intake and related contacts with complainants/residents as needed.

Represent CPOC's interests and positions before PPD leadership, labor officials, and arbitration panels.

Develop, assign, and manage high-level investigative projects through communication with other CPOC staff about current work, communication with sources at the Philadelphia Police Department, and other sources.

Act as project lead for critical incident reviews of uses of force, large-scale events, and other matters as directed by Executive Director; delegate tasks as needed.

Must be able to efficiently and effectively conduct all aspects of police misconduct investigations as the investigation program begins, including:

• Conduct interviews of complainants and civilian witnesses about police incidents that are the subject of civilian complaints against police, and other matters; conduct criminal investigations as need arises. 
• Gather evidence through canvassing for witnesses, seeking out video footage, and other means; obtain and review documentary evidence related to incidents under investigation, including medical records, reports related to forensic analysis, and other police reports and documents.
• Interview police personnel as subjects and witnesses of complaints with union representation present; interview police personnel related to other administrative matters and to establish facts for investigative projects.
• Draft and edit reports of investigation, interview summaries, recommendations, and other materials related to investigations.
• Analyze facts of investigations against police policies and legal standards to make logically sound recommendations about whether misconduct occurred.
• Diligently track all investigative work using a case management system; maintain a thorough and organized record of investigative actions for each investigation and investigative project.
• Identify and report on policy and tactics issues and potential large-scale policy projects as they arise in investigative work. 
• Maintain a high degree of knowledge of PPD policies, rules, and practices.
• Seek out and participate in professional groups and trainings to maintain awareness of best practices related to community-police relations, civilian oversight of police, and police reform nationally.
• Mentor and train non-investigative CPOC staff on investigative techniques and practices, interviewing techniques, case management, and law enforcement procedures as needed.
• Collaborate across CPOC units to assist with projects as they are executed by other staff.
• Coordinate closely with the Executive Director and the Deputy Executive Director to carry out the functions of the Commission.
• Using extensive knowledge of Philadelphia Police Department policies, procedures, and disciplinary code, adjudicate discipline cases and make disciplinary recommendations as a rotating member of the PPD Police Board of Inquiry.
• Provide guidance to the CPOC executive team, as needed, regarding best practices and trends in community-police relations and police reform nationally and locally.
• Help to maintain transparency between the Commission, the Police Department, elected officials, and the public.
• Receive training on PPD procedures, policies, and discipline code.
• Assist in the preparation of an annual report setting out the Commission's accomplishments, reports, and activities.
• Appear before the media to provide information and analysis at the direction of the Executive Director.
• Other responsibilities as assigned by the Executive Director. 

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Excellent oral communication and listening skills with the ability to conduct exhaustive interviews and ask probing questions.

Strong analytical writing skills and editing skills. Must be able to distill complex information and edit investigative materials produced by a team of investigators to ensure quality, clarity, and thoroughness.

Thorough understanding of and experience with the complex nature of community-police relations.

Ability to manage a team of individuals and coach them through complex investigations and projects.

Ability to manage an investigation from start to finish with focus, organization, persistence, and flexibility; ability to effectively conduct a caseload of multiple investigations concurrently.

Excellent analytical skills and ability to evaluate investigations to ensure fact-finding is thorough and conclusions are sound.

Demonstrated ability to perform neutral and objective analyses of incidents, policies, and information.

Deep knowledgeable of legal issues surrounding policing and police department procedures, and ability to train others on established and emergent legal issues, including: constitutional limitations on policing, PPD directives, PPD's disciplinary process, collective bargaining procedures, and labor union rights.

Willingness to be exposed to disturbing media, including body-worn camera footage, crime scene photographs, and autopsy photographs.

Experience engaging members of the media.

Experience explaining policing issues to members of the public.

Values and encourages diversity of thought, background, and perspective.

Experience and fluency in MS Office software programs, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Helpful, respectful, approachable, and team-oriented; committed to building strong working relationships and a positive work environment.

Receptive to feedback and constructive criticism. 

Bachelor's degree from an accredited university in criminal justice or other relevant field required, or any combination of education and experience deemed appropriate by the appointing authority.

Law degree or other graduate level degree preferred.

At least 10 years of relevant experience in investigative work required, experience as law enforcement or within civilian oversight preferred.

At least 10 years of managerial experience.

At least 10 years of experience with and exposure to criminal justice procedures, investigative techniques, police-community relations, police procedures generally and procedures specific to the Philadelphia Police Department.

Demonstrated experience with developing operating procedures and building a team or unit from the ground up.

Experience working with sensitive and confidential information.

Knowledge of Philadelphia and communities of Philadelphia.

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and references.

Salary Range: $105,000 - $120,000

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