Citizen & Police Mediation Programs

 

 

We Set-Up Your Program & Provide Training

Over the past four years Community Mediation Concepts has begun a number of successful community member-officer complaint programs in the Denver Front Range area.  We have a proven program.  We work with your police or sheriff department to develop a scope of work, find funding and orientate key leadership within both your department and your city or country.  We work with you to provide training in how the program work for those who will be making referrals to the community member-officer complaint mediation program.

Here is a picture of how it works - CP Process; Or a more detailed copy - CP Detailed Process

Why our Community Member-Officer Complaint Mediation Model Works

We have professional mediators

  • Our mediators are excellent.  We began with professional mediators and provided additional training specifically focused on the skills and tools necessary for Community-Officer mediations.

  • Even after this training, new mediators are never sent out to mediate on their own, no matter how much experience they bring.  They are always matched up with various senior mediators and mentored.

  • We provide regular support and additional training through CMC's monthly staff meetings.

Our Facilitated Conversation model works

  • We understand the unique dynamics that both the officer and citizen bring to this type of mediation.  We understand that you can't force an agreement or even an apology.  What we can do is to provide a safe place, a confidential place and a skilled mediator to guide the parties to an outcome they are prepared to accept.

  • We understand the environmental change.  The last time both officer and community member saw each other the dynamics were very different.  One was demanding control of the situation and the other was pulled over on the side of the road, coming out of the bar, in the wrong place, etc.  Adrenalin was running high!  Today we're bringing them together, in a neutral place, on equal ground to talk about what happened.  To better understand the perspective, concern and even fear of the other person.

We ensure consistency and quality

  • We survey each participant in the mediation process, learning from their perspective of what worked well and what didn't work as well for them.

  • We meet regularly with the Police/Sheriff Department leadership and command staff, as well as Internal Affairs representatives.  In Denver we meet with the Office of Independent Monitor.  This ensures we're meeting their needs and responding to their concerns.

 

For more information on Denver's program, go to www.Denvergov.org/oim.  For a very helpful chapter outlining the mediation program from the Office of the Independent Monitor's perspective go to Annual Report on Mediation.

For information on our Boulder County Sheriff Department, Aurora Police Department, Douglas County or Colorado Springs programs, where we're implementing community-officer complaint mediations without a specific "Office of the Independent Monitor".  Here is our "flat brochure", or our"tri-fold".  If you'd like, give us a call (303-717-2167) or email Steve.

 

What we've learned - A video from Denver

  • Over the past four year of providing community-officer mediations we've learned a number of things.  We worked with Richard Rosenthal, from Denver Office of the Independent Monitor and John Morales, Denver Police Department and put together a video.  It was show to the officers in Denver.  If you'd like, take a look.  Short Seven - What We've Learned

Community-Officer Complaint Mediation Training

  • We offer a one-day training based upon our experience of the past four years.  Our training is built around specific skills and knowledge which will enable the professional mediator to conduct community-officer mediations in a successful and rewarding way.

  • We'll also provide mentoring, once the initial training is completed.  It is out goal to help other cities or counties begin community-officer mediation programs.  It will take about a year, and you'd be surprised that even in today's economy, we can generally make it work.

Community-Officer Mediation Program Set-up

  • We'll set up your program.  Manage it successfully and then turn it over to you if you'd like, or to your community mediation program.  Here are two scope of works that outline what this might look like.  Scope One  Scope Two