Legal Review Committee Agenda and Packet 2015 12 17

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SELF APPRAISAL FORM for offenses that occur on open space or parks and rec areas, so that criminal offenses are handled similarly throughout the city. I added Failure to Appear as a criminal offense and updated the dollar amounts on crimes such as damage to property to track the state statutes. 2. Over the past twelve months, were there any problems or obstacles that impacted your duties and performance? If so, please explain whether they still exist or how you overcame them. I am concerned about the high number of police officers who have left or will be leaving the force over the next few months. I have several cases set for hearings or trials involving officers who are no longer with the police department. I have been informed that a number of other police officers are either actively looking for other employment or plan to do so in the next few months. It will become increasingly difficult to conduct hearings and trials with officers who are no longer employed by Louisville PD, and may impact my ability to resolve cases. In one case where an officer has left the state, we are considering the possibility of testifying by phone or video. In another case set for trial, the officers are still in Colorado and have expressed a willingness to return and testify. I have a case set in January with an officer who has just left the department, so I am in the process of locating that officer to determine if the trial can be held. In future cases, if I am unable to locate an officer, or that person is either unwilling or unable to return for trial, the charges may have to be dismissed. 3. If the city council were to establish goals for you, what would you recommend and why? I believe there are sections of the code relating to criminal offenses that have not been updated for a number of years. Since I'm the one responsible for enforcing these ordinances, I believe that these sections of the code should be scrutinized and perhaps rewritten to either track state statutes, or be written in more concise language, or in some instances removed from the code entirely. 4. What suggestions, ideas, or concerns do you have for yourself, the Court, or the City that have not been addressed above? I love working for the City of Louisville. For many people, their only contact with the criminal justice system is through the municipal court. I strive to make that contact a positive one so that even if they end up losing points or paying a fine, they feel that they've had a fair chance to express their opinions and that they were treated with respect. I believe that Judge Joss does a terrific job handling the citizens who come through his court and they often express their satisfaction as they leave the courtroom. I think the City of Louisville has always strived to protect and serve the community, starting with the police force through to the municipal courts. I am hopeful that the police force will be able to solve their problems. I have known many of these officers for a number of years and respect the force and the difficult job they perform on a daily basis.