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South Lake Tahoe Police Chief Terry Daniels, seen during a City Council meeting in May, was cited in a report by the El Dorado County Grand Jury that was released Tuesday.
The South Lake Tahoe Police Department is "a department in crisis," led by a chief who "displayed conduct unbecoming a police officer" during a verbal altercation with a South Lake Tahoe resident at a restaurant in September 2006, according to an El Dorado County Grand Jury report released Tuesday.
The report suggests management training for police department leadership, as well as closer oversight of the department by the City Council.
Police Chief Terry Daniels was not available for comment on the grand jury's findings Tuesday, but City Manager David Jinkens said he has questions regarding the factual basis for the grand jury's conclusions.
The El Dorado civil grand jury convenes to oversee local government. The grand jury has 16 members and can make recommendations, but it does not have enforcement authority.
The report released Tuesday states in part: "The Grand Jury interviewed several citizens of South Lake Tahoe who reported an altercation that occurred in September 2006. While having breakfast in a South Lake Tahoe restaurant, one citizen stated that he was approached by the Chief of Police who began to verbally accost and loudly berate him in front of two acquaintances. The citizen did not know what provoked the verbal tirade and felt the Chief of Police must have confused him with someone else. The citizen stated the loud disturbance in the restaurant that was witnessed by patrons and staff alike, caused the citizen to be fearful for his safety."
The report suggests management training for police department leadership, as well as closer oversight of the department by the City Council.
Police Chief Terry Daniels was not available for comment on the grand jury's findings Tuesday, but City Manager David Jinkens said he has questions regarding the factual basis for the grand jury's conclusions.
The El Dorado civil grand jury convenes to oversee local government. The grand jury has 16 members and can make recommendations, but it does not have enforcement authority.
The report released Tuesday states in part: "The Grand Jury interviewed several citizens of South Lake Tahoe who reported an altercation that occurred in September 2006. While having breakfast in a South Lake Tahoe restaurant, one citizen stated that he was approached by the Chief of Police who began to verbally accost and loudly berate him in front of two acquaintances. The citizen did not know what provoked the verbal tirade and felt the Chief of Police must have confused him with someone else. The citizen stated the loud disturbance in the restaurant that was witnessed by patrons and staff alike, caused the citizen to be fearful for his safety."
Witness statements obtained by the Tribune indicate the incident occurred the morning of Sept. 15, 2006, at Ernie's Coffee Shop. That was just two months after Daniels became police chief in July 2006.
"The Chief of Police, by losing his temper in public and verbally berating a citizen of South Lake Tahoe in a public restaurant, acted in an inappropriate manner and displayed conduct unbecoming a police officer," the report continues. "All citizens of South Lake Tahoe should have an expectation of being treated fairly in a professional and dignified manner by ALL members of the SLTPD."
This grand jury report also indicates a concern with a climate survey summary of South Lake Tahoe Police Department staff, dated Oct. 8, 2007. The survey was part of efforts last fall to rebuild the department's Participative Management Team and some of its findings were highly critical of police leadership.
"The evidence received by the grand jury paints a picture of a department in crisis," the grand jury report says. "Many of the statements made by members of the SLTPD and information gathered through documents can only be classified as troubling."
The Participative Management Team is an organizational structure allowing employee input into decision-making at the police department. Among its recommendations, the grand jury suggests the Participative Management Team be revitalized.
"The Chief of Police, by losing his temper in public and verbally berating a citizen of South Lake Tahoe in a public restaurant, acted in an inappropriate manner and displayed conduct unbecoming a police officer," the report continues. "All citizens of South Lake Tahoe should have an expectation of being treated fairly in a professional and dignified manner by ALL members of the SLTPD."
This grand jury report also indicates a concern with a climate survey summary of South Lake Tahoe Police Department staff, dated Oct. 8, 2007. The survey was part of efforts last fall to rebuild the department's Participative Management Team and some of its findings were highly critical of police leadership.
"The evidence received by the grand jury paints a picture of a department in crisis," the grand jury report says. "Many of the statements made by members of the SLTPD and information gathered through documents can only be classified as troubling."
The Participative Management Team is an organizational structure allowing employee input into decision-making at the police department. Among its recommendations, the grand jury suggests the Participative Management Team be revitalized.
Daniels previously has stated that the future of the team will not be decided until the fall, after the department's busy summer season.
City Councilwoman Kathay Lovell has doubts about the validity of the grand jury's findings and said such a confrontation described in the grand jury report "is not in (Daniels') character."
Lovell "absolutely" supports Daniels' leadership of the police department.
"I don't have a lot of faith in this particular grand jury's findings," Lovell said, citing errors later corrected in a previous report by the panel regarding county fire districts, and a report on the Clean Tahoe program she feels is unsatisfactory.
The grand jury also recommends that South Lake Tahoe police leadership attend strategic management, leadership, coaching and mentoring, business management, anger management, and human skills development training.
City Councilwoman Kathay Lovell has doubts about the validity of the grand jury's findings and said such a confrontation described in the grand jury report "is not in (Daniels') character."
Lovell "absolutely" supports Daniels' leadership of the police department.
"I don't have a lot of faith in this particular grand jury's findings," Lovell said, citing errors later corrected in a previous report by the panel regarding county fire districts, and a report on the Clean Tahoe program she feels is unsatisfactory.
The grand jury also recommends that South Lake Tahoe police leadership attend strategic management, leadership, coaching and mentoring, business management, anger management, and human skills development training.
The City Council and city manager also should take "proactive measures" in overseeing the police department, including a collective agreement between the city manager, City Council and the chief on the organizational structure of the police department.
"The Grand Jury recommends the Chief of Police meet with the city manager on a monthly basis to give a 'state of the department' update to include performance measurements," according to the report.
Daniels also should write three- and five-year strategic plans for the department and make them publicly available, indicates the grand jury report. At the very least, the plans should address confidence in senior management, cynicism, morale, and vision and values at the department, according to the report.
Progress on the plans should be examined by the City Council and city manager during Daniels' annual performance evaluation, the report says.
Under California law, the city has 90 days to respond to the recommendations in the grand jury's report.
A response will be formulated and submitted to the City Council for approval, Jinkens said Tuesday.
"The Grand Jury recommends the Chief of Police meet with the city manager on a monthly basis to give a 'state of the department' update to include performance measurements," according to the report.
Daniels also should write three- and five-year strategic plans for the department and make them publicly available, indicates the grand jury report. At the very least, the plans should address confidence in senior management, cynicism, morale, and vision and values at the department, according to the report.
Progress on the plans should be examined by the City Council and city manager during Daniels' annual performance evaluation, the report says.
Under California law, the city has 90 days to respond to the recommendations in the grand jury's report.
A response will be formulated and submitted to the City Council for approval, Jinkens said Tuesday.
