Mission

Our mission is to represent the diverse community of Walnut Creek in facilitating a positive, trusting, and effective relationship with the Walnut Creek Police Department. We will endeavor to provide honest and open feedback to support the Walnut Creek Police in continuously meeting the highest standards of citizen engagement, professional service, and protection.

Purpose

The Chief’s Community Advisory Board is a resource for the Chief to help with:

• Community policing strategy
• Increasing public awareness, engagement and transparency
• Identifying best practices

Our goal is to have a broad spectrum of view points represented.

We serve as a sounding board for the Chief. We provide a forum for discussions concerning community issues, including:

• Use of Force
• Mental Health Response
• Criminal activity and trends
• Transparency
• Homelessness
• Technology
• Police-community relations
• Department operations
• Enhancing our quality of life in Walnut Creek

Advisory role

The Chief’s Community Advisory Board is established under the direction of the Chief of Police. The Board acts in an advisory capacity.

The Board:

• Does not have power or authority to investigate, review or participate in specific police personnel matters or specific police-related incidents.
• Does not receive or review complaints initiated against personnel of the Walnut Creek Police Department.
• Does not play any role in civil or criminal litigation.

In its capacity as an advisory committee, the Board is intended to be an expression of the Walnut Creek community’s viewpoints.

The Board is provided with an annual summary of statistics, such as:

• Number of police uses of force
• Number of police pursuits
• Crime rates
• Number of citizen complaints received

It’s driven by the active participation, creativity and vision of its members.

Members

The Board is composed of 10-15 people. They represent a diverse cross-section of community members throughout Walnut Creek, such as

• Business owners
• Education
• Non-profits
• Public relations
• Faith community
• Youth representation, and more.

Members must be Walnut Creek residents or Walnut Creek business owners. They are selected from the pool of applicants by the Chief of Police, a community representative and the City’s Communications and Outreach Manager.

Members acknowledge that their service is strictly on a volunteer basis and they will not receive any form of compensation.

Term

The term for board members is limited to two years. Extensions are considered on an individual basis at the discretion of the Chief of Police.

Members may be removed prior to the end of their term at the discretion of the Chief of Police. Members who fail to attend three regular board meetings in a year may be considered to have vacated their position and may be replaced.

Expectations

Members are expected to:

• Attend the scheduled meetings and be prepared to engage in an honest and productive dialogue.
• Treat each other with dignity and respect.
• Maintain the confidentiality of information that is designated as confidential and discussed and/or disclosed during the meetings.
• Not to use the meetings to facilitate personal agendas.

Members are encouraged to:

• Attend and participate in major police events (such as swearing-in and promotion ceremonies).
• Go on a ride-along with a Walnut Creek police officer and take a tour of the Police Department to familiarize themselves with Department operations.

Staff Support

Staff support to the CAB is provided through the Office of the Chief of Police. The Chief serves as the liaison to the Board and a staff member from the Office of the Chief of Police will act as the recording secretary.

Support staff will:

• Prepare summary minutes for Board meetings
• Disseminate information, including meeting agendas and minutes to members of the Board
• Maintain all records related to the Board

Members of the Walnut Creek Police senior staff may also be included in the Board meetings as necessary or requested.

Contact

Contact us with any questions or comments about the Chief’s Advisory Board:

• Email: ChiefsComAdvBoard@walnut-creek.org