Tampa Police Task Force Reviews Progress 10 Months Later

TAMPA, FL — The same week a former Minneapolis Police Officer was found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder in the death of George Floyd, members of a task force to ensure a similar crime never occurs in Tampa met to update the mayor on their progress.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor formed the task force made up of community representatives and police officers in June amidst rising tensions in the Black community following Floyd's death.

Despite being hampered by the coronavirus pandemic, task force leader, Bryanna Fox, an associate criminology professor at the University of South Florida, said there's been visible improvements in the task force's effort to bring more transparency and accountability to the Tampa Police Department.

Using the International Association of Chiefs of Police's 21st Century Policing Blueprint, the task force came up with 17 key areas of change, some easier to affect than others, said Fox.

"The work this task force is doing is so important to ensuring that our police department's policies and procedures align with the evolving expectations and needs of our community," Castor said.

One of the most visible changes was the redesign of the Tampa police website, giving the public easy access to crime statistics, calls for service, information on obtaining copies of police reports and filing reports online.

The website also clearly outlines Tampa police policies and procedures.

Accompanying the website changes was an increased focus on communications through social media including with Spanish-speaking residents.

"There's been a renewed focus on communications with an emphasis on accountability and oversight," Fox said.

Another effort intended to increase transparency was the decision to outfit all police officers with body-worn cameras.

Just weeks after the death of George Floyd, the Tampa City Council approved spending nearly $1 million to purchase 650 body cameras for Tampa police officers.

While body cameras won't build instant trust between police and the community, Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan told the city council in June that he believes the transparency provided by the cameras will build the community's confidence.

"They don't trust us, and we've got to fix that," Dugan said.

Among the biggest changes is a new program that pairs police with community mental health providers.

Headed by BayCare Health Vice President of Behavioral Health Services Gail Ryder, the program partners community mental health providers from Gracepoint, the Agency for Community Treatment Services, DACCO Behavioral Health, Northside Mental Health and BayCare Health with police to assist officers responding to calls involving people with substance abuse and mental health problems.

After riding along with patrol officers, Ryder said the health providers witness the crises unfold, enabling them to better understand how to best follow up with those involved.

"It was a rare moment to get an immediate opportunity to engage with someone as they're having a problem," she said.

At the same time, Ryder said the police officers were relieved to have immediate access to a host of services for those in crisis.

"I think they were surprised to see that Tampa is well-endowed with programs they can refer to," Ryder said. "We're really excited about working beside our police. This is a pilot program but, once the program is up and running, it's going to evolve and turn into what it needs to be. It's an integration that we never had before that I think is very critical."

Another initiative - getting cops out of cars and into the neighborhoods - was delayed due to the pandemic, but Fox said there are now more police officers patrolling the streets on bicycles and on foot, making contact and getting to know the residents they represent.

Additionally, the police department has implemented strict hiring and review processes to ensure that police officers with a history of misconduct aren't hired and those with a record of misconduct are weeded out, said Fox.

The initiative to provide more training to officers, especially in ways to deescalate violent situations, has been slower to come due to the demand for this type of training around the country, Fox said.

But Dugan said he's making sure his department is on the list to receive training once it's available.

In the meantime, he said community organizers are working with the police to help restore trust and build better relationships in the community.

Task force member Nestor Ortiz asked Dugan how Gov. Ron DeSantis' new anti-riot bill will impact the police department.

"I don't see it affecting us a whole lot as I read through it,” Dugan said. “As an agency, we're still going to give everybody an opportunity to express their First Amendment rights and communicate with them and, hopefully, avoid making any arrests."

To watch the complete task force discussion, click here.

See related stories:

• Tampa Mayor's Community Task Force On Policing Shares Findings
• All Tampa Police Brutality Accusations To Be Reviewed By State
• Tampa Leaders Address Criticism Of Police Action During Protest
• Tampa Police, Sheriff's Office Get Approval For Body Cams