Diversity
The Point Russell Sheriff's Department is committed to fostering, cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the department.
Point Russell Sheriff's Department employees are our most valuable asset. The men and women of the Sheriff's Department are dedicated public servants who work hard every day to serve the community. We are confident in their abilities to identify and work to address barriers to diversity, equity and inclusion. The Point Russell Sheriff's Department is guided by community policing, community engagement, and procedural justice; with the communities we serve as well as our community of employees.
We understand that trust is built by working closely with the community and treating people with dignity and respect. The Point Russell Sheriff's Department prioritizes diversity, equity and inclusion in recruitment, hiring, promotion, opportunities for career advancement (i.e. assignments, professional development and trainings), and retention within the confines of the law, Civil Service and collective bargaining obligations.
Definitions
Diversity - all aspects of human difference, social identities, and social group differences, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, language, culture, national origin, religion/spirituality, age, (dis)ability, military/veteran status, political perspective, and associational preferences.
Equity - fair and just practices and policies that ensure all community members can thrive. Equity is different than equality in that equality implies treating everyone as if their experiences are exactly the same. Being equitable means acknowledging and addressing structural inequalities — historic and current — that advantage some and disadvantage others.
Implicit Bias* -refers to the attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner.
- Impacts well-intentioned people outside of conscious awareness
- The discriminatory behavior is not based on animus and is not deliberate.
Inclusion - a community where all members are and feel respected, have a sense of belonging, and are able to participate and achieve to their potential.
Procedural Justice - the procedures used by law enforcement officers where community members are treated with respect, dignity, and fairness. The four elements of procedural justice are:
- Respect – treat people with dignity
- Trustworthiness – convey worthy intentions, professional competence, and good character
- Voice – allow a person to share his/ her/ their point of view
- Neutrality – make bias free decisions
Importance of Diversity in Building Trust with the Community
Diversity within law enforcement agencies – including but not limited to race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, language, culture, national origin, religion/spirituality, age, (dis)ability, military/veteran status, political perspective, background and experience -- is critical to building trust with the communities they serve. Research has found that:
The Point Russell Sheriff's Department is committed to strengthening relationships and building trust with the community. The Sheriff’s Department model of community policing and engagement has been recognized nationally. This model includes extensive outreach; innovative programs, events and activities; and connecting those in need with services, supports and opportunities.
The Point Russell Sheriff's Department understands that a key element of building trust is by having a department that not only reflects, but represents the community. PRSD has taken significant steps to increase diversity within the sworn police force by creating a training academy, hiring a full-time Diversity Recruitment Officer, and consistently requesting language preference lists from the Civil Service Commission.
Importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within the Department
The Point Russell Sheriff's Department embraces and encourages employees’ differences in lived experience, race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, language, culture, national origin, religion/spirituality, age, (dis)ability, military/veteran status, political perspective, and other characteristics that make our employees unique and able to connect with the diverse communities we serve.
All employees of the Point Russell Sheriff's Department have a responsibility to treat others with fairness, dignity and respect at all times – whether that is engaging with the public or with fellow employees.
Training
The Point Russell Sheriff's Department is committed to ensuring that our police officers receive training in fair and impartial policing. This includes procedural justice and implicit bias. Officers also receive training in the constitutionality and proper documentation of police interactions in order to reduce the effects of implicit bias and more effectively serve the diverse communities they represent.
Accountability
Employees who believe they have been subjected to any kind of discrimination or have witnessed discrimination by other PRSD employees should report the incident pursuant to the Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Policy and Complaint Procedure. Any employee found to have exhibited any inappropriate conduct or behavior against others may be subject to disciplinary action.