On Tuesday, the San Jose Police Department debuted a new approach to explaining officer-involved shootings. The department launched a “frequently asked questions” section on its website to help answer questions residents may have about how officer-involved shootings are investigated in the city.
The section, which is located prominently on the homepage, will include information about the department’s procedure for investigating officer-involved shootings, their guidelines concerning use of force, and the protocols and procedures for the department’s shooting review panel.
The site will also show the officers’ duty manuals and explain the role of the Independent Police Auditor and the Santa Clara County District Attorney in an officer-involved shooting investigation.
The San Jose Mercury News reports that the department’s decision to create the FAQ section comes a week after two officer-involved shootings resulted in the death of two murder suspects. The two suspects were believed to be connected to a homicide in the Lundy Avenue section of San Jose that left 38-year-old San Jose, resident, Christopher Wrenn dead.
The SJPD hasn’t revealed the motive behind Wrenn’s murder, and a third, unidentified suspect in the homicide is still at large.
A statement released by the department after the announcement of the new FAQ section said, “Transparency is one of the San Jose Police Department’s core principles.” The statement went on to say, “We believe it is important for the community to understand the investigative process, oversight, monitoring and incident review process.”
