Considering Mediating?

Why Mediate a Complaint?

Mediation allows officers and community members to resolve the complaint themselves, with the help of a mediator. This often provides valuable information to both the community member and officer on the other person's perspective of the situation - leading to a better understanding, acceptance, closure and sometimes changed behavior on both parties part.
For both officer and community member, mediation resolves the issue outside the formal complaint process, often in a more rewarding and meaningful manner. Satisfaction rates for both officers and community members have improved over the "old" way by at least 4x's.
Facilitated conversation / mediation is confidential, and provide the opportunity for honest and direct communication - which has an impact on both parties.
Face-to-face resolution - an opportunity to be heard.

For more information check out our brochure - Community-Police Complaint Mediation.
Or the 3x5 card we provide - Why mediation works!

You've probably already been contacted by one of our professional mediators, trained specifically in community-police complaint mediation.
Given the overwhelming benefits of mediating, you're probably convinced, but have a few questions. Your mediator can answer your questions!
Once both the community member and officer have agreed to mediate, we'll schedule your mediation at a time and location which is most convenient. We try to schedule when the officer is on-duty and fist best with the community member's needs.
2-3 days prior to the mediation, you'll get a call from your mediator. It is our last check-in before the mediation; are you all set to go? Any questions? Confirm the time and place. See you!
Here is a simple one-page Preparing for Mediation you'll want to read.

You'll meet your mediator at the designated time and place. They will take both of you to a conference room where you'll spend the next 45-60 minutes.
Both of you will have the opportunity to "tell your story", your perspective on what took place. We'll limit this initial storytelling to about five minutes, but you won't be interrupted.
Your mediator will then facilitate an honest, engaged and respectful conversation, with the goal being to listen and understand the other person's take on what happened. You may not agree and your memories of the event will most certainly be different - but in hearing and understanding the other person, learning, acceptance, closure and sometimes an apology takes place.
There will come a time when both of you have talked enough and the mediator will end the session.

You'll be asked to fill out a survey - we want to know how we've done and where we can improve.
Your mediator will thank you for coming and we're done.
CMC will send a form letter to Internal Affairs saying that you met in mediation and the complaint is considered resolved.