The Eugene Police Auditor's Office saw a 20% increase in complaints about police department employees last year, most of which were generated by the public.

And Eugene Police Auditor Mark Gissiner expressed concern that more complaints may be coming, because of the amount of newly hired officers with less than five years of experience, in the Eugene Police Auditor's 2018 report, released last week ahead of the July 11 Eugene Police Commission meeting when the report is to be presented.

"We continue to receive a large number of complaints related to lack of police response and response times," Gissiner's report reads. "Chief (Chris) Skinner has prioritized staffing, and it is our hope that these types of complaints will decrease.

"However, having a disproportionate number of police officers with less than five years of experience may result in an increase in judgment-related complaints. Proper, extensive training will help minimize those types of complaints, and we will continue to reach out to EPD training staff to ensure recruit employees are getting the best training possible."

The Eugene Police Department has been under the review of the independent auditor's office since 2005, after the misconduct of officers such as Juan Lara and Roger Magaña, both of whom were accused of sexual assaults against women while on duty. The auditor's office and its civilian review board monitor and disclose information about complaints against the police department without revealing officer's names because of state law. The auditor has no authority, however, but can make recommendations to the police chief about disciplinary actions. The chief has the final say.

Gissiner noted in the report that after all Eugene police officers were issued body-worn cameras in June 2017, the auditor's job has gotten significantly easier. "Both our office and the (Civilian Review Board) have noted several instances where video has been invaluable in discovering the facts of the incident," the report reads. "Overall, the implementation of these cameras has substantially increased the efficiency and accuracy of the investigative process."

Additionally, more members of the public reported misconduct complaints in 2018 — 355 came from the public while only 10%, or 37, were reported internally. In 2016, around 20% of the complaints were reported internally. Since the police auditor's office received new signage at their office downtown, there has been a 230% increase in the amount of walk-in complaints. Consistently around 50% of complaints are called in.

In 2018, the auditor's office received 392 complaints about Eugene police, a 20% increase from 2017.

Of those complaints, two resulted in employees resigning. According to the report, a police officer was accused of having sex on duty, violating of the policies of conformance of laws, abuse of position, confidentiality of information, neglect of duty and two counts of truthfulness. The complaint was made in April 2018 by the woman who had been dating the officer, according to the report. The case was closed in July, after the employee resigned.

Another police department employee was alleged to have made disparaging comments about other employees and used rude and profane language in the workplace. That employee faced three allegations of policy violations of courtesy and one of insubordination. The complaint was made internally in January 2018 and the case was closed in June. The employee resigned "prior to corrective action," according to the report.

The auditor's office additionally reviewed 201 reports involving use of force.

In 2018 there was just one deadly force investigation. David Justo Duran was shot by Eugene police after he allegedly stabbed a man to death. Duran survived.

In 2018, some types of complaints decreased, including fewer allegations of police misconduct at 21, and allegations of criminal conduct at three.

The largest complaint category was service complaints, at 181 in 2018, up from 137 in 2017 and 171 in 2016.

Of all specific complaints, 56% were sustained in 2018, and 15 police department employees were found to have committed 27 sustained allegations. Eight of those were sworn police officers, meaning they were subject to the civilian review board's review. Two employees resigned during the process of investigating the allegations — one prior to discipline, and one prior to adjudication, the report states.

The sustained allegations include eight for unsatisfactory performance, three for violating the courtesy policy, two for each of the allegations of sleeping on duty, vehicle pursuits, judgment, and integrity, and single allegations of using intoxicants, unbecoming conduct, truthfulness, lack of knowledge of the law, insubordination, competency, conduct, and confidentiality of information.

Six of the employees received documented counseling, 11 received an oral reprimand, and two were suspended. More than one type of discipline could be given to each employee, as discipline is given per sustained allegation.

Gissiner also wrote in his report that he anticipates challenges in the coming year, which include what "seems like a monumental task" of building community trust in policing in the current national political environment.

Messages to Skinner and Gissiner were not immediately returned.