EPD cultural audit flags evaluations, leadership development; commission backs hiring mental‑health professional

Eugene — The Eugene Police Department’s recently delivered workplace culture audit and a city Police Commission subcommittee review led the commission on Jan. 9 to back efforts for more mental‑health support and to request clearer policy on post‑critical‑incident counseling.

Chief Steve Skinner told the commission the department engaged consulting firm M3 to perform a culture audit that interviewed “a little over 20% of the organization” (about 60 of roughly 350 employees) and produced high‑ and moderate‑priority recommendations. Skinner said he emailed department staff a high‑level summary of the recommendations this week, but that the full audit report will not be released to the public commission due to confidentiality and public‑records concerns. Skinner said the commission will be provided an executive summary distilled from the report.

The audit’s high‑priority recommendations, as described by Skinner, included improving promotional and performance evaluations, implementing structured…