In a final report to the Fort Worth City Council Tuesday afternoon, chairs of an expert review panel said that despite efforts to strengthen the Fort Worth Police Department’s policies, training and review processes, the department has lacked accountability to make the changes.

An initial report in 2020 found failures in the department’s crisis intervention team, pitfalls in data collection that made accountability difficult, and use-of-force and de-escalation tactics that were inequitably applied.

Not much is different in 2022.

Problems persisting in the department that were highlighted in Tuesday’s presentation to city council members included a lack of diversity in the department, failure to embrace de-escalation principles, using force as retaliation, a lack of supervisory review, a lack of policy changes related to no-knock warrants, and shortages of non-police responses to crises despite the expansion of the crisis intervention team.

The panel of national experts was formed after after Atatiana Jefferson was shot and killed by former Fort Worth Police Officer Aaron Dean in 2019. Dean will face trial in December. Former Mayor Betsy Price had called for a third-party review of policing the week following the shooting. The outside panel was tasked with investigating procedures and making recommendations.

Panel chairs found the responsibility for community policing fell on neighborhood police officers and that there was a disconnect between what residents expect and experience with neighborhood police officers and what the policies say and what officers actually do.

Recommendations included creating an auditor position in the department, increasing beat accountability, updating the no-knock warrant policy and revising crisis training so it concentrates de-escalation to minimize use of force.

Police chief Neil Noakes told the council he and the department knew they had to do better.

“I am, and we are, committed to that work and to continued improvements,” Noakes said.

Noakes said his prayer was that the department to continued to build trust, and that their journey wasn’t over.

Mayor Mattie Parker said she was proud of Noakes as the chief and of the department.

Fort Worth Police Oversight Authority didn’t immediately return a phone call for comment Tuesday evening.