The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My Public Portal About12 8.J. Review od the Motorcycle Traffic Deputy Position for Law Enforcement DepartmentAGENDA ITEM 8.J. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT DATE: TO: FROM: MEMORANDUM December 3, 2013 The Honorable City Council Jose E. Pulido, City Managelf\Y\ Via: Mark Persico, AICP, C~nity Development Director By: Rob ert Sahagun, Public Safety and Services Manager Bryan Ariizumi, Public Safety Supervisor SUBJECT: REVIEW OF THE MOTORCYCLE TRAFFIC DEPUTY POSITION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTRACT WITH THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION: The City Council is requested not to continue funding of the motorcycle traffic deputy position for the City's law enforcement contract with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for the remainder of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2013-14 (January 1, 2013-June 30, 2014). BACKGROUND: 1. In May 1997, as a result of being awarded a $100,000 Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant, the City Council approved the funding of a motorcycle traffic deputy position. 2. On November 29, 2000, the City Council approved a budget amendment to fully fund a second motorcycle traffic deputy position. 3. In January 2003, the second motorcycle traffic deputy transferred to another station and t he position remained vacant for the remaining portion of Fiscal Year (FY) 2002-03. 4. In May 2003, the City Council eliminated funding for the vacant motorcycle traffic deputy position . 5. On November 15, 2005, the City Council approved the addition of a second motorcycle traffic deputy position to the She riff's Department contract. The City Council did not approve the funding for the position until the recruitment and training processes were completed by the Sheriff's Department. City Council December 3, 2013 Page 2 of 4 6. On March 21, 2006, the City Council approved a budget amendment to fully fund the second motorcycle traffic deputy position for the remaining portion of FY 2005- 06. 7. On May 9, 2013, the City Council Budget Ad Hoc Committee (i.e., Mayor Sternquist and Councilmember Vizcarra) met with staff and discussed the budget for law enforcement services in the Proposed FY 2013-14 City Budget. Staff proposed funding the third dedicated deputy position (which would be offset by the $100,000 COPS grant) by not funding the motorcycle traffic deputy position. 8. On May 20, 2013, the City Council held a Budget Study Session and staff submitted the detailed Proposed FY 2013-14 City Budget, which included the recommendations made by the Budget Ad Hoc Committee. Staff presented an overview of the Proposed FY 2013-14 City Budget and City Council recommended staff reconsider the level of funding for public safety services provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD). 9. On May 22, 2013, the City Council Budget Ad Hoc Committee met with staff and discussed staffing alternatives presented by LASD. The City Council Budget Ad Hoc Committee recommended that the City fund three dedicated deputies assigned to Temple City for the full Fiscal Year and a motorcycle traffic deputy for the first six months of the Fiscal Year (i.e., July 1, 2013-December 31, 2013). During the mid-year budget review process, the City would review the effectiveness of the third dedicated deputy and the motorcycle traffic deputy for the six month period and determine where City recourses would be better allocated the second half of the Fiscal Year (i.e., January 1, 2014 -June 30, 2014). 10. On June 4, 2013, the City Council adopted the FY 2013-14 City Budget, which included funding the three dedicated deputies for the full Fiscal Year (which would be offset by the $100,000 COPS grant) and funding the motorcycle traffic deputy for the first six months of the Fiscal Year. ANALYSIS: Under the City's law enforcement contract with LASD, there are two major components that make up the Sheriff's Department's service: Basic and Supplementary. 1. Basic Service Basic service consists of deputies (patrol units) that are assigned to Temple City to handle calls for service. Current basic service levels are as follows: • Early Morning Shift (i.e., 10:00 p.m.-6:00a.m.): • Morning Shift (i.e., 6:00a.m.-2:00p.m.): • Evening Shift (i.e., 2:00p.m. -10:00 p.m.): Two deputies Three deputies Three deputies City Council December 3, 2013 Page 3 of 4 The basic service levels will remain unchanged as they provide the day-to-day operations by pro-actively patrolling the City, issuing traffic citations, responding to emergency and routine calls for service, and conducting preliminary investigations. 2. Supplementary Service Supplementary service is provided, as resources allow, by the Temple City Special Assignment Team (which consists of one sergeant and three deputies) and a motorcycle traffic deputy. The Temple City Special Assignment Team has been responsive to community concerns and in handling many quality of life issues. The team proactively works with other agencies and divisions within LASD (i.e., LA County Probation, LASD-Narcotics Bureau, LASD-Asian Crime Task Force, and LASD- Gang Unit) to address issues and concerns such as the California Prison Realignment (Assembly Bill 109), marijuana grow houses, and probation/parole compliance. Team members also assist the station detectives with their investigations for crimes that have occurred within the City. Collectively, City and LASD staff has worked collaboratively to develop a strong and successful neighborhood watch program. The motorcycle traffic deputy is assigned to patrol the City and enforce traffic and public safety regulations. Aside from its primary role of enforcing traffic and public safety regulations within the City, the motorcycle traffic deputy also acts as a deterrent to speeders by being visible throughout the City and being available to the Temple Station calls for service outside the city. During the preparation of the FY 2013-14 City Budget, staff was asked to review the Sheriff Department's service levels for effectiveness in addressing recent crime trends that were having a direct negative effect on community's overall safety and quality-of- life standards (e.g., burglaries, narcotics violations, probation/parole compliance, etc.). Staff's assessment was that the funding of a third dedicated deputy (offset by $100,000 COPS Grant) assigned to the Temple City Special Assignment Team would give LASD more resources to direct at addressing the increase in burglaries and narcotics violations citywide. In choosing to reallocate resources in order to fund an additional dedicated deputy, staff is recommending not to continue funding the motorcycle traffic deputy for the remainder of this Fiscal Year (i.e. January 1, 2014-June 30, 2014). It should be noted that choosing not to fund the motorcycle traffic deputy is not a reflection on its performance, but is a reallocation of resources to better meet the current trend of criminal activity facing Temple City and adjacent communities. To the contrary, the motorcycle deputy's productivity in issuing moving violations and being visible throughout the city increased considerably over the last 10 months and is comparable to other nearby cities with motorcycle traffic enforcement programs. City Council December 3, 2013 Page 4 of 4 CONCLUSION: Upon completion of a review of the Sheriff's Department's service levels, it is staff's assessment that the allocation of resources to the Temple City Special Assignment Team better serves the community's public safety needs at this time. Therefore, staff is recommending the City not fund the motorcycle traffic deputy for the remainder of this Fiscal Year. Staff will re-visit this item during the City's upcoming Fiscal Year 2014-15 City Budget FISCAL IMPACT: Not funding the motorcycle deputy position from the law enforcement contract with the Sheriff's Department, will not have an impact on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2013-14 City Budget If the City Council chooses to retain the motorcycle traffic deputy services for the remainder of this Fiscal Year (Le. January 1, 2014 -June 30, 2014), a budget amendment in the amount of $125,000 would be necessary from the General Fund reserve. ATTACHMENT: None.