SR-6G (41)
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December 9,1997 Santa Monica, CallfornltEC 0 9 1997
TO Mayor and CIty CouncIl
FROM City Staff
SUBJECT Recommendation to Direct the City Attorney to Draft an Ordinance to Allow
Public Safety Dispatchers (Communications Operator II) to Participate In
Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)
INTRODUCTION
This report recommends that the City Attorney be directed to prepare an ordinance which
allows PubliC Safety Dispatchers (Communications Operator II) to participate m Peace
Officer Standards and Training (POST)
BACKGROUND
The Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) adopts rules for the
purpose of ralsmg the level of competency and establishing minimum standards relatmg
to recrUiting and training of law enforcement staff, including Public Safety Dispatchers For
a City Police Department to participate in the POST program for Public Safety Dispatchers,
the State requires that the City Council adopt an ordinance accepting the reqUirements of
sections 13510(c) and 13512 of the California Penal Code A certified copy of thiS
ordinance IS a requIrement of section 13522 of the Penal Code if the City IS to receive
reimbursement for schools attended by Public Safety Dispatchers, and must be on file With
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II
DEe 0 9 1997
POST
The purpose of participating In the POST program IS to assure that the Department's level
of professionalism, tralnlng and recruitment procedures remain equal to those of other
agencIes throughout the State It also allows the City to recover some of the costs
Involved In the training of dispatchers
The proposed ordinance would stipulate that the City accepts the reqUirements of sections
13510(c) and 13512 of the California Penal Code relative to the recrUitment and tra[nlng
standards of Public Safety Dispatchers Section 13510(c), Chapter 1, of Title 4, states that
the City Will adhere to the standards for recrUitment and training established by the
Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) for Public Safety
Dispatchers Section 13512, Chapter 1 r states that the Commission and Its representatives
may make such InqUires as deemed appropnate by the Commission to ascertain that the
City of Santa Mon[ca's public dispatcher personnel adhere to standards for select[on and
tralnlng established by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training
The City Will be required to adhere to POST gUidelines WhiCh, In part, Include a pre~
employment med[cal screening and background investigation, a probationary penod of no
less than one year, and Implementation of the POST skills assessment test to qualified
applicants Currently, the POST skills assessment test IS being used for a fee, therefore,
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no current selection or testing practices would be changed
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The cost for an average of four medical exams for new employees annually, and 25
annual rechecks, would be approximately $2,364 annually Funds are available In the
department's operating budget As a benefit of participation, POST will reimburse a portion
of the City'S costs to train Public Safety Dispatchers At this time It IS dIfficult to project the
amount of reimbursement for training Reimbursement mOnies Will vary based on the
number of schools attended and POST's reImbursement poliCIes, which may change from
year to year
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the CounCil direct the City Attorney to draft an ordinance which
would allow participation of Public Safety Dispatchers In the POST program
Prepared by James T Butts, Jr , Chief of Police
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