sr-082879-11dSanta Monica.' ^alifornia, August 9, 1979
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBSECT: Prioritizing Police Service Calls ~ /J ~I
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Introduction
This report concerns a change in the police department's policy and procedures
of handling requests for services. The police department proposes that low
priority calls be handled on a controlled delayed basis. The end result means
police officers would have more time to patrol the streets of Santa Monica.
Cadets and recently authorizedcommunity service officers would be handling
many time consuming reports.
Background
For the past twenty-five years the police department has sent uniformed police
officers in response to all types of calls for service as a patrol unit became
available. As the volume of activity became excessive, minor calls were delayed
in an informal manner. Calls for police services have increased over the years
to the point that the present response policy has reduced the availability of
patrol time to a non-acceptable level. To better use patrol time a change in
the level of service responses should be initiated. Since approximately five (5)
officers have to be hired to staff one patrol vehicle twenty-four (24) hours a
day, seven (7) days a week, the cost would be prohibitive to hire sufficient
officers ~:o increase present patrol capabilities.
A more cost effective approach to the problem involves utilization of civilian
personnel, budgeted for the current fiscal year, to handle service calls such as:
Traffic Accidents
Found Property
Stolen and Found Bicycles
Towing of Illegally Parked Vehicles
AUG 2 8 1979
Mayor and City Council - -2- August 9, 1979
Theft Reports - No Suspect in Custody
Burglaries - No Suspects or Investigative Leads
Malicious Mischief - No Suspects in Custody
Injured Persons - No Crime Involved
When a citizen calls to report a minor incident, and agrees to a delayed response,
the call will be entered in the °'Pending Report Register." Community Service
Officers will be assigned to handle the service calls on a daily basis.
A "Delay" program was initiated in March in which citizens were advised that their
call could not be handled immediately. A sample survey revealed 163 outof 189
citizens were satisfied with the service provided, despite the delay.
Alternatives
1. Preserve status quo.
2. Approve change in police procedures and policies whereby minor calls are
delayed until community service officers are available to handle, thereby
relieving police officers for more patrol time.
Recommendation
Approve alternative "2"
Prepared by: James F. Keane
Chief of Police
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