SR-07-14-2015-7B- City Council
Sxnia Monica'
City Council Regular Meeting: July 14, 2015
Agenda Item: 7 °5
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Elaine Polachek, Asst. City Manager, City Manager's Office, Administration
Subject: Public Safety Dispatcher Participation in the Peace Officer Standards and
Training (POST) Program
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council introduce for first reading the attached
ordinance to include the Public Safety Dispatchers in the Office of Emergency
Management's Public Safety Communications Division participation in the Peace Officer
Standards and Training (POST) program.
Executive Summary
The proposed ordinance would allow Public Safety Dispatchers in the Office of
Emergency Management's Public Safety Communications Division to participate in the
Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) program now that Santa Monica public
safety dispatch operations have been consolidated. Since 1999, police department
dispatchers have participated in the POST program. Associated costs of participating in
the POST program were included in the creation of the Office of Emergency
Management division's budget.
Background
POST training was established by the California Legislature in 1959 to set minimum
selection and training standards for California law enforcement staff, including Public
Safety Dispatchers. POST training for Public Safety Dispatchers includes a 120 hour
basic dispatcher course and recurring training in areas such as ethics, criminal law,
interpersonal communication, domestic violence, child abuse, and wellness
management. For a City to participate in the POST program for Public Safety
Dispatchers, the State requires that Council adopt an ordinance accepting the
requirements of sections 13510(c) and 13512 of the California Penal Code. A certified
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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 POST.
On September 14, 1999, the Council adopted Ordinance No. 1954 (CCS) allowing
Police Department dispatchers to participate in the POST program. (Attachment A)
In January 2015, public safety dispatch operations for the City of Santa Monica were
consolidated from the police and fire departments under the Office of Emergency
Management's Public Safety Communications Division.
POST requires the City of Santa Monica adopt a new ordinance to allow Public Safety
Dispatchers in the Office of Emergency Management to participate in the POST
program. POST recommends Ordinance No. 1954 (CCS) be repealed.
Discussion
The purpose of participating in the POST program is to ensure that the City's level of
professionalism, training, and recruitment procedures remains equal to those of other
agencies throughout the State. POST has set minimum selection standards for Public
Safety Dispatchers that includes a requirement to conduct a pre - employment skills
assessment test, interview, and background investigation, and a probationary period of
no less than one year. POST requires each dispatcher to complete at least 24 hours of
certified training every two years. Participation 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 training 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 for Public
Safety Dispatchers. Section 13512, Chapter 1, states that the Commission and its
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representatives may make such inquires as deemed appropriate by the Commission to
ascertain that the City's public safety dispatch personnel adhere to standards for
selection and training established by the Commission on POST.
The proposed ordinance would repeal Ordinance No. 1954 (CCS) in its entirety, to
avoid having two conflicting ordinances in place.
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Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of the
recommended action. Costs related to participation in the POST program are included
in the Office of Emergency Management, Public Safety Communications Division's
Proposed FY 2015 -17 Biennial Budget.
Prepared By: Christopher Herren, Communications Center Administrator
roved Forwarded to Council
L\"
Elaine M. Polachek, Asst. City Manager
Attachments:
Elaine M Polachek, Asst. City Manager 7/6/2015
A. September 14, 1999 Staff Report (web link)
B. Ordinance
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City Council Meeting: 7 -14 -15
Santa Monica, California
ORDINANCE NUMBER (CCS)
(City Council Series)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SANTA MONICA TO ALLOW PUBLIC
SAFETY DISPATCHERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
PEACE OFFICER STANDARDS AND TRAINING PROGRAM
WHEREAS, the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (the
"Commission ") adopts rules for the purpose of raising the level of competency and
establishing minimum standards relating to recruiting and training law enforcement staff,
including Public Safety Dispatchers, and offers training programs as well; and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica (the "City ") desires to adhere to the
standards set by the Commission for recruiting and training its Public Safety
Dispatchers, to accept the requirements of California Penal Code sections 13510(c) and
13512, and to send its Public Safety Dispatchers to receive Peace Officer Standards
and Training ( "POST ") training; and
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WHEREAS, the City further desires to receive state aid pursuant to Chapter 1 of
Title 4 of Part 4 of the California Penal Code, section 13500 et seq., for the training of
regularly employed and paid local public safety dispatchers as contemplated under
California Penal Code sections 13522 and 13525; and
WHEREAS, on September 14, 1999, the City Council of the City of Santa Monica
(the "City Council ") adopted Ordinance Number 1954 (CCS) for purposes of accepting
the requirements of California Penal Code sections 13510(c) and 13512; and
WHEREAS, the City recently consolidated its dispatch center under the
organizational authority of the Office of Emergency Management; and
WHEREAS, as a result of this consolidation, all City Public Safety Dispatchers
are now part of the Office of Emergency Management's Public Safety Communications
Division; and
WHEREAS, the Commission requires the City to adopt an ordinance to reflect
this organizational change; and
WHEREAS, upon adoption of this Ordinance, the City desires to make
application to receive state aid for the training of its Public Safety Dispatchers as
contemplated under California Penal Code sections 13522 and 13525.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
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SECTION 1. The City Council declares that it desires to qualify to receive aid
from the State of California under the provision of Section 13522, Chapter 1 of Title 4,
Part 4 of the California Penal Code.
SECTION 2. The City Council declares that it accepts the requirements of
Section 13150(c), Chapter 1 of Title 4, Part 4 of the California Penal Code, and will
adhere to the standards for recruitment and training established by the Commission on
Peace Officer Standards and Training ( "POST ") for its Public Safety Dispatchers.
SECTION 3. The City will adhere to the requirements of Section 13512, Chapter
1 of Title 4, Part 4 of the California Penal Code, that the Commission and its
representatives may make such inquiries as deemed appropriate by the Commission to
ascertain that the City's Public Safety Dispatchers adhere to standards for selection and
training established by the Commission.
SECTION 4. Ordinance Number 1954 (CCS) is hereby repealed in its entirety.
SECTION 5. Any provision of the Santa Monica Municipal Code or appendices
thereto inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance, to the extent of such
inconsistencies and no further, is hereby repealed or modified to that extent necessary
to effect the provisions of this Ordinance.
SECTION 6. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this
Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any
court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the
remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would
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have passed this Ordinance and each and every section, subsection, sentence, clause,
or phrase not declared invalid or unconstitutional without regard to whether any portion
of the ordinance would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 7. The Mayor shall sign and the City Clerk shall attest to the passage
of this Ordinance. The City Clerk shall cause the same to be published once in the
official newspaper within 15 days after its adoption. This Ordinance shall become
effective 30 days from its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
WA41 G
MAI19HAJ f S MOUT IE
City Attorn
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