HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-07-2017 Item 1, CantrellCOUNCIL MEETING:
f.TEM NO.:
Council Memorandum
_....... _......
DATE: February 15, 2017
TO: City Council
FROM: Deanna Cantrell, Department Head
VIA: Katie Lichtig, City Manager �AQ
SUBJECT: Police Department 2016/2015 comparison and update
RECEIVE -
MAR C 7 2017
SLO CITY -CLERK
On March 7th, a presentation will be made to the City Council regarding Police Department updates for
2016. This update will provide Council with information regarding community outreach, crime, police
operations, homelessness, traffic, noise and downtown.
Community Otitreach:
In January the San Luis Obispo Police Department (SLOPD) launched a community program called PEACE
(Policing Education And Community Engagement). PEACE is fashioned after a citizen police academy
and is designed to engage the community in learning more about policing practices, policies and what it
takes to police a community. Additionally, a diverse group of participants from around the county met with
SLOPD representatives and formed a group called PACT (Police And Community Together). This group
will meet throughout the year to discuss police and community related issues. Groups will also meet
individually and will have an officer assigned as a law enforcement liaison that will help the groups partner
on social issues and will keep the police department informed of needed involvement. Lastly, police officers
assigned to neighborhoods with schools, daycare centers or other programs involving youth have been
directed to engage monthly with students and faculty. Of course, outreach that was already in place, such
as the neighborhood officer program, neighborhood outreach and civility effort and Cal Poly partnerships
have and will continue to grow.
Crime:
San Luis Obispo (SLO) had a 45% increase in Parti crime in the first quarter (1St quarter 2015 compared to
1St quarter 2016). In April, when the increase in crime was realized, the San Luis Obispo Police Department
(SLOPD) immediately began an education campaign through community meetings, traditional media and
social media. SLOPD also started data driven deployments of officers, cameras, bait property, and specialty
units. Additionally, Mary Andrews from GIS was utilized for crime mapping for 6 hours per month since
May.
Overall, SLOPD has had significant success with intelligent led policing efforts. By the end of 2016 SLO
realized a 7% decrease in violent crime and a 13% increase in property crime, with an 11% increase overall
(2015 over 2014 increase was 21%). Additionally, we received several complaints regarding adverse
homeless behavior in the downtown over the second quarter. The downtown bike officers, Community
Acton Team (CAT) and a sergeant were tasked with educating downtown alcohol establishments and
business owners about applicable laws, notifying police of suspicious behavior and employee and personal
safety. More cameras were placed downtown, and the CAT team workday was changed to better serve
community demands. At the conclusion of 2016, SLO downtown had a 13% increase over 2015 in calls for
service and an 8% increase in officer initiated activity downtown. Complaints regarding the homeless also
had a marked decrease.
It should be noted SLOPD had several unexpected vacancies in 2016 due to retirements, terminations, and
injuries. In October 2016 the department did not receive funding to continue an officer funded DUI position.
This loss was absorbed through attrition bringing the total number of sworn personnel to 59. SLOPD lost
approximately 372 productive officer work hours per pay period to time off, not including lost time to
vacancies. Currently we are operating with 5 new officers in training, one sworn vacancy, one sworn long
term worker's comp officer on leave, and two communications vacancies.
Because patrol is the departments highest priority, the three special enforcement team (SET) members, that
normally do proactive work, were reassigned back to patrol for the majority of 2016 and their sergeant was
assigned to assist with hiring. As a result of vacancies and difficulty hiring, SLOPD operated the second
half of 2016 with one less bike officer, one less traffic officer, and one less Community Action Team (CAT)
officer. Given all of the shortages, even with personnel moves, we have still been operating short in patrol
staffing, however, those shortages are filled through overtime when necessary, as to not operate below
minimums. Hiring, for all agencies has reached a critical level. Like many law enforcement agencies, we
are having difficulty recruiting lateral employees. Hiring/retention continues to be a major challenge for
both sworn officers and civilian communications personnel.
Violent Crime
2nd Half
2015
1 2016
0
1st Half
% change
Homicide
0
0
0%
Rape
13
19
46%
Robbery
7
9
29%
Agg. Assaut
68
78
15%
Total 1st Half 1 88 106 1 20%
Total 2nd Half 1 103 1 71 1 -31%
Total Year Violent 1 191 1 177 1 -7%
Total Part I Crime 1 2035 1 2253 1 11%
Property Crime
2nd Half
% change
Homicide
0
0
0%
Rape
19
19
0%
Robbery
6
12
100%
Agg. Assaut
78
40
-49%
Total 2nd Half 1 103 1 71 1 -31%
Total Year Violent 1 191 1 177 1 -7%
Total Part I Crime 1 2035 1 2253 1 11%
Property Crime
2nd Half
2015
2016
30
1st
Half
% change
Commercial Burglary
46
39
-15%
Residential Burglary
71
82
15%
Theft from Vehicle
203
366
80%
Stolen Vehicle
55
51
-7%
General Theft
459
549
20%
-2%
Total 1st Half
834
1 1087
30%
Total Year Property 1844 1 2076 1397/o
2nd Half
% change
Commercial Burglary
30
52
73%
Residential Burglary
98
78
-20%
Theft from Vehicle
240
307
28%
Stolen Vehicle
43
44
2%
General Theft
599
508
-15%
Total 2nd Half
1010
989
-2%
Total Year Property 1844 1 2076 1397/o
Police Operations:
Records:
Increases in property crimes have had a direct impact on all divisions of the department. In the Records
Division the number of reports processed went from 8,629 in 2015 to 8,908 in 2016 (3% increase). The
number of citations processed by Records also increased from 6,619 in 2015 to 7,049 in 2016 (6% increase).
Records also had increases in walk in reports, phone calls received, public records requests and other areas.
ProROM:
In the Property Division the number of Evidence Items booked in went from 7354 in 2015 to 7,542 in 2016
(2% increase). Discovery Orders processed also increased from 431 in 2015 to 716 in 2016 (39% increase).
As part of this increase there has been a significant increase for video evidence. This evidence takes a great
deal of time to produce.
Dispatch:
In the Communications Center we saw a decrease regarding the number of calls into the center. The number
of calls decreased by almost 2% in 2016, from 96254 in 2015 to 94771 in 2016. Despite the decrease in the
number of calls received the department saw an increase in calls for service. Calls for service increased in
2016 from 37507 in 2015 to 38641 in 2016 (3% increase).
Investigations:
In the Investigations Bureau the number of cases assigned for follow up by an Investigator went from 722
in 2015 to 783 in 2016 (7% increase).
Homelessness:
The departments bicycle officers have continued to educated downtown businesses regarding trespassing
laws and have encouraged them to complete trespassing letters. These letters allow the police department to
take immediate action to mitigate trespassing problems at these locations with the owner's approval. Every
6 months these letters are reviewed to ensure the police department has all the current information and meets
the DA's office expectation for compliance.
The Downtown Bike team has worked with a local business in the area of the Globe to lessen the negative
impacts related to transient calls for service. Downtown bike officers have continued to focus some of their
patrol efforts at this location which has resulted in alcohol and drug related citations. Additionally, the
police department collaborated with the City's parks department to temporally close the area of the Globe
as well as other open space areas, which has lessened some of the negative impacts.
In evaluating calls for service pertaining to the homeless population during 2016 (to include contacts as
suspects, victims or witnesses) these contacts increased by 785 for a total increase of 12% compared to
2015. In 2016 the police departments overall calls for service increased by a total of 3%. Homeless related
calls for service accounted for 19% of all calls for service citywide compared to 17% last year. This increase
accounts for all calls pertaining to homeless, and is attributed somewhat to an increase in activity from CAT
and the downtown bike unit. Some of the challenges the department faced this past year was shortages in
patrol, which had an impact on our downtown bike team and CAT. For much of the year CAT has only
been able to have one CAT officer and the downtown bike team has operated with only one or two bike
officers. This has limited some the effectiveness these teams can have on many of the crimes and negative
transient impacts within our downtown.
Homeless CFS vs. Total CFS
35000
30000
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000 0h; El
0
2015 2016
RHomeless CFS MTotal CFS
Traffic:
Vehicle collisions have decreased 3%, with a similar decrease in pedestrian involved collisions. We also
saw a decrease of 2% in collisions involving bicycles. Traffic and patrol continue to collaborate with Public
Works as we examine collision prone locations in our City to provide education, enforcement and
engineering efforts. In 2016 there was an 11 % increase in traffic citations issued and a 19% increase in
warnings. The Traffic Team operated with an OTS funded DUI Officer position for the last three years,
however, the grant expired October 1 st and the position was absorbed into regular staffing. DUI arrests from
2015 to 2016 increased by 8%, and will continue to be a priority.
EM -111
420
410
400
390
380
370
DUI Arrests
Arrests
■ 2015 ■ 2016
Noise:
Party related noise complaints decreased by 12% in 2016. Throughout the 2015/2016 academic year the
police department was engaged in numerous personal and media generated outreach. This past year staff
was involved in 18 summer orientation assemblies for over 4,000 incoming Cal Poly Freshmen and parents.
Neighborhood officers have been engaged in community outreach providing education at neighborhood
meetings and conducting problem oriented policing at locations before calls for service are generated.
Combined efforts through collaboration with neighborhood groups, Cal Poly, Cuesta and the City have
resulted in increased awareness and compliance. During this past year the departments neighborhood
outreach manager conducted extensive research, and outreach, to develop a pilot program for party
registration. This pilot program was approved by council and we are currently working on the departments
protocol.
2000
1800
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0 on
DACS
Noise Calls for Service
MM
Noise Cites
62015 ■ 2016
Neg Violation NSPY
Unable to Locate (UTL) noise violations have decreased by 49%, this is most likely due to the
comprehensive education and outreach taking place. Callers are doing a better job defining locations of
violations and officers are more acutely aware of the need to search and locate properties that are in violation
of the noise ordinance.
Downtown:
Downtown calls for service for day and nighttime activity increased by 12%. In part, the increase in 2016
was due to the influence of both the CAT team and Downtown bicycle units conducting plain clothes
operations to address illegal panhandling, alcohol, smoking and other disorderly offenses in the downtown
core. Focused attention has also been directed by patrol personnel to address continuing problems. In 2016
the department saw a 7% increase in officer initiated calls in the downtown.
Downtown officers have been utilizing crime prevention through environmental design techniques while
partnering with Public Works to improve lighting conditions during night time hours in the area of the
Globe. This area is frequently occupied by people engaging in alcohol and drug activity. Currently there are
five public cameras placed in the downtown core. Two cameras monitor the Globe and Mission area and
the other three monitor the central core of downtown on Higuera.
The department has been operating with one CAT officer due to a recent retirement and the shortages within
the departments patrol staffing. For most of the year the Downtown Bicycle team has operated with two
officers in the day time covering six days a week. Due to decreased staffing levels the night time bicycle
team is currently not being staffed. The department is planning on staffing two of the night downtown bike
positions in late April. Overall, the Downtown will continue to have the presence of CAT periodically as
well as both daytime bike officers.
Conclusion:
Our efforts are shown positively in many areas as demonstrated by the information above. Crime continues
to be a major concern for San Luis Obispo. Midyear crime data for other cities in our county showed at the
highest, only a 2% increase in crime. San Luis Obispo has seen a 34% increase in crime over the last 2
years.
Property crime continues to be a significant issue, with thefts from vehicles being the highest category (52%
year end increase). Theft from unsecured vehicles continues to be the number one issue for vehicle
burglaries. Continued education has helped with decreasing the trend.
The department is continuously engaged in proactive measures to reduce criminal activity and nuisance
behavior. These measure include directed patrols targeted at problem locations, utilization of stings and
undercover operations to catch criminals engaged in or looking for crimes of opportunity and using print
media, social media and community meetings to educate our citizens to reduce victimization and increase
awareness. The loss of officers for the majority of 2016 that specifically are utilized in a proactive manner
to reduce drug related activity and crime had a significant impact on reductions of criminal activity and
quality of life issues.
Our Body Worn Camera Program is scheduled to reach full deployment in March. Where camera footage
is available, it has had an affirmative impact on the positive resolution of citizen complaints.
Officers continue to provide a very high level of service to residents in San Luis Obispo. SLOPD is currently
in the process of a staffing and workload study with City Gate, and hope to have a better analysis of future
and current staffing needs based on workload at the conclusion of the study. Of concern is the continuing
increase of workload, specifically on civilian professional staff. Representatives from City Gate will present
to Council in May.