City Council
MEETING DATE: 3/9/2016
TITLE:
Title
Crime Statistics Update and Authorization to Establish a Crime Analyst Position
End
FROM:
George Crum, Chief of Police
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council authorize an increase in the Police Department staffing authorization to add a full-time Crime Analyst position to be partially funded by the State of California Post Release Accountability and Compliance Team (PACT) in the amount of $50,000 for FY 15/16 and $50,000 for FY 16/17 for a total of $100,000 and allocate the remaining funds from the reserve fund.
Body
BACKGROUND:
There have been concerns within the Community over the perception of a violent crime wave occurring in Cathedral City recently. Some community members have contacted different elected officials voicing their concerns that violent crime is on the rise in Cathedral City. Resident concerns may be elevated currently as we experienced a homicide in December 2015, in January 2016 and an individual was shot in February. The suspect in the February shooting has been taken into custody. All three incidents were heavily publicized and reported in the local media.
The Police Department had a Crime Analyst position for approximately ten years until the great recession necessitated laying off 29 personnel from the Police Department in June 2012 to balance the budget. The Police Department proposes hiring a full time Crime Analyst position, which will allow the Department to engage in intelligence led policing strategies and predictive policing. A Crime Analyst allows the Police Department to utilize historical crime data to deploy current personnel more effectively and efficiently to assist in reducing crime and the fear of crime in our community.
A goal for 2016 of the City Council is for the Police Department to complete research evaluation and implementation of a Body Worn Camera (BWC) system for Police Officers. The Police Department has conducted test...
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