City Council
MEETING DATE: 9/27/2017
TITLE:
Title
Riverside Auto Theft Task Force Presentation
End
FROM:
George Crum, Police Chief
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Receive presentation from Lieutenant Lucio and provide direction to staff.
Body
BACKGROUND:
The Riverside Auto Theft Interdiction Detail (RAID) is Riverside County’s auto theft task force.
Cathedral City Police Department is a member of the task force with one investigator assigned. Since its inception in 1993, RAID has proven to be one of the most successful and productive auto theft task forces in California. In 2016, RAID apprehended 185 suspects and recovered 533 stolen vehicles with a recovery value of approximately $5,190,629. Over the past two years, vehicle theft in Riverside County has increased nearly 24%.
Pursuant to AB 767, the County’s Board of Supervisors can increase RAID funding by increasing a portion of vehicle license fees from $1 to $2. The original $1 per year per vehicle assessment provided 80% salary reimbursement funding for participating agencies in the task force and reimbursement of 200 annual overtime hours per task force member. Because of increased personnel and administrative costs, cuts were made to those reimbursements. The current structure only provides 70% of personnel costs and 150 annual hours of overtime per task force member. The cuts were necessary to remain operating within budget, and future budget projections anticipate the current level of funding may only be able to sustain a 60% reimbursement to participating law enforcement task force agencies in future fiscal years. The $1 increase in fees will be used to restore the 80% salary reimbursement rate to participating agencies and 200 hours of annual overtime reimbursement. It will also be used to add task force positions to RAID and assist prosecution efforts for auto-theft related crimes.
In order to effectively combat the increase in vehicle theft related crimes occurring throughout Riverside County, RAID is in need of additional funding as outlined in AB 767. The additional funds generated would allow for a much-needed expansion of RAID personnel, to include adding a supervisor to the East Team. Many of the cities in the county have already written letters of support to the Board of Supervisors for the increase, and RAID would like to obtain one from Cathedral City as well. RAID is seeking letters of support from the Chiefs and City Councils of each city in the county. Additionally, many California counties, including Los Angeles and San Bernardino, have already approved the increase for their county auto theft task forces.
DISCUSSION:
This topic will be presented by California Highway Patrol Lieutenant Mario Lucio, who is the RAID Task Force Commander.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None
ATTACHMENTS:
None