Cotati City Council
Agenda Staff Report
Item type:
To: City Council
Subject: Annual Police Chief Report to the Community
Date: May 24, 2022
Written by: Michael Parish, Chief of Police
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council receive and discuss the annual police chief report to the community for 2021.
Background
In 2021, the Chief of Police presented the first annual report to the City Council and the Community, which covered activities and statistics from 2020.
From conversations with the City Council and the community in 2020 and 2021, the City Council committed to the following measures for greater transparency:
1. Early implementation of RIPA data collection.
2. Creation of this annual report to the community.
3. Review of annual RIPA reports for best practices.
4. Re-affirm our commitment to train our officers above and beyond POST standards, including implicit bias training and de-escalation training.
5. Updating the citizen complaint form and making it available on the website.
6. Conducting a community survey on racism.
7. Working with a third party to conduct a policy compliance review to ensure policies/training/and practices are aligned.
Additionally, in 2021, the City also started the SAFE mental health crisis team with Rohnert Park and self-identified a need to update internal tracking of use of force events for improved transparency.
Analysis/Discussion
In 2021, the Police Department implemented these commitments, including:
- The addition of a use of force reporting form to capture all events above simple handcuffing and multi-level supervisory review; and
- The early implementation of RIPA stop data, which began collection of a variety of officer perceived demographics from vehicle stops; and
- A review of high-risk policy areas, to ensure compliance with established policy. Poor policy compliance with established policies are a typical precursor to policing issues; and - Updated citizen complaint forms with additional information to follow current best practices, as identified by the RIPA Board, and added webform for citizen complaints; and
- Continued focus on training for de-escalation and implicit bias.
Additionally, the Police Department upgraded body worn cameras for additional features that help ensure automatic recording in high stress and emergency situations.
Targeted Traffic Enforcement Program
In addition to general traffic enforcement, the City is working to implement a targeted traffic enforcement program, including:
- Downtown Truck Enforcement
- Pedestrian Crossing Vehicle Enforcement
- Distracted Driving Vehicle Enforcement
- Zone/Beat Enforcement
- Speed Enforcement in high collision areas
The program is intended to focus on each enforcement area every 6 months.
Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) Technology
In the month of March 2021, the Cotati Police Department began the deployment of APLR investigative technology. The department currently includes two patrol vehicles outfitted with APLR technology. The police department received funding for the ALPR’s through the State Homeland Security Grant totaling approximately $40,000. The purpose of the APLR’s is to identify lost or stolen vehicles/license plates or to help locate a vehicle involved in various crimes.
In 2021, the police department had two (2) successful recoveries of stolen vehicles from the ALPR. Additionally, a citizen reported a car stolen to Cotati Police Officers. Using the ALPR, officers discovered that our ALPR recorded the license plate of the car and located it in Cotati.
Our officers also use the ALPR system for investigations and for public safety by uploading wanted and dangerous vehicles into the system. Due to the rampant on-going “sideshow” issues in the Bay Area, Cotati Officers, utilizing the ALPR vehicle will respond to the “Sideshow” location and automatically log potential participants in the illegal activity. Instead of immediately chasing the suspect vehicles, and inherently creating risk of life and/or property as well as the potential for use of force, the collection of data is later used to safely serve a warrant to impound the vehicle used in the illegal activity.
Specialized Assistance for Everyone (SAFE) Mental Health Crisis Response Team The City and Rohnert Park partnered to stand up a mental health crisis response team to better respond to people in crisis and get them services for better outcomes rather than relying on police to be social workers. The SAFE team is currently moving to collection of statistics for each community individually, but it was not available for this report. Additionally, the City is working with SAFE and other crisis teams in Sonoma County to develop uniform data collection categories using common methods.
The following are a combination of stories from the SAFE team and statistics from Cotati and Rohnert Park.
SAFE sample stories from December 2021
December brought more cold and inclement weather to the region, with associated complications to the lives of the unhoused. SAFE team assisted several individuals with transport to emergency warming sites in Santa Rosa and Petaluma, helped Catholic Charities reconnect with 2 clients who had previously initiated homeless services intakes, and distributed caps, gloves, and blankets donated by RPDPS and members of the public.
Family dispute mediations were another major theme for SAFE team responses in December. One of the families that we had contacted in November due to violence between the children has engaged in family services through DHS and has reached out to SAFE team for managing disagreements in the household to proactively prevent physical conflicts. Similarly, a juvenile who was reunited with his mother earlier this year and required frequent RPDPS and MST responses over the summer, is now in residential mental health treatment, and the mother has requested support from the SAFE team when her temper is frayed and she struggles to communicate effectively with him during home visits; MST has not had to respond since October.
SAFE January 2022 statistics
Total Calls 77
Types Outcomes Transports
Counseling request 8 Advised 16 Memorial 8
Death notification 1 Assisted 27 Catholic C. 2
Public assist 44 Safety contract 1 Sutter 2
Suicidal subject 3 Refused 9 Hotel 2 (DV shelter
refusals)
Welfare checks 21 Transported 17 Kaiser 2
Wound care 0 UTL/GOA 4 Cancelled 3 Camp 1 (impaired
mobility)
SAFE February 2022 Statistics
Total Calls 128
Types
Counseling Requests 7
Death Notifications: 0
Public Assists: 91
Suicidal Subject: 2
Welfare Checks: 28
Wound Care:
Outcomes
Advised: 21
Assisted 58
Safety Contract: 1
Refused: 10
Transported: 30
UTL/GOA: 8
Transports
Memorial: 2
Catholic C: 3
Sutter: 5
Kaiser: 3
WiFi Wash 1
Valley of the Moon 2
Bank 1
CSU 1
PVH 4
Residential 4
Redwood Gospel Mission 1
Coffee Teen Shelter 2
County Office 1
SAFE sample stories from February 2022
A SAFE Team visit to a home was requested. When the team arrived, the family shared that they had a COVID exposure. The Team returned 5 days later to speak with the family. There are ongoing issues with how the mother treats the daughter. In the past, this treatment has resulted with calls to the Cotati Police Department and/or the daughter being dropped off at the Police Department. Initially, the engagement with the SAFE Team started out rough with both the mother and daughter using very aggressive language and tones with each other. The SAFE Team was able to de-escalate the situation and able to have a conversation with both parties. Using Motivational Interviewing (MI) they were able to get both parties to recognize that they are powerful women.
The SAFE Team supported them in realizing that how they were treating each other was causing harm to both of them. The daughter has agreed to start participating in PPSC Girls' Circle programming. The mother was given the number to contact PPSC Community Clinic for counseling. To date, the mother has not followed up, however the daughter will be in the next Girls' Circle group.
The RP Police was asked to co-respond with SSU Police to a traffic stop. The SAFE Team was dispatched as part of a public assist. The individual who was on the side of the road near the Expressway was waiting for a ride from someone. They were pulled over due to an expired registration. The driver shared that she has been living in her vehicle. The SAFE Team observed that she seemed to be taking good care of herself. She responded to the Team by showing artwork while they spoke. She shared that she did not need resources but did engage with the SAFE Team regarding trauma with her brother that had been ongoing. She was referred to PPSC Counseling programs. Her vehicle was ticketed. The next day the SAFE Team stopped by the location, but the vehicle had been moved.
The SAFE Team was dispatched out to a residence where a subject was threatening his parents with a bat. The subject threatened to kill himself if the parents did not give back his cell phone, which parents had taken away for bad behavior at school. The subject has had a history of angry outbursts since the 1st grade. The parents have tried to get him into therapy over the years, using Kaiser, but this has not proven to be helpful. The subject had made numerous holes in the walls of the home from previous acts of aggression. The SAFE Team empathized with the subject and discussed his behavior. The subject was remorseful and said he can't control his anger when he becomes frustrated with his parents. The Team spoke to him about him threatening to hurt himself, and he stated that he responds this way when he is angry or upset. The Team spoke with the parents about possible resources, such as therapy or mentorship. Referrals were made to the PPSC Mentor Me program and SAY.
The SAFE Team was dispatched for Public Assist for a 35 year old houseless female. The SAFE Team was able to make contact. The female shared that she needed housing assistance. She said she was already in contact with Catholic Charities. Due to health conditions, the subject cannot be surrounded by a lot of people. The SAFE Team checked in with Catholic Charities and made an appointment for her to meet with a Case Manager at Catholic Charities the next morning. The SAFE Team was able to make the transfer and helped her to get to her Case Manager.
The SAFE Team dispatched for a welfare check. An off-duty officer saw the subject running in the street, almost being struck by three vehicles. She was actively hearing her children’s voices in her head saying they were in danger and needed her help. Other reports included that she may have also been looking in random cars around the grocery store parking lot. The SAFE Team was able to engage. She was tearful and very paranoid but willing to have a conversation. She was volunteer transfer to Kaiser for treatment and was later placed on a 5150 hold.
SAFE March 2022 Statistics
Total Calls 96
Call types
• Counseling requests 3
• Public assists 75
• Suicidal subject 1
• Welfare checks 14
• Wound care 2
Initiated by
• Dispatch 90
• Flag down 2
• Self-initiated 4
Disposition
• Advised 9
• Assisted 51
• Refused contact 4
• Refused services 10
• Refused transport 1
• Transported 16
• Unable to locate 5
Cover requests
• Police 1
• Fire/EMS 0
Diversions
• ED diversions 6
• Jail diversions 2
PPSC SAFE Team Report April 2022
ROHNERT PARK & COTATI
Prior Month
April 2022
112 calls
Total FY 21
22 Call Types 96 Calls 572 calls
Counseling Requests 3 3 30
Death Notifications 0 0 1
Public Assists 76 80 391
Suicidal Subject 1 3 16
Welfare Checks 14 25 132
Wound Care 2 0 2
Initiated By
Dispatch 90 95 541
Flag Down 2 1 4
Self-initiated 4 16 26
Outcomes/Disposition
Advised 9 12 73
Assisted 50 54 294
Safety Contract 0 1 4
Refused Services 14 15 58
Refused Transport 1 2 5
Transported 17 18 103
Team Canceled On Arrival 0 2 3
UTL/GOA 5 8 34
Cover Request
Police 1 0 3
Fire/EMS 0 0 0
Diversions
ED Diversion 6 0 26
Jail Diversion 2 5 14
Transports
Memorial 3 4 21
Sutter (CSU) 1 4 20
Kaiser 3 4 18
Residential 2 2 13
Catholic Charities 0 1 9
Social Advocates for Youth 2 0 9
Petaluma Valley Hospital 2 0 7
Hotel 3 0 6
Bus/ Train Station 0 1 3
Valley of the Moon 0 0 3
Redwood Gospel Mission 0 1 2
Petaluma Health Center 0 0 1
COTS 0 1 1
PPD/RPDPS/Sheriff’s Office 1 0 1
Libraries 0 0 1
Animal Services/Veterinarian 1 0 1
AA/NA Meeting 0 0 1
Post Office/Bank 0 0 1
Community Center 0 0 1
Sam Jones 0 0 1
Muir Woods 0 1 1
The Wellness Center 0 1 1
Financial Considerations
No direct financial impacts to the First Annual Police Chief’s Report to the community, but data extraction and reporting currently requires extensive staff time. City staff are continuing to look at ways to streamline data extraction from the record management system. Implementation of the SAFE team requires an investment of approximately $180,000 per year. We are continuing to work regionally to obtain grants to partially offset costs.
Environmental Issues
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is not a project which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, pursuant to CEQA Guideline section 15378.
Attachments:
CPD ANNUAL REPORT 2021 (PDF)