Item No.
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
ROGER BRADLEY, CITY MANAGER
DATE: DECEMBER 10, 2024
SUBJECT: ADDITIONAL POLICE DEPARTMENT PATROL STAFF BUDGET
ALLOCATIONS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Early this spring, the City Council approved a contract with Matrix Consulting Group to perform an organizational assessment of the Police Department’s staffing needs.
Specifically, the Department is looking to find ways to maximize efficiencies with current resources and have a detailed plan regarding staffing growth in both sworn and nonsworn positions in order to continue to provide high quality services to the Downey community. The complete plan is due to be released in the next few weeks. In the meantime, information from the initial analysis indicates that an expansion of Patrol Staffing by eight (8.0) fulltime officers is needed to meet the workload demands of the community. The City Council will consider authorizing this increase in the patrol staffing levels.
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council:
1. Allocate an additional eight (8.0) fulltime sworn officers to the City’s Patrol staffing levels, to be paid for by the newly passed Measure D revenues; and
2. Increase appropriations by $773,033 in General Fund, Measure D Operating Fund, Account No. 12-4-2120 for the additional Police Officers.
BACKGROUND
Over the past several months, the City has been working with Matrix Consulting Group to complete an assessment of the staffing plan and operations of the City’s Police Department (PD). This study is looking at ways to ensure that the City’s staffing plan matches the current demands of the community. The study is currently in its final stages of review and will be completed shortly. In addition to the work on the PD Assessment, Downey residents recently approved Measure D, a ¼ cent revenue measure that will provide funding for expanded public safety needs, including additional Police Officers. It is anticipated that many of the recommendation from the study will be funded using the new revenue source of Measure D.
ADDITIONAL POLICE DEPARTMENT PATROL STAFF ALLOCATION
DECEMBER 10, 2024
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ANALYSIS
While the PD Assessment is still in its final review stage, one of the forthcoming findings that stands out is the need to expand the City’s Patrol Services. The Assessment analyzes the proactivity levels of our Patrol Services, which is the remaining time available to our patrol staff to proactively engage in unrestricted police efforts; that is, the time available to staff when they are not responding to a call. Having some free time is important to Police patrolling efforts because this is the time that our officers can show a visible presence out in the community and look for issues and concerns that need to be addressed. Generally, the report recommends at least 45% of the time staff are patrolling the community should be unrestrictive time based on industry standards observed by Matrix Consulting Group’s PD assessments. The study for our PD Department shows that staff have 34% of their time as unrestricted. In order to reach the 45% threshold, Matrix Consulting Group recommends an additional eight (8.0) sworn patrol officers be added to the Department. This addition will allow for a greater Police presence to be shown within the community and contribute to enhanced public safety and proactive measures.
Patrol Services are one of the most visible and public facing aspects of Police Services.
As mentioned, it adds a sense of community calming with the greater presence of our Police forces as they proactively patrol the City. As a typical recruitment onboarding, and training for a new recruit can take approximately 16 months (four (4) months for recruitment, six (6) months for the academy, and six (6) months for officer field training) , staff recommends increasing the budget allocation of Patrol staff now, rather than waiting for the final report to be released and for Measure D revenues to begin to be received by the City (April 1, 2025). There will be additional sworn officers, in addition to those mentioned herein, as well as nonsworn personnel that will be recommended in the final report, but with this portion of the analysis being ready for execution, staff recommends proceeding with the addition of the Patrol staff. It is anticipated that the final report, along with additional budget authorization requests, will be brought before the City Council for review and consideration in January 2025.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Efficiency and Adaptability
Quality of Life, Safety, and Infrastructure
Public Engagement
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of the recommended action will result in an annual increase of $1,546,065 for the additional 8 Patrol Officers. For the remainder of Fiscal Year 2024-2025, $773,033 will need to be appropriated for the additional staffing this Fiscal Year in account, General Fund, Measure D Operating Fund, Account No. 12-4-2120.
ATTACHMENTS
None