City of Piedmont
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: February 22, 2022
TO: Mayor and Council
FROM: Sara Lillevand, City Administrator
SUBJECT: Piedmont Police Department 2021 Year-End Report
RECOMMENDATION
This report is submitted for information purposes only.
BACKGROUND
The Piedmont Police Department year-end report is provided to the Council and community as an overview of Departmental efforts aligned with its public safety mission as well as a summary of criminal offenses based on Uniform Crime Report (UCR) summary data. Note that the F.B.I. reporting requirements for the UCR uses crime definitions that vary slightly from California state law definitions or local standards. Therefore, it is not uncommon for the numbers shown in the UCR to differ from those taken directly from the Police Department’s data analysis system. For example, under California law, breaking into a secured/locked vehicle to steal something would be criminally charged as a Burglary. However, in the UCR, this would be reported as a LarcenyTheft. The UCR is the only officially utilized measure of crime rate utilized by the Piedmont Police Department for reporting purposes. Other reported crime statistics are provided for local interest and education only.
CRIME SUMMARY
The City of Piedmont experienced an increase in reportable offenses in 2021 as compared to 2020, from 370 UCR reported offenses in 2020 to 382 UCR reported offenses in 2021. Please see the attached UCR comparison tables for reference. The increase in reported offenses in 2021 as compared to 2020 was most notably due to increases in larceny thefts.
The table below reflects the number of robberies, larceny thefts, burglaries and motor vehicle thefts reported over the last three years.
2021 Robberies – 7 2020 Robberies – 6 2019 Robberies – 5 2021 Burglaries – 25 2020 Burglaries – 61 2019 Burglaries – 47 2021 Larceny/Theft – 280 2020 Larceny/Theft – 236 2019 Larceny/Theft – 162 2021 Motor Vehicle Theft –61 2020 Motor Vehicle Theft –60 2019 Motor Vehicle Theft –19 Five of the seven robberies reported during 2021 were street robberies where suspects approached individuals in public areas and took, or attempted to take, items of value by means of force or fear. In the other two robberies, victims were confronted while in their vehicles by armed suspects. There were no home-invasion style robberies which occurred in 2021. Suspects were identified and arrested in four of the seven robberies. This is a testament to the outstanding initial response by patrol officers, investigative work by the Detective Unit, and the Department’s ability to leverage technology (through use of the Public Safety Cameras and Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras) and regional law enforcement partnerships.
Burglaries, defined generally as the unlawful entry into a dwelling or specified structure with the intent to commit a theft or other felony, decreased from 61 reported incidents in 2020 to 25 reported incidents in 2021. Larceny-theft increased from 236 reported offenses in 2020 to 280 reported offenses in 2021.
While the Police Department conducts proactive patrols to mitigate thefts and other crimes, we cannot overemphasize the importance of residents and visitors employing basic crime prevention actions such as not leaving valuables in vehicles.
In 2021, Piedmont police officers made 30 arrests and recovered 34 stolen vehicles with a valuation of $449,500 in events directly related to the ALPR cameras. The 30 arrests do not include the arrests made by detectives using ALPR and Public Safety Camera technology in follow up investigations. By comparison, officers made 17 arrests and recovered 34 stolen vehicles with an approximate valuation of $167,300 in 2020.
CRIME PREVENTION SUMMARY
The Department continues to partner with the Public Safety Committee to increase community participation in Neighborhood Watch and disaster preparedness. The Department was ecstatic to partner with the community for the return of National Night Out in August of 2021, Coffee Cars and Cops and participate in other City/ community events, such as the Harvest Festival. These community events provide an opportunity to connect with the public and provide important crime prevention information rooted in our C.O.R.E. (Car, Oneself, Residence, Environment) Four strategy. The C.O.R.E. Four strategy focuses individual attention on areas to mitigate crime.
TRAFFIC SAFETY SUMMARY
The Department conducts selective traffic enforcement targeted in and around the schools and on the more highly traveled streets. The table below contains collision data for the last two years.
Speed and inattention continue to be the main factors associated with the reported collisions.
Yearly
Comparison
Total Documented
Collisions
Injury Collisions Hit & Run Property Damage
Only
2021 79 11 36 32
2020 49 8 18 23
2019 70 4 32 34
Maintaining safe roadways for all who use them is an ongoing area of attention for the Agenda Report Page 2
Department. Enforcement, while providing short-term mitigating effects, cannot be counted on alone to solve speeding issues and other types of hazardous driving. In some instances, engineering solutions are necessary to improve general roadway safety. An interdepartmental group made up of staff from the Public Works Department, Police Department, and City Engineer, worked to ensure the City appropriately addressed traffic safety concerns related to roadways and intersections. Residents and visitors need to take individual accountability with respect to driving habits. The Department continues to seek opportunities to educate and remind drivers of common hazardous driving practices and safe driving practices.
DEPARTMENT TRAINING
The Piedmont Police Department is always seeking to employ best practices and evidence-based approaches. The Department puts a particular premium on training that addresses appropriate use of force and de-escalation. Over the past year, the Department has assessed a training program known as ICAT: Integrating Communications, Assessment, and Tactics.
ICAT is a training program that provides first responding police officers with the tools, skills, and options they need to defuse a range of critical incidents successfully and safely. Developed by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) with input from hundreds of police professionals from across the United States, ICAT takes the essential building blocks of critical thinking, crisis intervention, communications, and tactics, and puts them together in an integrated approach to training.
ICAT is designed especially for situations involving persons who are unarmed or are armed with weapons other than firearms, and who may be experiencing a mental health or other crisis. The training program is anchored by the Critical Decision-Making Model that helps officers assess situations, make safe and effective decisions, and document and learn from their actions. ICAT incorporates different skill sets into a unified training approach that emphasizes scenario-based exercises, as well as lecture and case study opportunities. The Department successfully delivered ICAT training in 2021 and will continue to deliver this important content in the future.
ICAT training is integral to the Department’s overall use of force training and efforts to minimize force used.
The following table shows the number of calls for service over the last three years and the number of use of force instances during the corresponding year. More than one instance of a use of force may occur in one incident. For example, two officers are required to use force in an effort to overcome the resistance, affect the arrest, or prevent the escape of an individual(s) during one call for service.
Year Total Calls for Service Instances of Use of Force
2021 10,636 5
2020 9,844 4
2019 14,312 2
On August 2, 2020, the Piedmont City Council approved a resolution unequivocally rejecting racism in the City of Piedmont and committed itself to “examining and owning our City’s history; engaging in community conversations about policing in Piedmont; and careful review of Agenda Report Page 3
City Policies, procedures, ordinances, values, goals, and missions through an anti-racism lens.” In 2021, the Department entered into an agreement with Cornelia Sylvester of Bay Area Coaching for the development and delivery of anti-racism, equity training, which also incorporated historical perspectives of Piedmont relative to these topics. All Department personnel attended three distinct sessions, which were well-received.
MAJOR PROJECTS
2021 – 2024 Piedmont Police Department Strategic Plan
The Department finalized its three-year strategic plan in 2021. Work for the plan began in 2020 when the Department held a team building workshop with Department leadership to develop the plan. Input from the public, Department members and other city staff was instrumental in the update of our vision, mission and values, and informed Department leadership’s identification of the following 5 overarching imperatives within the plan. • Community Engagement and External Communication
• Employee Development and Wellness
• Internal Communication
• Technology and Facility Considerations
• Policing and Legislative Reforms
The strategic plan is available to the public on the Department’s webpage.
Racial and Identity Profiling Act (RIPA)
In July of 2021, the Department began tracking and reporting demographic information to the California Department of Justice on stops initiated by Piedmont Police Officers.
National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) Transition In 2021, the Department allocated extensive time transitioning its Records Management System and other associated support systems to implement NIBRS reporting. The FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Advisory Policy Board passed a recommendation, which was subsequently approved by the FBI Director in February 2016, to transition all local, state, and tribal law enforcement agencies from the Summary Reporting System (SRS) to the National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS). The transition to NIBRS is a top priority because its implementation will improve the nation's crime statistics for reliability, accuracy, accessibility, and timeliness.
UTSA Calls for Service Analysis
The topic of bias, and the types of calls for service to which our police officers respond, are subjects which the Department has sought to examine. On July 19, 2021, the council approved an agreement with the University of Texas, San Antonio to conduct this analysis. UTSA Professors Michael Smith and Robert Tillyer facilitated focus groups with community stakeholders in September of 2021. Professors Smith and Tillyer worked with Department staff and the Department’s records management vendor to extract the data necessary for their analysis.
Agenda Report Page 4
The extraction of the Department’s data proved challenging and has delayed completion of the project to the May 2022 timeframe. A progress report to stakeholders is scheduled for March 2, 2022, at 6:00 pm. This remote meeting will enable City staff and the UTSA researchers to provide an update on progress made, the anticipated completion date of the project and provide an opportunity for the public to ask questions.
AUTOMATED LICENCE PLATE READER (ALPR) PROGRAM/ PUBLIC SAFETY
CAMERA PROGRAM
The Department has maintained its ALPR program since 2013. The equipment procured at that time has largely reached end of life and the Department has begun to replace the original equipment. The replacement of our ALPR equipment has also afforded us an opportunity to partner with a new vendor enabling the Department to use solar-powered units.
The Department in the process of implementing the Council-approved Public Safety Camera program. The current phase of the implementation consists of working with the data fiber provider and utility company to bring the necessary infrastructure to the camera locations. The Department is very appreciative for the assistance of Public Works Director Daniel Gonzalez through this process.
FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS
The Department improved the audio/visual capabilities of key areas which support staff field work and the public access lobby area. These spaces were outfitted with digital video displays within an integrated system to efficiently support mission critical work and provide better communication and information to the public. The briefing room was equipped to support a multi window display of mission critical content feeds, intelligence and information for daily briefings/presentations, and web conferencing interaction. The sergeant’s office was outfitted with a single wall-mounted LCD for mission critical content feeds, smaller presentations, and web conferencing interaction. The old metal information board which contained basic information about fees and other Department information to the public was replaced with an LCD allowing the Department to provide more information to the public.
On October 4, 2021, the City Council approved a recommendation by staff to prioritize use of the City’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to relocate the Department’s dispatch center. The City retained a part-time retired annuitant to perform project management services.
A request for proposals is in the process of being drafted. ARPA funds must be spent or committed by December 31, 2024 and must be spent by the end of calendar year 2026.
ATTACHMENTS
2021 Fourth Quarter UCR Statistics
2021 vs. 2020 & 2019 Total Year Comparison
2021 vs. 2020 & 2019 Monthly Crime Comparison
2021 Year-End Quarter Crime Maps
2021 ALPR Report
By: Jeremy Bowers, Chief of Police
Agenda Report Page 5
CRIME 2019 2020 2021
Criminal Homicide 0 0 0
Rape 3 1 0
Robbery 5 6 7
Assault 7 6 9
Burglary 47 61 25
Larceny - Theft 162 236 280
Motor Vehicle Theft 19 60 61
Arson 1 0 0
Yearly Totals 244 370 382
Uniform Crime Report
End of Year Comparison
Agenda Report Page 6
CRIME OCT NOV DEC Totals
Criminal Homicide 0 0 0 0
Rape 0 0 0 0
Robbery 2 0 0 2
Assault 2 0 0 2
Burglary 3 1 2 6
Larceny - Theft 24 26 31 81
Motor Vehicle Theft 5 8 11 24
Arson 0 0 0 0
Monthly Totals 36 35 44 115
Uniform Crime Stats 4th Qrtr 2021
Agenda Report Page 7
Piedmont Police Department
UCR January - December
2019, 2020, 2021
Uniform Crime Report 2021
CRIME JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Totals Criminal Homicide 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Rape 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Robbery 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 1 0 2 0 0 7
Assault 0 1 0 2 2 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 9
Burglary 2 0 4 3 0 1 4 1 4 3 1 2 25
Larceny - Theft 13 16 25 37 33 16 16 23 20 24 26 31 280 Motor Vehicle Theft 1 5 4 6 5 2 6 7 1 5 8 11 61
Arson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Monthly Totals 17 22 34 48 40 20 28 33 25 36 35 44 382
Uniform Crime Report 2020
CRIME JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Totals Criminal Homicide 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Rape 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Robbery 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 1 1 6
Assault 1 0 2 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 6
Burglary 9 2 6 4 7 6 8 2 2 1 5 9 61
Larceny - Theft 16 17 14 22 15 19 20 13 12 29 26 33 236 Motor Vehicle Theft 4 5 1 2 5 7 18 3 3 4 5 3 60
Arson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Monthly Totals 30 24 24 28 28 34 49 19 17 34 37 46 370
Uniform Crime Report 2019
CRIME JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Totals Criminal Homicide 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Rape 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 3
Robbery 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 5
Assault 0 1 1 0 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 7
Burglary 3 3 5 2 3 1 5 6 2 5 6 6 47
Larceny - Theft 10 8 7 12 16 14 17 27 6 22 9 14 162
Motor Vehicle Theft 5 0 2 3 1 0 0 1 2 1 2 2 19
Arson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
Monthly Totals 19 12 16 17 23 17 23 36 10 29 18 24 244
Agenda Report Page 8
Agenda Report Page 9
Agenda Report Page 10
Agenda Report Page 11
Agenda Report Page 12
Agenda Report Page 13
PIEDMONT POLICE DEPARTMENT ALPR STAT SHEET
2019
Stolen Vehicle
Recoveries
Recovered Vehicle
Values
Arrests Related
to ALPR's
January 2 $ 6,000.00 0
February 3 $ 30,000.00 1
March 3 $ 8,600.00 0
April 2 $35,000.00 2
May 4 $ 61,000.00 2
June 0 $ - 0
July 5 $44,500.00 3
August 4 $ 43,500.00 1
September 2 $26,000.00 1
October 2 $ 21,000.00 0
November 4 $ 24,000.00 3
December 2 $ 4,500.00 1
Totals 33 $ 280,100.00 14
2020
Stolen Vehicle
Recoveries
Recovered Vehicle
Values
Arrests Related
to ALPR's
January 0 $ - 0
February 1 $ 16,000.00 1
March 1 $ 15,000.00 0
April 7 $ 61,500.00 5
May 3 $ 15,000.00 1
June 3 $ 10,000.00 2
July 3 $6,000.00 1
August 2 $ 3,800.00 2
September 3 $9,000.00 2
October 5 $ 12,000.00 1
November 3 $ 9,500.00 0
December 3 $ 9,500.00 2
Totals 34 $ 167,300.00 17
2021
Stolen Vehicle
Recoveries
Recovered Vehicle
Values
Arrests Related
to ALPR's
January 5 $ 40,000.00 4
February 2 $ 65,000.00 0
March 8 $ 40,500.00 9
April 3 $ 9,000.00 0
May 4 $ 43,500.00 3
June 2 $ 8,000.00 1
July 9 $43,500.00 0
August 6 $ 32,000.00 4
September 5 $54,500.00 3
October 10 $ 79,000.00 2
November 4 $ 14,500.00 3
December 1 $ 20,000.00 1
Totals 59 $ 449,500.00 30
Agenda Report Page 14