Administrative
Report
H.14., File # 22-3836 Meeting Date: 3/15/2022
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: JOE HOFFMAN, CHIEF OF POLICE
TITLE
AUTHORIZE THE OVERHIRING OF CERTAIN POSITIONS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO HELP RESPOND TO AREAS OF COMMUNITY NEED.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Given the number of vacancies in the Police Department and a need to reallocate resources to meet current demands and address crime trends and safety concerns within the community, the Police Department is requesting authorization for the over-hire of one Police Sergeant position and 2 Community Service Officer (CSO) II positions. These personnel adjustments would have immediate effect and continue until the end of the Fiscal Year. No additional funding is needed for the over-hires as salary savings are available in the Police Department Budget for FY 2021-22 to cover the cost.
BACKGROUND
Public Safety Staffing Request - Sworn
The Police Department is currently staffed with 89 of its budgeted 95 sworn personnel. Additionally, six police officers have not yet completed the mandatory training requirements or are on extended leave and therefore cannot be utilized as solo performing officers in the field. This means 83 police officers are available for service.
The Pier Harbor area is currently budgeted with one Sergeant (currently on leave) and three police officers. Calls for service in the Pier Harbor area have steeply increased in the last six years from 5062 annual calls for service to 7023 presently. Not only have the calls for service increased, but the number of arrests and crime reports have also increased during this time period. Most notably, an active shooter incident occurred at the crowded Redondo Beach Pier on August 25, 2021. The Police Department has also received requests from the City Council and the community for increased presence at the Pier and in City parks, as well as additional support for ongoing quality of life issues, and concerns related to Code Enforcement.
The Police Department plans to increase presence in the Pier area, by reactivating the Pier-Sub Station with sworn and non-sworn staffing stationed in that location. The complement of police officers assigned to the Pier Harbor area will be supported by the requested additional Police Sergeant that will be an over-fill of a vacant police officer position. This Police Sergeant, working with sworn and non-sworn personnel, will also focus on issues that have an impact across the community including quality of life concerns, park patrols and code enforcement response.
H.14., File # 22-3836 Meeting Date: 3/15/2022
Public Safety Staffing Request- Non-Sworn
Additionally, the over-hiring of two additional Community Service Officer II positions is requested to supplement the efforts of certain sworn officers and provide increased staffing at the Pier Substation, enforcement of municipal code violations, community engagement and to help create a greater overall presence that will in itself act as a crime deterrent. These modifications will significantly enhance the level of public safety in the Pier Harbor area without decreasing safety in other parts of the City.
Next Steps
The over-hire of a Police Sergeant and the provision of two additional CSO II positions will significantly increase the Department’s ability to patrol the Pier Harbor area and enhance response in other areas of community concern. If approved by Council, The Police Sergeant over-hire will be filled immediately as there is an existing promotional list. The CSO II positions will be filled in the next few weeks, as the testing process for the classification is currently underway.
As mentioned above, the Police Department will use these over-hire positions to help staff and operate the Pier Sub-Station, increase public safety presence in parks, disseminate public safety information, enforce certain municipal code violations and conduct community engagement with Pier merchants and visitors. PD will bring the results of this activity and engagement back to the City Council in a Budget Response Report during the annual budget process.
COORDINATION
The Police Department coordinated this report with the City Manager and the Finance and Human Resources Departments.
FISCAL IMPACT
No additional funding is needed to implement the requested personnel changes. The total cost for the three over-hire positions for the remainder of the FY is estimated to be less than $50,000. This expense will be offset by expected salary savings in the Department, due to existing personnel vacancies.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager