8/5/2024
TO: PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE
AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT
COMMITTEE
FROM: Paul Joseph
SUBJECT: Crime Prevention Status
Report
DATE: July 31, 2024
Approved Date:
RECOMMENDATION
Accept the status report on the Police Department Crime Prevention Unit’s current and planned activities.
BACKGROUND
The Crime Prevention Unit (CPU) falls under the purview of the Bureau of Field Operations in the San José Police Department (Department). The Unit’s responsibilities include promoting community partnership by bringing safety education, training, and engagement activities to community members of all ages throughout the City of San José.
The CPU aims to improve the quality and equity of the Department’s delivery of public safety services to the community. Key deliverables include workshops for the Camera Archive Mapping (CAM) registry, collaboration with local businesses, and presentations related to fentanyl awareness, Narcan distribution, and Department practices to foster community relationships. The CPU strives to strengthen community policing and enhance public safety education.
ANALYSIS
On December 10, 2023, the Department published its Strategic Plan per the recommendations of the Reimagining Public Safety Community Advisory Committee and Charter Review Commission on Public Safety. In the Strategic Plan, the Department set the following five Strategic Goals: (1) promote public safety; (2) partner with our diverse community; (3) workforce diversity, wellness, and development; PSFSS COMMITTEE AGENDA: 8/15/24
ITEM: (d)3.
PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT
July 31, 2024
Subject: Crime Prevention Status Report
(4) continuous improvement and innovative service delivery; and (5) secure adequate resources.
2 The CPU falls into the Strategic Plan’s objective to enhance and promote crime prevention resources, efforts, and programs. During Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-2024, the CPU provided 267 community presentations, which included topics of workplace safety, personal safety, and neighborhood watch. Approximately 7,500 San José residents attended these presentations, with neighborhood watch presentations being one of the most popular, attended by 1,440 residents over the fiscal year.
The CPU consists of one supervisor and seven Crime Prevention Specialists. Crime Prevention is allocated 12 positions, with three per City police division. Three prospective Crime Prevention Specialist candidates have been recently hired to enhance equity and improve community service to the residents of San José. One more candidate is currently undergoing background checks.
CPU FY 2023-2024 Programming Highlights
• Neighborhood Watch – Neighborhood Watch is a program designed to organize neighbors and give them information on how to target-harden their homes and vehicles. Crime Prevention Specialists work closely with command staff and officers in their assigned districts to offer information and organize meetings for residents of San José. Neighborhood Watch programs and presentations play a crucial role in CPU’s operations. In collaboration with division captains and the CPU, data analytics are used to assess high-impacted areas and focus outreach efforts to those locations.
• Business Watch – Business Watch is designed to bring business owners, community members, and the Department together to deter crime in and around businesses. During business watch meetings participants are given tips on how to spot suspicious activity, prevent fraud and shoplifting, and how to contact the police department. Participants are encouraged to share concerns, problems, and possible solutions.
• School Presentations - During FY 2023-2024, the CPU provided school presentations to a total audience of 29,306 students and parents/guardians.
These presentations range from information about cyberbullying and internet safety to substance abuse and prevention.
2 Details from the meeting may be found here:
https://sanjose.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=12915825&GUID=04F5AB56-12BE-4162-8BD6- 9F8BCBFFCE4C
PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT
July 31, 2024
Subject: Crime Prevention Status Report
• Workplace Safety and Violence Prevention Training – The CPU provides site visits to businesses to empower staff with tools to foster workplace safety.
Training covers diverse topics relative to the type of facility and business and business location/surroundings. During FY 2023-2024, the CPU provided training to all staff and airlines at the San José Mineta International Airport. • National Night Out – On August 1, 2023, the CPU successfully executed the Department’s National Night Out with attendance at over 140 sites throughout San José. The CPU successfully engaged over 200 volunteers from the Department to participate in the largest community policing event of the year.
National Night Out is designed to:
o Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police/community partnerships; o Heighten crime prevention awareness;
o Generate support for, and participation in, local crime prevention efforts; and
o Build connections within the community.
• Ice Cream Truck – Established in 2017 and dedicated to Officer Michael Katherman, the Department’s ice cream truck is highly requested and aims to build community relationships. During FY 2023-2024, the ice cream truck provided over 7,000 ice cream items at over 40 events.
• Camera Archive & Mapping (CAM) - In January 2023, in conjunction with the Mayor’s Office, the Department implemented the CAM program, which allows residents and businesses owners to register the locations of their video surveillance systems. As a voluntary and free program, the CAM program assists in locating cameras in the vicinity of a crime to aid and expedite investigations.
To date, the CAM program includes over 2,500 properties. Additionally, the CPU rolled out a camera rebate program and issued 32 free cameras to locally owned businesses that didn’t have recordable cameras. Outreach for free cameras included businesses that recently experienced criminal activity. • Fentanyl Awareness – In alignment with the San José Opioid Response Fund, the CPU delivers fentanyl awareness and education presentations to residents throughout the city. To date, the CPU has conducted 81 presentations, reaching over 3,350 participants.
• Know Your Limits – The CPU continues to collaborate with other units within the Department to promote community policing. Know Your Limits was a collaboration with the Traffic Enforcement Unit, Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, Bureau of Field Operations Chief’s Analyst, the Department’s Transparency Engagement Liaison, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and the San José Police Foundation to bring awareness to driving under the influence of alcohol. The first event was held on December 22, 2023, at Santana Row from
PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT
July 31, 2024
Subject: Crime Prevention Status Report
6:00 pm to midnight. The Traffic Enforcement Unit tested the blood alcohol content of 100 participants who voluntarily agreed to provide it. Of the 100 participants, 63 were above the legal limit to drive and received a Starbucks gift card. Additionally, educational literature on the dangers of driving under the influence was provided to all participants. The second event was held on March 15, 2024, at San Pedro Square from 6:00 pm to midnight. During this event, 210 participants were tested, and 61 were above the legal limit. Participants were provided educational material and an Uber gift card to ensure a safe ride home.
Rates of intoxication were shared with the District Attorney’s Office to help inform their work to prevent driving under the influence of alcohol.
Street Vendors – The CPU provides outreach and education to street vendors.
This includes information on getting permitted and education on personal safety and crime reporting. During FY 2023-2024, 138 vendors were served, and three community events were held. The CPU also conducted outreach and education for unpermitted vendors at key sites, providing follow-up information on resources and permitting questions.
Welcoming New Community Members – The CPU conducts presentations to educate the community on police practices to foster transparency, build trust, and enhance public safety. The presentation empowers residents to know their rights, contributes to accountability, and encourages a collaborative approach to addressing crime and safety concerns. These presentations are designed with a special focus on welcoming new arrivals, including those from other communities or countries and aiding an understanding of policing in San José.
During FY 2024-2025, the CPU will engage in the following projects:
• Provide additional CAM program workshops to increase registry participation and improve enrollment numbers.
• Continue to provide fentanyl awareness presentations and distribute Narcan to adult residents.
• Increase collaboration with businesses throughout San José, including free camera distribution and workplace safety and violence prevention training. • Continue to collaborate with other units in the Department and proactively and equitably deliver crime prevention workshops to enhance community policing. • Continue to provide police practices presentations and build relationships with new arrivals from other communities and countries.
• Continue outreach and education with food vendors with a focus on getting unpermitted vendors permitted.
PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT
July 31, 2024
Subject: Crime Prevention Status Report
Performance Measurement
The CPU measures performance based on the ability to engage residents to participate in educational workshops and meetings. The following performance measures represent the CPU’s efforts to engage with the community in FY 2023-2024.
Performance
Measurement
Target
23-24
Estimate
23-24
Qtr. 1
23-24
Qtr. 2
23-24
Qtr. 3
23-24
Qtr. 4
23-24
Total
23-24
# of community
presentations (excluding
schools)
230 265 64 58 77 68 267
# of participants at
community presentations
(excluding schools)
6,800 7,297 1,889 1,746 1,838 2,032 7,505
# of school presentations 600 837 181 265 182 101 729
# of participants at school
presentations
37,200 34,414 8,627 8,255 8,929 3,495 29,306
# of residents who actively
participate in the
Neighborhood Watch
Program
1,112 1,236 278 383 266 513 1,440
*Does not include special projects (e.g., ice cream truck, health and safety fairs, and National Night Out)
COORDINATION
This report was coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office and the City Manager’s Budget Office.
Paul Joseph
Acting Chief of Police
For questions, please contact Sandra Garcia, Crime Prevention Unit Supervisor, at [email protected].