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The staffing of the Traffic Division has fluctuated between four
<br />and eight officers during the past 20 years. The majority of the
<br />time the division has been staffed with four to five officers
<br />because of shortages in the Patrol Division. The members of
<br />the Traffic Division are responsible for traffic -related enforcement,
<br />response and investigation of all motor vehicle accidents, and
<br />the implementation of all traffic -related projects (Avoid the 21,
<br />Sober Graduation, pedestrian safety programs, commercial
<br />enforcement, etc.). The Code Compliance Unit works out of
<br />the Traffic Division and is currently staffed with one civilian
<br />supervisor, four non -sworn code compliance officers, and one
<br />administrative support position. The code compliance function
<br />initially began in the Community Development Department,
<br />but was moved to the Police Department during the past 20
<br />years. The Animal Control Unit also works out of the Traffic
<br />Division and has two full time animal control officers who
<br />provide coverage seven days a week.
<br />The Criminal Investigation Division has maintained a very
<br />similar make-up in terms of personnel during the past 20
<br />years. There are currently three detectives and one sergeant
<br />assigned to the Narcotics Unit, two detectives and one
<br />sergeant assigned to the Juvenile Unit, three detectives and
<br />one sergeant assigned to the Property Crimes Unit, two
<br />detectives and two sergeants assigned to the Crimes Against
<br />Persons Unit. Two of the detectives in the Property Unit also
<br />spend part of their time working in regional task forces for
<br />auto theft and financial crimes. One of the detectives assigned
<br />to the Narcotics Unit also serves as the department's computer
<br />forensic investigator. The one area where we have seen a
<br />tremendous increase in cases is financial/identity theft crimes
<br />during the past ten years.
<br />The Support Services Division has experienced a reduction in
<br />staffing within many of their units, while the workload has
<br />increased. The calls for service received by the Communication
<br />Center have increased each year. During peak hours the
<br />communication center is staffed with three dispatchers and
<br />one supervisor, with a reduction to two dispatchers and one
<br />supervisor during non -peak times. During the non peak hours
<br />the supervisor is required to fill in for break times of the
<br />dispatchers, greatly reducing their ability to effectively
<br />supervise the jail staff if required. The records staff has
<br />diminished during this time, along with other staff positions
<br />that assisted with the duties performed by the records unit,
<br />such as warrant clerk, data entry clerk and crime analyst. The
<br />number of reports to be processed has increased, and the
<br />duties of the position have grown. We currently staff no
<br />records personnel from 10:00pm to S:OOam, Monday thru
<br />Friday, or during expanded hours on the weekends. The front
<br />counter for customer assistance is closed to the public during
<br />that time period. The jail staff has experienced a minimal
<br />increase during the past 20 years, and we are able to staff two
<br />jailers on duty for the majority of the peak hours. For safety
<br />concerns it is very important to try and maintain this standard.
<br />A review of the crime rate in San Leandro during the past 20
<br />years indicates that Part 1 Crimes have remained at a
<br />somewhat consistent level, except for a three year spike that
<br />took place from 1993-1995. Part 1 Crimes consist of murder,
<br />rape, robbery, aggravated assault, simple assault, burglary,
<br />larceny, auto theft and arson. A more condensed look at the
<br />Part 1 Crime totals during the past five years shows that the
<br />numbers are extremely close each of those years,
<br />approximately 4,900 per year. In using the most recent DOJ
<br />(Department of Justice) statistics released, we were able to
<br />take a comparative look at some of the other agencies in the
<br />area. The agencies that we used to compare against were
<br />Alameda PD, Oakland PD, Berkeley PD and Hayward PD. The
<br />statistics illustrated that our officers made more felony and
<br />misdemeanor arrests per officer than any of those agencies.
<br />The most recent FBI crime statistics also indicate that our
<br />officers handle more Part 1 Crimes per officer than any of
<br />those other agencies. In determining our calls for service, we
<br />based the number on the calls that are actually entered into
<br />the computer, not including all of the calls that come into
<br />dispatch. Last year we had 74,953 calls for service, and we
<br />anticipate an increase this year. Last year our officers made
<br />4,168 arrests that were booked into our jail facility, and
<br />generated approximately 13,000 reports that were processed
<br />by our records section.
<br />Based on a comparison with the other agencies listed, we have
<br />the lowest number of officers per 10,000 population averaging
<br />almost two officers less than the next lowest agency. To be tied
<br />for last in staffing levels with the other agencies, we would
<br />have to increase by 13 officers. The national average for
<br />officers per 10,000 citizens is 23. The California average for
<br />officers per 10,000 citizens is 20. We currently have 11.9 officers
<br />per 10,000 citizens. In the comparison with the non -sworn
<br />positions with the other listed agencies, we are again the
<br />lowest per 10,000 population. We have fallen behind in our
<br />data entry functions due to the heavy workloads of our non -
<br />sworn staff, which impacts the efficiency of our total operation
<br />as an agency.
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