Laserfiche WebLink
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. <br />11 <br />