10D Action 2014 0106 - Laserfiche WebLink

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SpN 'LEANE)q i a r�o Project Overview Grant for five (5.0) federally funded COPS positions The City of San Leandro Police Department is nearing the end of its previously authorized Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) federal grant, which funded five (5.0) Full -Time Equivalent (FTE) police officer positions dedicated to community policing, crime/gang suppression and crime prevention. Police sworn staffing is currently authorized for 90 positions, which includes the five aforementioned positions, with funding due to expire in May 2014. Police officer staffing has been as high as 94 in the last five years, however, was reduced to 84 in 2008 due to budget reductions. In the last three years, wireless 911 calls for service have increased by a total of 25,000 calls. Between 2010 and 2012, 911 calls have increased by 43% in part due to the acceptance of 911 wireless calls. In addition, the population of San Leandro has increased in the past 20 years from 68,000 to 85,000 residents, without a commensurate increase in staffing, which has significantly impacted service delivery. In 2012, local crime rates also increased by nearly 10%. The current 5.0 federally funded COPS positions are assigned full-time to the following areas and use a combination of enforcement, prevention and education in their assignments: 1. Crime Prevention/ Neighborhood Policing Officer (1.0 FTE) 2. School Resource Officer (1.0 FTE) 3. Downtown Bicycle Officer (1.0 FTE) 4. Gang Suppression Officers (2.0 FTE) With the rise in gun violence, increase in service calls and low police staffing, the San Leandro Police Department has identified the need to elevate community engagement, to build stronger working relationships with those that live, work and play in San Leandro, with the goal of reducing crime and ultimately creating a safer city. The core of this initiative is full community engagement and a combination of programs and technology to reduce crime. San Leandro completed a COPS application in 2013 and made a request for four (4.0) COPS Hiring Program officers: • Two (2.0) Officers would be tasked with community outreach and engagement • Two (2.0) Officers would be devoted to investigating and closing cases Funding Request San Leandro is seeking funding to add four (4.0) federally funded COPS positions dedicated to a variety of community policing and investigative programs. These positions are critical to staffing a department that has been historically understaffed with police officers, and is located next to the City of Oakland (the third most violent city in the nation), sharing geographically contiguous borders.