HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter and ReporttyTmr.
POLICE
k,.
CALIFORNIA
4 T .1�1N1 Or
NATIONAL CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE
June 4, 2014
Honorable David J. Danielson
Presiding Judge of the Superior Court
San Diego, Superior Court
220 West Broadway
San Diego, CA 92101
Honorable Judge Danielson:
This is an update report regarding the 2013-2014 Grand Jury Report, "Senior Volunteers
a Valuable Asset in Times of Economic Stress". On June 17, 2014 the National City
Council agreed via Council Agenda Statement, to support the Police Department in
implementing the Grand Jury Recommendation 14-38, The Police Department is
required to submit a report to the Grand Jury on July 29, 2014, outlining the City's efforts
in this area.
Since the June 17, 2014, City Council meeting, the instituting a Senior Volunteer
Program recommendation was referred to the Police Department for further consideration
and implementation. The project was assigned to the Community Services Division.
Grand Jury's Recommendation - Item No. 14-38
Consider instituting a senior volunteer program in the jurisdiction.
Response to ltern No. 14-38:
The following is the Police Department's actions and plans to date for increasing the
existing Senior Volunteer Program.
The City of National City agrees with this recommendation and recognizes the value of
having volunteers in policing and the tremendous contribution these individuals make to
our community. The National City Police Department has previously had an active
Senior Volunteer Program in previous years.
Office of the Chief of Police
1200 National City Boulevard, National City, CA 91950
(619) 336-4511/Fax (619) 336-4525 www.,eationalcitvca.gov
Unfortunately the lack of volunteers has made the program dormant. In response the
National City Police Department has implemented the following changes:
1. A Senior Volunteer Brochure has been produced
2. The Volunteer Application has been streamlined and shortened
3. Active recruiting is taking place at service clubs, community councils and
senior centers.
4. In the process of developing a recruitment video, which can be viewed on the
department's website.
If you have any questions, please contact Captain Jose Tellez, Field Operations, National
City Police Department at (619) 336-4513.
Sincerely,
Manuel Rodriguez
Chief of Police
SENIOR VOLUNTEERS
A VALUABLE ASSET IN TIMES
OF ECONOMIC STRESS
A Report by the
2013/2014 San Diego County Grand Jury
April 30, 2014
SENIOR VOLUNTEERS
A VALUABLE ASSET IN TIMES OF ECONOMIC STRESS
SUMMARY
Senior volunteer patrols are comprised of citizens retired from a wide range of occupations
broadly representative of the County's population: civil servants, nurses and other medical
practitioners, construction workers, educators, attorneys, military veterans, etc. As members of
law enforcement volunteer programs, these seniors assist police agencies with such tasks as
traffic control, issuing parking citations for handicapped parking violators, transportation of
evidence, contacting house -bound citizens to assure that they are safe, and many other tasks
which do not require a swom officer. Senior patrol members performing these duties allow
police personnel more time to deal with public safety issues.
The 2013/2014 San Diego County Grand Jury (Grand Jury) investigation determined that in the
most recent calendar year, the eight San Diego County jurisdictions surveyed had 1,573 senior
volunteers who served a total of 453,384 hours at a program cost of $1,027,090. Based on
information provided by the jurisdictions studied, the services of the senior volunteers represent
a total cost savings of $10,293,979 to the jurisdictions involved.
INTRODUCTION
With an eye on the recent recession and its impact on the ability of local govemments to provide
public services, the Grand Jury decided to revisit the senior volunteer patrol programs in the
County to determine the amount of money volunteerism saves the various law enforcement
agencies.
PROCEDURE
During the investigation, the Grand Jury requested and received information regarding senior
volunteers from the following law enforcement agencies:
• San Diego County Sheriffs Department
• San Diego Police Department
• Carlsbad Police Department
• El Cajon Police Department
• Escondido Police Department
• La Mesa Police Department
• Oceanside Police Department
• Chula Vista Police Department
These agencies were requested to provide the following information:
• Their number of volunteers
• The cumulative hours worked by their volunteers in one year's time
• The cost of the volunteer program to the agency
• The program benefits in dollars to the agency
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2013/2014 (filed April 30, 2014)
DISCUSSION
Ten years ago, the 2003/2004 San Diego County Grand Jury reviewed and reported on the senior
volunteer programs administered by the Sheriffs Department, the San Diego Police Department,
and the La Mesa Police Department. The value of the volunteer programs in just these three
jurisdictions was impressive, amounting to more than $4.5 million for the year studied.
The 2013/2014 Grand Jury expanded its investigation to include the original three jurisdictions
studied earlier plus police departments operated by the Cities of Carlsbad, Chula Vista, El Cajon,
Oceanside, and Escondido. Based on information provided by the responding agencies, 1,573
senior volunteer patrol members worked 453,384 hours in the year reported. The combined cost
of the eight programs was $1,027,090, and program benefit to the law enforcement jurisdictions
and the community was $10,293,979.
While the volunteer programs come at some cost to the sponsoring agencies, they save the
community much more than they cost. Program costs vary from agency to agency, but typically
include items such as the cost of administering the program, uniforms, training, vehicles and
related costs such as fuel.
Summary of the Senior Volunteer Programs in Eight San Diego County Jurisdictions, 20131
Volunteers
Hours Worked
Program Cost
$632,761
Program Benefit
$5,022,143
Sheriffs Dept.
935
254,829
San Diego PD
372
135,000
$1,515,975
$3,510,000
Carlsbad PD
41
13,304
$3,150
$864,760
El Cajon PD
17
7,222
$2,700
$159,895
Escondido PD
30
7,037
$15,845
$174,156
La Mesa PD
46
11,780
$49,000
$325,000
Oceanside PD
65
20,067
$46,190
$667,322
Chula Vista PD
67
19,145
$25,600
$423,903
Total
1,573
453,384
$1,027,090
$10,293,979
Delegating some routine tasks not requiring a swom officer to senior volunteer patrol members
allows sworn officers to spend more time performing law enforcement tasks directly associated
with public safety. In addition, senior volunteer patrol members patrolling their communities in
marked law enforcement vehicles provide an additional police presence that reminds both law
abiding citizens and potential criminals that public safety is a high concern in their community.
FACTSAND FINDINGS
Fact: More than 1,500 senior patrol volunteers serve in eight law enforcement jurisdictions in
San Diego County.
Fact: Senior volunteer patrol members served more than 450,000 hours during the period
studied.
1 As provided by the law enforcement jurisdictions queried.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2013/2014 (fled April 30, 2014)
2
Fact: Senior volunteer patrol members perform community service tasks not requiring a sworn
officer.
Finding 01: Use of senior volunteer patrol personnel allows sworn officers to spend more time
performing public safety- related tasks.
Fact: The value of the services provided by senior volunteer patrols is estimated by the law
enforcement agencies administering them to be $10,410,979 during the period studied.
Fact: The cost of providing senior volunteer patrol services is estimated by the law enforcement
agencies involved to be $1,027,090 during the period studied.
Finding 02: Senior volunteer patrol programs are a valuable asset to the community.
COMMENDATION
The citizens who volunteer through the senior volunteer patrol programs are dedicated, civic -
minded people who have the time and the desire to make their communities better places. The
Grand Jury commends them for their hard work and contributions to their communities.
In addition, the law enforcement agencies that organize and administer these programs are also
to be congratulated for having the foresight to recognize the value senior volunteers add to the
law enforcement equation.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The 2013-2014 San Diego County Grand Jury recommends that the San Diego County
Sheriffs Department, San Diego Police Department, Carlsbad Police Department, Chula
Vista Police Department, El Cajon Police Department, Escondido Police Department, La
Mesa Police Department and the Oceanside Police Department:
14-37:
Continue senior volunteer programs already in place, expanding them
whenever practical.
The 2013-2014 San Diego County Grand Jury recommends that the National City Police
Department:
14-38: Consider instituting a senior volunteer program in its jurisdiction.
REQUIREMENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS
The California Penal Code §933(c) requires any public agency which the Grand Jury has
reviewed, and about which it has issued a final report, to comment to the Presiding Judge of the
'Superior Court on the findings and recommendations pertaining to matters under the control of
the agency. Such comment shall be made no later than 90 days after the Grand Jury publishes its
report (filed with the Clerk of the Court); except that in the case of a report containing findings
and recommendations pertaining to a department or agency headed by an elected County official
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2013/2014 (filed April 30, 2014)
3
(e.g. District Attorney, Sheriff, etc.), such comment shall be made within 60 days to the
Presiding Judge with an information copy sent to the Board of Supervisors.
Furthermore, California Penal Code §933.05(a), (b), (c), details, as follows, the manner in which
such comment(s) are to be made:
(a) As to each grand jury finding, the responding person or entity shall indicate one of the
following:
(1) The respondent agrees with the finding
(2) The respondent disagrees wholly or partially with the finding, in which
case the response shall specify the portion of the finding that is
disputed and shall include an explanation of the reasons therefor.
(b) As to each grand jury recommendation, the responding person or entity shall report
one of the following actions:
(1) The recommendation has been implemented, with a summary
regarding the implemented action.
(2) The recommendation has not yet been implemented, but will be
implemented in the future, with a time frame for implementation.
(3) The recommendation requires further analysis, with an explanation and
the scope and parameters of an analysis or study, and a time frame
for the matter to be prepared for discussion by the officer or head
of the agency or department being investigated or reviewed,
including the governing body of the public agency when
applicable. This time frame shall not exceed six months from the
date of publication of the grand jury report.
(4) The recommendation will not be implemented because it is not
warranted or is not reasonable, with an explanation therefor.
(c) If a finding or recommendation of the grand jury addresses budgetary or personnel
matters of a county agency or department headed by an elected officer, both the
agency or department head and the Board of Supervisors shall respond if
requested by the grand jury, but the response of the Board of Supervisors shall
address only those budgetary or personnel matters over which it has some
decision making authority. The response of the elected agency or department head
shall address all aspects of the findings or recommendations affecting his or her
agency or department.
Comments to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court in compliance with the Penal Code
§933.05 are required from the:
Responding Agencv
Recommendations Date
San Diego County Sheriff's 14-37 07/29/14
Department
San Diego Police Department 14-37 07/29/14
Carlsbad Police Department 14-37 07/29/14
4
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2013/2014 (filed April 30, 2014)
Superior Court on the findings and recommendations pertaining to matters under the control of
the agency. Such comment shall be made no later than 90 days after the Grand Jury publishes its
report (filed with the Clerk of the Court); except that in the case of a report containing findings
and recommendations pertaining to a department or agency headed by an elected County official
(e.g. District Attorney, Sheriff, etc.), such comment shall be made within 60 days to the
Presiding Judge with an information copy sent to the Board of Supervisors.
Furthermore, California Penal Code §933.05(a), (b), (c), details, as follows, the manner in which
such comment(s) are to be made:
(a) As to each grand jury finding, the responding person or entity shall indicate one of the
following:
(1) The respondent agrees with the finding
(2) The respondent disagrees wholly or partially with the finding, in which
case the response shall specify the portion of the finding that is
disputed and shall include an explanation of the reasons therefor.
(b) As to each grand jury recommendation, the responding person or entity shall report
one of the following actions:
(1) The recommendation has been implemented, with a summary
regarding the implemented action.
(2) The recommendation has not yet been implemented, but will be
implemented in the future, with a time frame for implementation.
(3) The recommendation requires further analysis, with an explanation and
the scope and parameters of an analysis or study, and a time frame
for the matter to be prepared for discussion by the officer or head
of the agency or department being investigated or reviewed,
including the governing body of the public agency when
applicable. This time frame shall not exceed six months from the
date of publication of the grand jury report.
(4) The recommendation will not be implemented because it is not
warranted or is not reasonable, with an explanation therefor.
(c) If a finding or recommendation of the grand jury addresses budgetary or personnel
matters of a county agency or department headed by an elected officer, both the
agency or department head and the Board of Supervisors shall respond if
requested by the grand jury, but the response of the Board of Supervisors shall
address only those budgetary or personnel matters over which it has some
decision making authority. The response of the elected agency or department head
shall address all aspects of the findings or recommendations affecting his or her
agency or department.
Comments to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court in compliance with the Penal Code
§933.05 are required from the:
Responding Agency Recommendations Date
San Diego County Sheriff's 14-37 07/29/14
Department
Page 96 SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2013/2014 FINAL REPORT (June 26, 2014)
San Diego Police Department 14-37 07/29/14
Carlsbad Police Department 14-37 07/29/14
Chula Vista Police Department 14-37 07/29/14
El Cajon Police Department 14-37 07/29/14
Escondido Police Department 14-37 07/29/14
La Mesa Police Department 14-37 07/29/14
National City Police Department 14-38 07/29/14
Oceanside Police Department 14-37 07/29/14
Filed: April 30, 2014
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2013/2014 FINAL REPORT (June 26, 2014) Page 97