HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-11-12 - AGENDA REPORTS - COPS PROGRAM (2)City Manager Approval
Item to be presented by:
Adele Macpherson
CONSENT CALENDAR
DATE: November 12,1996
SUBJECT: CITIZEN'S OPTION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY (COPS) PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT: Parks, Recreation & Community Services
BACKGROUND
In July 1996, Senate approved Assembly Bill 3229, Citizen's .Option for Public Safety (COPS),
which allocates funds for public safety programs. Funds are allocated according to a
jurisdiction's population, with Santa Clarita eligible for $302,182.26. This funding is permanent
and ongoing.
In September 1996, City Council approved the establishment of a Supplemental Law
Enforcement Service fund, established revenue and expenditure accounts, and authorized the
City Manager, or designee, to execute any contracts, agreements or change orders arising out
of the COPS Program.
At the direction of the City Council staff worked with the Sheriffs Department and citizen's
groups to refine the COPS Program proposal. The proposal includes using COPS funding to
form a Youth Intervention Team to target youth crime issues in a Santa Clarita. The Youth
Intervention Team would be responsible for all youth related crime investigations and crime
prevention efforts, thus eliminating some duplicated efforts in the Sheriffs Department. COPS
monies would specifically be used to contract for a dedicated Probation Officer for youth,
contract for an additional deputy to specifically handle youth investigations and crime
prevention, contract for an additional deputy to begin a new anti -gang efforts in local junior high
schools, contract for an additional station clerk to handle the paperwork for the mew team, and
supplies and start-up equipment.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council 1) approve the request from the Los Angeles County
Sheriffs Department, Santa Clarita Station, to use Citizen's Option for Public Safety Funds for
a Youth Intervention Team; and 2) instruct staff to work with the Sheriffs Department to begin
program implementation.
ATTACHMENTS
Letter of Request from Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, Santa Clarita Station.
APPROVED Agenda Item:
SHERMAN eLOCR, SMERIFr
October 30, 1996
Taitnig of TEus Ange[es
15heriff's Department 3caDquartera
4700 Ramona +3ouleirarb
4unww
Ifflonterrg ark, California 91754-2169
(805) 255-1121
Carl Boyer, Mayor
City of Santa Clarita
23920 Valencia Blvd. Suite 300
Santa Clarita, California 91355
Honorable Mayor Boyer and City Council Members:
The City of Santa Clarita recently received $302,182 from the State of California to provide
additional front line law enforcement services. In discussions between the City staff and the
Sheriffs Department, a decision was made to use these grant monies to target youth crime
issues in our area. The age group that defines youth crime is from 13 to 20 years of age. To
say that 40% of all crime committed in our area is perpetrated by persons in this age group is
a conservative estimate of the problem. From January 1 to September 1, 1996, 39.2% of all
persons arrested on open criminal charges were between the ages of 9 and 20. Current
population trends indicate that this age group is growing, thus the need to target this group
to reduce the possibility of criminal activities.
The Sheriff s Department proposes the development of a Youth Intervention Team.Under
the direction of the Detective Bureau Lieutenant, all youth related crime investigations and
crime prevention efforts would be coordinated. This would eliminate some duplicated efforts
and streamline the manner in which the Sheriffs Department currently operates.
The below list comprises the Sheriffs Department Programs and community programs that
would be coordinated by this section:
- COBRA (our anti -gang unit)
- School Resource Deputy Program
- The Youth Activities Program in Val Verde
- Safe House, Bike Safety and Stranger Danger programs
- The Tracking and Reporting Gang Exposed Teen Program
(T.A.R.G.E.T.)
- Teen Court
- The Explorer's Program
`✓-radlion .16eruice
Carl Boyer, Mayor
-2-
October 30, 1996
Team members would be actively involved in other community based committees including
The Youth Alliance, the Anti -Gang Task Force and Human Relations Forum.
The monies will be used to fund the following personnel on the Youth Intervention Team:
- Youth Probation Officer: Contract with the Probation Department to.have a
dedicated Probation Officer to handle persons convicted of some prior criminal
activity to ensure that they are complying completely with the conditions of
probation. We know that close and effective supervision prevents and deters crime.
- Deputy Sheriff Investigator: Contract for an additional deputy to specifically handle
all investigations surrounding truancy, curfew, youth liquor law violations, petty theft
(shoplifting) and selected other criminal cases. Crime prevention efforts would also
be handled by this person.
Deputy Sheriff Generalist: Contract for additional deputy, assigned to COBRA
and begin a new anti -gang effort on the junior high schools in the area. The
critical age for gang recruitment is at the seventh grade. In coordination with
the City and the school district, this deputy would be responsible for
developing a clear anti -gang message program in the Teen Issues class that all
seventh graders must take. The best person for this position is a sworn deputy
sheriff due to the respect still given to a law enforcement officer at this age.
Station Clerk 11: Contract for an additional Station Clerk II item to handle all
the paper work associated with these activities.
On October 10, 1996, this program was presented to a community group. They
supported the program with minor suggestions to make sure that we collaborate
with other community agencies in our attack on youth crime. With your approval,
the Sheriffs Department and City Staff will begin to implement this program.
Sincerely,
..i t �� :.: • .i t iia
el I. Quinn, Captain
Clarita Valley Station