CC Min 1997-10-13 Stdy - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

how Redwood City would compare to other survey jurisdictions if all the authorized positions were filled. He said it wasn't totally useful to use averages because it does not take into account the differing philosophies, such as the use of differential response, and the unique characteristics and demands of each Department and City. He said that if the Report's recommendations were adopted, Redwood City would be above the averages cited, whatever the averages actually meant. He said very few jurisdictions have done such studies. In response to Council questions, Captain Vermeer said vacancies vary significantly throughout the year, with six people leaving this year. Captain Grannuci left to become Police Chief of San Carlos, another officer resigned to stay home with her children and another officer didn't pass probation. Captain Vermeer said, "It would be easier to recruit if we were on the other side of the bridge. Certainly the housing on this side of the bay is less affordable than in other areas, and that is a factor that needs to be considered.... It is easier for officers to leave here to go somewhere more affordable. That is the biggest hurdle I hear.... Other Departments are in the same boat... Mountain View has four vacancies, San Mateo has seven, Daly City has six. He added that the Sheriff's Department is trying to add 26 deputy positions. "It is a very cornpetitive market right now." In response to Council questions, Captain Vermeer explained that there are times when the Department is fully staffed, but officers are in training, in the Academy, on probation, injuries occur, some people once on the job decide it is not the profession for them, "or we decide it is not the job for them." He said the policy of "overhiring" would absolutely help that situation. He said it has become an industry practice. In response to Council questions regarding sworn officers and CSOs responsibilities, Officer Talaat referred to Page 46 of the Report and said CSOs are best utilized for report taking, fingerprinting, etc. He said swom officers can follow up on leads that CSOs can not, such as the need to contact a suspect that might generate an arrest. He explained the standard procedure of having another officer cover on traffic stops and described the dangerous possibilities that might ensue. A CSO cannot fulfill that role. Mr. Heiss said, "We are not proposing any change in the kinds of calls a CSO handles and we have been very conservative." The Report shows that Redwood City's CSOs handle a little over 13% of calls. Mr. Heiss said "we have tried to be very conservative in terms of the irnpact of those CSOs on Patrol workload, because we felt that would give short shrift to the flexibility issues the officers described." In response to Council questions regarding the Department's computer equipment, Mr. Heiss described the Computer Aided Dispatch System, CAD, and the management information systems. He said the current equipment wasn't sufficient to provide good data on a timely basis, hampering their ability to complete the study as quickly as they had hoped. Mr. Heiss said they eventually worked with the Dispatch SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. 55 OCTOBER 13, 1997 MINUTES Page No. 572 PAGE II