Agenda - Council - 05/26/1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Background: DISCUSS POLICE DEPARTMENT NEEDS By: James E. Norman, City Administrator and David Gustafson, Police Chief Looking ahead twelve months, staff has been discussing Police Department needs and possible ways to meet those needs. The purpose of this case is to acquaint Councilmembers with the gist of those discussions. Last year, the Police Chief submitted an application for Police Sergeant Jim Way to attend the FBI's twelve-week Training Academy. The Academy has approved the application and Sgt. Way is expected to be offered a slot sometime during 1999. Staff has been discussing ways to keep operations running smoothly in the event Sgt. Way is able to attend the training. Staff has also been discussing how to create more involvement of citizen volunteers in community crime prevention activities. An effective volunteer program will require staff assistance in recruiting, training, and monitoring activities of volunteers. Staff Recommendation: If the City establishes a volunteer community crime prevention unit, staff envisions it to include a maximum of ten volunteer "Public Safety Aides" of both genders, ranging in age from late teens to seniors. Volunteers would receive formal training through Anoka County's "Reserve Training Academy" which takes place each fall at no charge to participants. After training, volunteers would receive uniforms and perform functions such as assisting with special events such as the Bike Road-co and Community Picnic, helping organize neighborhood watch groups, assisting regular officers in snowmobile patrolling, and monitoring businesses after hours and homes of people who are out of town. The cost of uniforms for the volunteers would be approximately $1,000 per volunteer. If the unit is established in time to join the fail 1998 training class, uniforms would not be required until 1999, so the cost could be built into the budget. Staff has identified a way to develop the volunteer program and address Sgt. Way's potential absence. That is to resurrect the Corporal position that was established on a temporary basis when the former Police Chief was on an extended medical leave. This would be an assignment similar to the Investigator position and would be filled through a competitive process. The cost would be an additional $110 per month stipend ($1,320 per year), which is the same amount the Investigator receives per the labor contract.