Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout28 - Budget Amendment (Police Sergeant)CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT January 11, 1999 January 11, 1999 Agenda Item No. 28 TO: Honorable Mayor, Members of the City Council and City Manager FROM: Bob McDonell, Chief of Police SUBJECT: Budget Amendment RECOMMENDATION: Approve an additional Sergeant's position for the Police Department, along with related budget amendments for personnel costs, which will be fully funded by reimbursement from the Orange County Auto Theft Task Force ( OCATT). BACKGROUND: In April of 1993, the Newport Beach Police Department joined a number of cities and other agencies to establish the Orange County Auto Theft Task Force ( OCATT). It now is comprised of 18 participating agencies, which contribute approximately 25 full -time personnel. The cooperative effort had as its goal, the reduction of the rising number of auto thefts in this County, many of which were carried out by organized, professional thieves who were moving expensive stolen vehicles off shore and /or south of the border. Since the implementation of the Task Force, auto thefts in Orange County have dramatically decreased from a high in 1993 of 19,309 to 11,883 in 1997, a reduction of 7,426 (38 %) on an annual basis. Locally, Newport Beach lost 1,394 vehicles in the same five -year period, valued at $18,023,411. Through the efforts of OCATT and others, we recovered 1,044 of those vehicles, with a value of $12,479,235, still resulting in a substantial net loss to our Community. We have recently been asked by the Orange County District Attorney's Office, which serves as the agency responsible for administrative oversight (under the guidance of an executive committee made up of agency representatives), to contribute a supervisory position to the Task Force. The position would be fully funded by the one - dollar assessment on vehicle registration in Orange County. Over the years, the Department has participated in at least 3 regional task forces, the Regional Narcotics Suppression Program (RNSP), the "Boiler Room" Task Force (COBRA), and OCATTS. We have never assisted those task forces by contributing a supervisor. Based upon the target rich environment for auto thieves in Newport Beach, due to the number of expensive vehicles driven by our residents and others that frequent the Community, we are often subjected to organized efforts to steal those vehicles. The City also provides a plentiful hunting ground for the random thief as well. Recently, we were the target of Porsche thieves who were responsible for 18 such thefts (that we know of), over an 10 month period in Orange County, approximately 12 occurring in the City of Newport Beach. With the assistance of OCATTS, we arrested the suspects in that case after extensive surveillance and other investigative activity. As a result of our experience with the auto theft problem, of all the task forces in which we participate, I believe it is a good business decision to insure we have someone at the supervisory level in the OCATTS task force. By doing so, it will ensure the City of Newport Beach continues to receive an appropriate focus when allocating resources to the auto theft problem in this County (not to suggest that is not the case currently). In addition, the position is fully funded, and therefore, there will be no negative financial implications for the City of Newport Beach. In the event there is a Statewide movement to eliminate the assessments on vehicle registration (not a likely occurrence, based upon the successes of these task forces to keep the problem in check), the Department would eliminate the Sergeant's position through attrition. We are aware of planned retirements, which we know are going to occur within the next 2 to 5 years. Should funding be reduced prematurely, the Department would maintain a vacancy at the Patrol level to offset any incurred costs until the attrition could be accomplished. The Acting City Manager supports the proposed recommendation. Respectful submitted, Bob McDonell CHIEF OF POLICE Meeting Date: January 11, 1999 Agenda Item No.: 29 Subject: UNSCHEDULED VACANCIES ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION. ALSO refer to City Council Agenda Packet for the Meeting of November 23, 1998, ITEM NO. 24 for the Original Report or Backup Information on this item. Thank you!