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Home My WebLink AboutAGENDA REPORT 1999 1201 CC REG ITEM 10CTo: From: Date: MOORPARK CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT The Honorable City Council Captain Mike Lewi �k: ITEM /0 • C - CITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA City Council Meeting of cnano.l.h.Y� 1998 ACTION: 7 YI�VP... s BY: November 22, 1999 (Meeting of 12/01/99) Subject: Consider Approval of Citizen Academy Program to be Added to the Police Department's Community Orientated Policing Efforts ZAt;t%UxvuVJJ The Citizen Academy is a program currently underway in numerous jurisdictions throughout the State and in the cities of Fillmore, Camarillo, and Thousand Oaks. It is a program in which a wide variety of citizens may learn about law enforcement in a "hands on" environment. The Citizen's Academy as it is envisioned, would consist of a curriculum 12 weeks in length. The class would meet one night per week, 3 hours each session, excluding the ride -a- long. Specially selected, "subject matter experts" would teach each class. The conference room of the Service Center would be the main classroom, with several field trips to other Sheriff's facilities throughout the course. There would be no testing in the Academy but participants would be required to pledge to attend all classes in order to receive a graduation certificate. Absences would be reviewed on a case by case basis. The proposed program would be joie and the Sheriff's Department individuals living within the surrounding areas of the County. another community policing effort and would be coordinated by Coordinator. qtly sponsored by the City and would be open to City or the immediate This program would become of the police department the Community Policing 0002.32 Citizens Academy Page 2 of 4 DISCUSSION• The proposed program is an attempt at familiarizing ordinary citizens with Law Enforcement's role in society. Many people see police officers in a singular role, perhaps issuing traffic tickets or arresting violators. Very few have been exposed to the training of the officer, the custody function, investigations, community policing concepts, and specialized teams such as SWAT, Hostage Negotiations and Bomb Technicians. This program would give a fair overview of selected topics. The goal of the program would not be to make police officers out of the participants, but to present law enforcement in a manner that will dispel public misunderstanding and promote valuable and lasting relationships. There will be a number of benefits to this program. By selecting a wide range of individuals to attend, from many different backgrounds and age groups, the "message" of the Citizen's Academy will become more and more widespread. This message is that police officers and deputy sheriffs are dedicated and professional public servants whose concern for the people they served is at the heart of everything they do. In Thousand Oaks and Camarillo, a core of volunteers has evolved from the Citizen Academy alumni. These people can help establish neighborhood watches, assist with future programs, and form effective relationships throughout the city. As envisioned, the Police Department would conduct two classes per year. Each class would have approximately 20 - 25 members. Within two years, the city of Moorpark would have close to 100 alumni knowledgeable of law enforcement and the operation of the Moorpark Police Department. The following is a list of topics that would be included in the Academy. Please see the attachment for the proposed format of the Academy and tentative class dates. 000 211313 Citizens Academy Page 3 of 4 Departmental Organization Tour of Moorpark P.D. and East Valley Sheriff's Facilities History and Overview of Criminal Justice System Patrol Procedures Traffic Procedures and Enforcement Firearms Training and polices Ride Along with patrol officer Investigations Custody Operations with tour of Main Jail SWAT and Hostage Negotiation Teams Bomb Team K -9 Officer and Dog Communications / Dispatch with tour Communication Center Crime Lab Crime Prevention Crime Analysis City Government Overview Volunteers DART City Code Enforcement County Fire Department Aviation and Search & Rescue Unit Animal Control Gang Investigations Graduation of Sheriff's The Citizen Academy costs are minimal. We would provide each student with a laminated ID Badge, classroom material and a three -ring binder to maintain notes, handouts and lesson plans. A detailed description of potential first year costs (there will be only one class offered in FY 99/00) are listed below. First year projected costs would be funded from the current year's Community Promotion account (9240) . ID Badge and Desk Placement $75.00 One Inch 3 -Ring Binders $75.00 Coffee Mug w/ Academy Logo $450.00 (150 minimum order at $3.00 each) Budget for weekly refreshments $150.00 Printing Costs $75.00 (Brochures, graduation certificates and handouts) TOTAL: $825.00 000234 Citizens Academy Page 4 of 4 It should be pointed out that each class would not cost $825.00. "Start -up" costs make the first class most expensive because quantities need to be ordered to be cost effective. As seen by the cost figures provided above, there will be relatively minor ongoing expenses after the start -up costs, until more binders and ID cards are needed which would be a requested budget item in FY 2000/01 if the Academy program is approved. In other jurisdictions, response to the program has been overwhelming. In the city of Thousand Oaks, over 100 applications were received for the first class. As indicated previously, the widest possible base of participants will be sought so as to represent all segments of the community. Captain Lewis will coordinate the participant selection process. Staff costs would be minimal due to flex scheduling of Moorpark Police Department staff. Actual staff time for this program is estimated to be between 20 to 25 hours. Sheriff's Department instructors, who would be providing the majority of the instruction, would be compensated by their respective division. We would like to schedule our first class to begin on March 2, 2000. This date has been identified so there would be no conflict of coordinating staff efforts with other contract cities already running this program. The second class would be tentatively scheduled to begin in September of 2000. Recommendation: Staff recommends that the City Council approve establishment of the Citizen's Academy program consistent with this report. 00023: ATTACHMENT MOORPARK CITIZEN ACADEMY 1— 2000 Proposed Curriculum & Tentative Dates DATE TIME TOPIC Session 1 1830 Introduction 3 -2 -00 1900 Departmental Organization 1930 Tour of Moorpark Facility 2000 Tour of East County Facility Session 2 1830 Chief Deputy Sheriff 3 -9 -00 1900 Deputy District Attorney 1930 Juvenile Probation Officer 2000 Superior Court Judge Session3 1830 History of City 3 -16 -00 1900 City Government Overview 1930 Code Enforcement 2000 Emergency Preparedness Session 4 1830 Sheriffs Communication Center Tour 3 -16 -00 2000 Pre Trial Detention Facility Crime Lab Tour? Session 5 1830 Traffic Unit 3 -23 -00 1900 Patrol Procedures 2000 Scenarios Session 6 1830 COPPS /Crime Prevention 3 -30 -00 1900 Crime Analysis 1930 Gangs 2000 Volunteers 2030 Animal Control Session 7 1830 Personnel (Selection, Discipline) 4-6 -00 1900 Academy Overview 1930 Investigations (Major Crimes, Property Crimes Forgery Fraud) Session 8 Ride Along with Patrol Deputy — scheduled during two week interval Session 9 1830 Narcotics 4 -27 -00 2000 K -9 Demonstration Session 10 1830 Bomb Squad 54-00 2030 SWAT/ Hostage Negotiation Teams Session 11 1830 Air Unit 5 -11 -00 1900 Firearms Training Simulator (FATS) Session 12 1800 GRADUATION — Pot luck dinner with friends and family members, 5 -18 -00 Photos, and presentation of certificates. 000233