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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1993 0106 CC REG ITEM 08MAGENDA ITEM TO: The Honorable City Council FROM: Geoff Dean, Lieutenant DATE: December 29, 1992 % 3 .0a ITEM �• • MOOPPAW, CALIFORNIA City Coun I Meeting of 199 ACTION: *,"Weal SUBJECT: Police Community Meetings 13Y Background: On October 18th, a disturbance occurred on Second St. in the downtown area. After the disturbance several citizens complained about the behavior of the police during the incident. Because of those complaints, members of the City Council met with a group of downtown residents to discuss their concerns. At the November 4th city council meeting, the issue of the police department meeting with the concerned citizens in the downtown area was discussed. During that meeting it was brought to the attention of the council that the police department was in the process of planning community meetings through -out the city. The intent of the planned meetings was to bring together as many residents as possible, provide them with information, and solicit input as to their concerns regarding law enforcement in Moorpark. The council then requested that a report be brought to them incorporating both the idea for a meeting in the downtown area and the meetings through -out the city. Discussion: Citizens in most communities usually comment that feeling safe in their homes and neighborhoods is a high priority. Both city government and their police departments have a critical role in providing for this safe environment. Unfortunately, government is often viewed as a cure all, but it can not be all things to all people. The citizens, employees, and business people who live and work in the community remain the foundation that makes it all work, it has to be a team effort. The most effective and efficient methods of providing police services towards the goal of a safe community requires continuous evaluation. In 1965, Ventura County Sheriff Hill felt that the centralized concept of staffing all personnel in one location was the best approach. In 1975, Sheriff Al Jalaty instituted Community Oriented Police Enforcement (COPE) within the Ventura County Sheriff's Department. The goal of this program was to enhance the relationship between the officers and the citizens they served. This concept created area sub - stations and pushed officers out into the communities where they worked, assigning them to fixed geographic areas. The basics of this program remain in place today, and are present in the City of Moorpark. The system has been continuously refined, realigning "beats" as the demographics of the area changed. One of the vital links in this community policing approach is communication to and from the police department. Meeting Format: In order to increase our contact and communication with the community, I am proposing that a series of four meetings be held with citizens through -out the city. The meetings will be informal with the police department discussing the issues with the citizens. It is proposed that the meetings be held in four different areas, (Campus Park, Downtown, Peach Hill, and Mountain Meadows). Participants will be given an overview of the law enforcement efforts within the city, and an outlook of the plans for the future. More importantly, they will be asked for their input on the services they are receiving and their priorities for those services. They will all be given an anonymous survey to complete which will be used to document and track their concerns. Some examples of the input that is desired includes: 1) In your opinion, what is the most important crime related issue in your area? 2) What is the least important law enforcement related issue? 3) In what areas is the police department doing a good job? 4) In what areas could the police department improve? These will not be meetings to explain details of any particular event, although general policy questions will be addressed. If someone has a concern about a specific incident we will take the information from them and re- contact them at a later date. During a recent meeting with several members of the community, (Mayor Lawrason, Tom Duffy, (MUSD superintendent) , Bob Abrams, (President, Moorpark Chamber of Commerce) , Walt Dilg, (Methodist Church Pastor) , Rueben Castro, (Catholic Charities) , Theresa Cortez, (Concerned citizen), the issue of these meetings was discussed at length. The idea for the meetings was well received and an informal setting seemed to be the most accepted approach. Means for public notification: 1) Homeowners associations news letters. 2) Local newspapers. 3) Distribution of fliers (both english and spanish). 4) Chamber of Commerce. 5) City cable television. 6) Local community groups ie: (Catholic Charities). Dates and Locations: January 12 @ 7:00 p.m. - Campus Park Elementary January 14 @ 7:00 p.m. - Flory Elementary January 26 @ 7:00 p.m. - Peach Hill School January 28 @ 7:00 p.m. - Mountain Meadows Elementary Recommendation: Receive and file the report.