TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Mark Danaj, City Manager
FROM:
Eve R. Irvine, Chief of Police
Derrick Abell, Police Captain
Julie Dahlgren, Senior Management Analyst
SUBJECT:Title
Report on The Deployment Plan for Random and Regular Footbeat Patrols in Downtown Manhattan Beach, North Manhattan Beach and the Manhattan Village Mall (Police Chief Irvine).
RECEIVE REPORT, DISCUSS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive the report, discuss and provide direction regarding the Police Department deployment plan and proactive policing initiatives by the Police Department.
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FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Sufficient funds are budgeted in the Fiscal Year 2015-2016 Police Department budget. Additional funds may be requested in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2016-2018 budget process and will be presented to City Council at the upcoming budget study session in May.
BACKGROUND:
At the November 3, 2015, City Council meeting, staff was directed to report back to City Council regarding the deployment plan for foot patrols in the Downtown, North Manhattan Beach, and Mall areas.
It has been the Police Department’s continued goal to proactively engage our community and businesses by conducting high visibility foot patrols, security checks, and special enforcement details. These are important tools to deter criminal activity and build upon our strong partnership with the community. The Police Department conducts these types of activities whenever staffing permits, and in response to specific crime trends. Over the past year, we have deployed more than 2,000 footbeats and conducted more than 4,000 security checks throughout the City, with approximately half taking place in the Downtown, North Manhattan Beach, and Mall areas.
In December 2015, holiday patrol teams were deployed. These teams focused their shift on conducting footbeats and security checks in commercial areas (such as the Downtown, North Manhattan Beach, Manhattan Village Mall, Sepulveda corridor, and Rosecrans corridor). Officers made contact with businesses, which helped the Police Department and business owners to work together to address concerns such as fraud, shoplifting, and identity theft, as well as parking issues, while providing a visible police presence in an effort to deter crime.
The Police Department is committed to addressing quality of life issues that the community identifies as its priorities, including Bike Path and Strand safety, pedestrian safety, enforcement of the smoking ban, traffic education and enforcement around schools, speeding in residential neighborhoods, cell phone use/texting while driving, and residential and commercial area parking enforcement. Several times a year, the Police Department holds directed enforcement details and saturation patrols (many of which have taken place in the Downtown area) to address these concerns.
DISCUSSION:
The Manhattan Beach Police Department is committed to providing the highest level of police services to our community through proactive policing and community partnerships.
Foot patrols are the cornerstone of community policing and have innumerable positive effects in our community, including increasing police visibility, enhancing the community’s feeling of safety, and strengthening the connection between the Police Department and the community. The Manhattan Beach Police Department deploys foot patrols on a daily basis, 365 days a year, primarily in commercial areas such as the Downtown, North Manhattan/El Porto, Mall, Sepulveda, and Rosecrans corridor. They are also conducted in areas around parks and schools and during special events. Attachment 1 provides statistics on foot patrols conducted in 2015.
As part of the Police Department’s 2016-2018 Strategic Plan, which took effect on January 1, 2016, the Police Department restated its commitment to enhancing quality of life for our community and businesses over the next three years through increased visibility in the community. These efforts will include an increase in foot beat patrols throughout the community; including enhancing foot patrols along the Strand, Pier, Downtown, and North End.
The Police Department will also continue to conduct year-around bike patrols throughout the community, including in residential areas (as a part of our burglary suppression efforts). In the summer months, the Police Department will ramp up bike patrol efforts and bring back beach patrols on busy summer days. Bike patrols are a highly effective tool for community policing because they provide a visible police presence and allow officers to make face to face contact with residents.
The Police Department has a history of building strong relationships with our community and we will continue to deploy available resources to proactive policing and high visibility patrols.
PUBLIC OUTREACH/INTEREST:
There is strong support for high visibility patrols within the community. Foot patrols, bike patrols, and directed enforcement details are often deployed in response to specific community requests. In the Community-wide Survey, although 95% of residents feel safe, crime was noted as the top concern; high visibility patrols are an effective tool to reduce crime. The Police Department also received support from residents in attendance at both Strategic Planning Community Workshops for additional high visibility patrols.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Not applicable.
LEGAL REVIEW:
Not applicable.
CONCLUSION:
The Police Department is committed to proactively engaging our community and businesses by conducting high visibility patrols to enhance crime fighting efforts and ensure the highest level of service.
Attachment:
2015 Footbeat Statistics