HomeMy WebLinkAbout23 - CC-11 - Memorandum of Understanding for School - 9/1/2015CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: September 1, 2015 ITEM NUMBER: CC -1 1
SUBJECT: MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS
DATE: SEPTEMBER 1, 2015
FROM: POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESENTATION BY: MARK MANLEY, POLICE CAPTAIN
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: MARK MANLEY, POLICE CAPTAIN, (714) 754-5043
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the attached Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Costa Mesa and
the Newport -Mesa Unified School District pertaining to the School Resource Officer
Program for academic year 2015-2016.
BACKGROUND:
In 1999, the Newport Beach Police Department entered into an agreement with the
Newport -Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) to provide two police officers to staff a
new School Resource Officer (SRO) Program for the two high schools and the one
intermediate school located within their city. Their program was implemented in February
of 2000, and is still in effect.
Based on the success of Newport Beach PD's program and interest from NMUSD, in
2001, our Police Department pursued an SRO program to provide two police officers to
staff Costa Mesa's two high schools and one intermediate school. The City and NMUSD
subsequently approved a Memorandum of Understanding for the implementation of our
SRO program for academic year 2001-2002. Since, this program has been viewed as a
tremendous success and a benefit to all parties involved.
In 2012, the Police Department ceased providing two full-time SROs due to organizational
contraction and staffing considerations that lasted the next few years. In the interim, the
Police Department provided personnel to cover SRO responsibilities on an ancillary,
collateral basis. However, in January of 2015, with improved sworn staffing, the Police
Department assigned one full-time SRO to the program. The continuity of this officer has
provided considerable stability to the program and enhanced service to NMUSD. The
Police Department is now able to commit to two SROs to the school district in September
for academic year 2015-2016.
ANAI YSIS•
Since its inception, the primary mission of the School Resource Officers is to prevent and
deter school violence before it strikes. SROs help mitigate problems that might otherwise
result in an emergency call for police services, thereby reducing the burden on patrol
1
officers. Often, SROs accomplish this by their mere presence on campus. In addition,
many students will advise SROs when future trouble is anticipated, and the officers can
then take steps to control it.
SROs are present on school campuses to ensure the safety and security of our schools.
SROs respond to and handle all criminal acts occurring on school campuses or in the
immediate vicinity. In this respect, SROs conduct the initial investigation on a variety of
crimes such as child abuse, assaults, thefts, graffiti, and narcotics related crimes. They
also provide immediate and direct support to the school administration and security staff.
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED:
A possible alternative would be to discontinue the SRO program and handle any campus -
related calls for service with the assigned area patrol officers. Such an alternative would
draw upon patrol staffing and could potentially tie up patrol resources and render them
temporarily unavailable in other parts of the community. The use of officers on overtime,
or reserve officers, has historically proven inconsistent and does not provide NMUSD staff
with a continuity of service.
FISCAL REVIEW:
The annual salary and benefits cost for two (2) officers is $430,498. The Newport -Mesa
Unified School District will be responsible for half of the total salary and benefits, which is
$215,249. The City is responsible for the other half of the funding through the Police
Department's budget.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney's Office has approved the Memorandum of Understanding as to form.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends approval of the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of
Costa Mesa and the Newport -Mesa Unified School District.
MARK MANLEY
Police Captain
TAMARA LETOURNEAU
Assistant City CEO
THOMAS DUARTE
City Attorney
ROBERT SHARPNACK
Chief of Police
STEVE DUNIVENT
Finance Director
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ATTACHMENTS: 1 MOU BETWEEN THE CITY OF COSTA MESA AND THE
NEWPORT -MESA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT