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HomeMy WebLinkAbout- - Memo of Understanding for SRO - 7/20/2010CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT MEETING DATE: July 20, 2010 ITEM NUMBER: SUBJECT: MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS DATE: JULY 8, 2010 FROM: POLICE DEPARTMENT / FIELD OPERATION SERVICES DIVISION PRESENTATION KEITH DAVIS, POLICE SERGEANT BY: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: KEITH DAVIS, POLICE SERGEANT RECOMMENDATION: Approve the attached Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Costa Mesa and the Newport -Mesa Unified School District concerning the modification and extension of the School Resource Officer Program. BACKGROUND: In 1999, the Newport Beach Police Department entered into an agreement with the Newport -Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) to provide two (2) officers to staff a new School Resource Officer (SRO) Program for the two (2) high schools and the one (1) intermediate school, located within their city. Their program was implemented on February 17, 2000, and is still in effect. To date, both the police department and district representatives have viewed the result of their program favorably. Based in part on the success of Newport Beach's program and the other articulated facts, in 2001, our department pursued a SRO Program to provide two (2) officers to staff a program for our City's two (2) high schools and one (1) intermediate school. The City, along with district officials, subsequently approved the implementation of our program on May 9, 2001, through a Memorandum of Understanding between the City and Newport Mesa Unified School District. Thus far, Police Department staff and the district have viewed it as being a successful program and a benefit to all parties involved. During August 2007, the City Council approved two new positions for the Police Department's operational budgets. The Chief of Police made the determination to use these positions to add two more SROs to enhance our efforts to reduce gang and youth related criminal activity in the City. As of August 2010, the Police Department will reduce staffing from the current four (4) SRO positions to two (2) SROs. One officer will be assigned to work with Costa Mesa High School (grades 7 through 12) and the other officer will be assigned to work at Estancia High School (grades 9 through 12). Between these two SRO positions, they will prioritize and attend to the needs of the remaining NMUSD 1 school sites within the City of Costa Mesa, as outlined in the current and proposed Memorandum of Understanding. The current agreement commenced on August 31, 2007, and expires on August 31, 2011. ANALYSIS: School Resource Officers prevent problems that would have resulted in an emergency call for police services, thereby reducing the burden on patrol officers. Often, School Resource Officers accomplish this by their mere presence on campus. Students realize that with an officer present on campus, they likely will be arrested if they break the law. In addition, many students tell School Resource Officers when trouble is anticipated, and the officers can take the appropriate response. The School Resource Officers are present on school campuses to ensure the safety and security of our schools. School Resource Officers respond to and handle all criminal acts occurring on school campuses and the immediate vicinity. In this respect, School Resource Officers 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. Since its inception, the School Resource Officers' primary mission is to prevent, detect, and deter school violence before it strikes. As an example, they are directly involved in the enforcement and suppression of gang activity on campus and it is their goal to ensure that local schools are a gang free learning environment. Criminal street gangs are organized groups that are often involved in drugs, weapons trafficking, and violence. The presence of gangs in public schools stimulates a climate of fear amongst students, parents, and teachers. Additionally, street gangs increase the incidents of violent acts on campus. The School Resource Officers and Gang Enforcement Unit are now integrated and work as one cohesive unit. Intelligence gathering and sharing has become more efficient, thus disrupting gang members' criminal activities on campus and in the community. ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED: A possible alternative would be to discontinue the program and handle any on campus calls for service or other police needs with the assigned area/beat officer. Such an alternative could negatively affect staffing levels utilized to handle calls in other areas throughout the community. Based on the positive impact the officers have had on students and district personnel, along with issues that have presented themselves to officers and officials, two (2) officers appear to be a necessity. FISCAL REVIEW: The annual salary and benefits for two (2) officers is $344,742.00. The Newport -Mesa Unified School District will be responsible for half of the total salary and benefits, which is $172,371.00. The City is responsible for the other half through operational budget funding. LEGAL REVIEW: The City Attorney's Office has approved the Memorandum of Understanding as to form. E CONCLUSION: Staff recommends approval of the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Costa Mesa and the Newport -Mesa Unified School District. KEITH DAVIS Sergeant CHRISTOPHER SHAWKEY Chief of Police COLLEEN O'DONOGHUE KIMBERLY HALL BARLOW Assistant Finance Director City Attorney ATTACHMENTS: 1 MOU BETWEEN THE CITY OF COSTA MESA AND THE NEWPORT -MESA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT 3