Title
Add Civilian Positions in Police Department for Staffing Relief (Ordinance S-49115)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to allow the Phoenix Police Department to add eight civilian positions, eight vehicles, and related equipment to the Patrol Division to provide staffing relief. The estimated cost of these additions is $795,000.
Report
Summary
The Phoenix Police Department (PPD) requests to add eight Police Assistant positions, eight vehicles, and related equipment (Attachment A) to the Patrol Division to respond to non-emergency call types. The Police Department collaborated with Arizona State University (ASU) to assess current responses to citizen requests for police services through research of best practices by other jurisdictions and viable alternative responses. This research was conducted to recommend improvements that will ensure responses are effective, efficient, and equitable. The study focused on alternative responses to citizen requests for police services for eight non-emergency calls for services.
Of the eight different call types discussed in the study, ASU and PPD identified four types that can be responded to in a more optimal manner in the near-term. The four call types include found property, abandoned vehicles, parking complaints, and minor damage/non-injury vehicle collisions. The Police Assistants will respond to these type of calls, which make up roughly 25,000-30,000 calls for service annually.
Found Property
Arizona statute §12-940 defines found property as "means recovered, lost, surrendered, abandoned, or otherwise received property that is turned over to a public agency where the owner may or may not be known and not classified as evidence." Property that is found has liability for the finder. In certain situations, a police response is necessary since the items are illegal to possess, dangerous, known, or likely to be stolen, or match a report of lost property. Some property that is illegal to possess includes firearms, narcotics, or items that might be dangerous to handle.
Recommendations:
- PPD will continue to dispatch officers to found property involving firearms, narcotics, identifiable stolen items, and/or items that could be dangerous to the public.
- For items not described above, PPD will request the finder to bring the property to a PPD precinct.
- PPD will enhance online community messaging related to information and resources on this topic.
Abandoned Vehicles
According to current PPD Operations Orders related to an inoperable vehicle on a public right of way, employees will check the vehicle through the Arizona Crime Information Center (ACIC) and National Crime Information Center (NCIC) then issue a Notice of Violation if the owner can be established. The employee will request a contracted tow company to have the vehicle towed as soon as possible. An operable vehicle left on a public street is considered abandoned if it has been left for 72 continuous hours. The employee will contact the owner to ask them to move it and the vehicle will be “red tagged” with a vehicle removal notification. The employee must recheck the vehicle 48-72 hours later and contact a towing company if the owner cannot be contacted.
Recommendations:
- PPD will work to enhance the capacity of the Police Assistant job classification to be the primary responder to abandoned vehicle calls for service.
Parking Complaints
Illegal parking is a Priority 3 call. Citizens can report vehicles parked illegally by calling the traffic hotline, the non-emergency line, or reporting it through an online form. The online format allows for a specific description of the problem. If the vehicle is on the street and there is a posted "no parking" sign, an officer will be dispatched to tag the vehicle. If the vehicle is on private property, the officer will ask the property owner to call a towing company.
Recommendations:
- PPD will work to enhance the capacity of the Police Assistant job classification to be the primary responder to parking complaints.
- PPD will draft a new policy for parking enforcement to clearly define what is considered a Road Safety Hazard (RSH). A RSH is currently described as a vehicle parked in the way that could impact public safety.
- If a call is deemed by dispatchers to be a RSH, per policy, it will be dispatched to a sworn officer or a Police Assistant.
- If a call is not deemed to be a RSH, then it will be sent to a Police Assistant between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
- PPD will enhance online community messaging related to information and resources on the topic.
Minor-Damage/Non-Injury Vehicle Collisions
These collisions are commonly referred to as "fender-benders" and include accidents that result in minor damages to the vehicles. PPD classifies minor collision calls for service as Priority 2. Most of the investigation and documentation of minor collisions serves the interests of the automobile insurance industry in their claims-adjusting process.
Recommendations:
- PPD will work to enhance the capacity of the Police Assistant job classification to be the primary responder to minor-damage/non-injury vehicle collisions.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee recommended approval for this item on Oct. 12, 2022 by a vote of 4-0.
Financial Impact
The additional cost of $795,000 for the Police Department's eight positions, vehicles, and related equipment will be added to the Police Department's budget in the budget development process.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays and the Police Department.