Title
Transit Safety and Security Improvements (Ordinance S-43761)
Description
This report requests City Council approval to use an additional $600,000 of Transportation 2050 (T2050) funds in fiscal year FY 2017-18 to be used for extra duty police officers for transit safety and security improvements as recommended by the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee. The funding is available in the T2050 Fund and within the overall long-term T2050 financial plan.
Report
Summary
Safety and security along the transit system is provided through multiple layers, including the Phoenix Police Department precincts and the Transit Enforcement Unit (TEU), a section of the Phoenix Police Department specifically focused on public transit, and Valley Metro. Implementation of Transit 2000 added significant new transit service. To alleviate the impact new service would have on the Phoenix Police Department, the TEU was created to provide dedicated service to public transit. The Public Transit Department funds this unit. With the passage of Transportation 2050 and expansion of bus and light rail service over the 35-year program, the T2050 financial plan allocates additional funding where needed to provide safety and security to passengers, employees, revenue, and property along the transit system.
The TEU presence enhances safety and citizens’ perception of security with an emphasis on crime suppression through trained, skilled, and uniformed staff. Currently, TEU is supported by a police commander, a lieutenant and six sergeants who provide oversight to 16 sworn officers, three K-9 officers/handlers, 23 police assistants, and 24 municipal security guards responsible for fixed post security at transit facilities.
Public Transit contracts with a private security firm to provide security at park-and-rides and transit centers. This firm also augments Municipal Security Guards (MSGs) to provide fixed post security at the West, North and South Transit Facilities.
Light rail security is provided through a partnership with Valley Metro’s security service provider Allied Universal. They are responsible for security and fare inspection, administrator/trainer, fixed post security personnel, platform/Park-and-Rides, dispatch and control and supervisors. Valley Metro also works closely with the police departments within the cities through which light rail travels.
Safety and Security
Police Officers
With transit reaching all parts of Phoenix, it is necessary for transit service calls to be responded to by both Police precincts and the TEU, with primary response by Phoenix Police Department precincts. The TEU will respond or replace precinct officers on complex or time-consuming transit service calls. The relationship is seamless between precincts and the TEU, which is part of the Central City Precinct. In addition to transit service calls, TEU officers focus on crime suppression efforts. The Phoenix Police Department uses a data-driven process. Statistical analysis and information from internal/external partnerships are used to determine the appropriate geographical areas to focus enforcement efforts and social services to reduce crimes as well as improve quality of life. Depending on the goal of the overall project, several different tactics can be used to accomplish the mission including a “zero tolerance” approach, high visibility enforcement, K-9 patrol, “covert” plain clothes, and/or bicycle patrol. Projects are typically run for a specified time limit then evaluated for success. After the evaluation phase the plan may be readjusted or, if determined to be successful, a maintenance period may be implemented. During the maintenance phase, enforcement will be gradually scaled back until services are returned to normal. After a determined time period another evaluation will be performed to assess the overall success of the project or a need to return to targeted enforcement.
In partnership with Valley Metro, the TEU is currently managing an extra duty program for an additional 120 hours per week of police officer coverage focused on light rail in Phoenix, with an emphasis on providing a high visibility deterrent along the 19th Avenue Corridor. The extra duty program provides a more targeted resource by deploying police officers at varying hours and days determined by the data driven process. Officers work in conjunction with Police Assistants and private security. This targeted deployment will allow TEU duty squads to be freed up to conduct more proactive enforcement operations. The additional $262,000 for these extra officer hours is currently allocated from T2050 funds.
Private Security
Private security is used for transit centers, park-and-rides and augmenting MSGs at the three bus facilities. In accordance with T2050, the City Council has expanded bus operating hours and as a result, private security guard staffing will increase correspondingly with the expanded hours at the multiple facilities, resulting in an additional $1.1 million in security costs for FY 2017-18. The TEU proposes the equivalent of up to four additional officers be added using extra duty officers and purchasing bicycles to allow officers to provide bicycle patrol. This would increase the safety and security budget by an additional $600,000 in FY 2017-18, which is available in the T2050 Fund and within the overall long-term T2050 financial plan.
The Citizens Transportation Commission (CTC) unanimously recommended approval of an additional $600,000 T2050 funds in FY 2017-18 to be used for transit safety and security improvements as follows:
1. Purchase 16 bicycles for use by TEU for enforcement efforts, currently estimated at approximately $17,600.
2. Fund extra duty officer hours to be assigned for targeted transit enforcement and crime suppression by the Transit Enforcement Unit.
3. The Public Transit and Police Departments evaluate effectiveness of the security improvements and return to the CTC during the next budget cycle to discuss any recommended changes.
4. During the course of FY 2017-18, any additional security needs that require funding shall be brought forth to the CTC for review and possible action.
5. In conjunction with bus and rail system expansion, the Public Transit Department shall track security needs and submit recommendations.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The CTC recommended approval of the security improvements as outlined above to the Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Subcommittee on May 25, 2017 by a vote of 9-0.
The T&I Subcommittee recommended City Council approval of the CTC recommendation by a vote of 4-0 on June 13, 2017, with an added stipulation that funding for extra duty hours may include work by Police Assistants to complement the additional Police Officer hours to further increase the transit security presence as needed and determined by the Police Department.
Financial Impact
Funding is available in the T2050 Fund for FY 2017-18 and within the overall long-term T2050 financial plan.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Milton Dohoney, Jr., Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua, and the Police and Public Transit departments.