Attachment 19_Police Department MemoMasterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manger
FR: Mark M. Dalsing
Chief of Police
RE: Safe Community Task Force Recommendations
INTRODUCTION
Attached is a brief description of the Dubuque Police Department's activities as related
to the Safe Community Task Force's recommendations.
BACKGROUND
For the purposes of this memo, I am only addressing the recommendations that would
directly involve the Dubuque Police Department.
FIRST SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS:
MEMORANDUM
5) Create ways to encourage lighting of personal property: the Dubuque Police
Department has consistently advocated the lighting of personal property and will
continue to do so.
August 2, 2010
3) Conduct expanded crime study: The Dubuque Police Department has actively
cooperated with the NIU crime study and provided information as requested. NIU staff
has contacted Assistant Chief of Police Terry Tobin and the PD's technology staff
numerous times for data, and I met with one of the people doing the study, George
Graves, on July 15, 2010 to discuss crime trends and response as well as giving him a
tour of the city's development areas and target areas of concern.
4) Allow SCTF to act as a conduit for accurate information to the public by:
a) Conveying crime statistics compiled by the department to the general public;
b) Documenting effectiveness of existing and new efforts of COP, Territory
Accountability Design (TAD) and Section 8 results
The DPD has provided the SCTF with any and all crime, COP, TAD and Section 8 data
that was requested and will do as requested in the future.
6) Install security cameras in high crime areas:
7) Install 911 kiosks in high crime areas:
The Dubuque Police Department, 911 Center and Informational Services have met to
discuss the cameras. The DPD and 911 Center have evaluated target areas for
cameras and Informational Services is looking into the infrastructure and costs related
to such systems. The 911 kiosks are undergoing a simultaneous review.
Cameras: Based on Calls for Service and supervisory input, the following areas have
been identified as potential locations for cameras:
Entrances and exits to and from the City - Both the Hwys.151/61 & Hwy 20 bridges,
Hwy 52 N and S, Hwy 20 West, and Hwys 151/61 South; as well as the NW Arterial,
and other "main" downtown intersections. This would most likely be accomplished
through expansion of the City's existing traffic camera system. Law Enforcement would
most likely use these systems in post -crime investigation to document offender arrival,
departures, and timeline activities, as has been done in a variety of cases.
Parks - Comiskey has been identified as a primary park of concern. Additional parks
would include Jackson and Orange as primary areas with Allison- Henderson, Flora, AY
McDonald as secondary.
Streets - The 1200 to 1600 blocks of Bluff and Locust (which would also encompass the
Boys and Girls Club area), including the area of 17 & W Locust, have consistently
been high call areas and would be primary "street" locations. Other areas might include
the 20 Street area from Central to and including 5 Points, lower Loras Blvd., The Town
Clock Plaza area, lower Main, and Central Ave. business district.
One facet that would take additional review is staffing for real -time monitoring versus
"as needed" and /or using recorded images only for later review as needed. Another
concern could be raised about privacy issues and government rights.
911 Kiosks: The above camera areas would also fall under areas where a 911 kiosk
could be considered. 911 Cneter Director Mark Murphy ran CFS for the existing 911
kiosks between 01/01/06 to 12/31/09 and found there were 122 calls made from the
kiosks. The majority of these were categorized as "911 Hangups" that were "Handled by
Officer" as a response and most could probably be attributed to people pushing the help
button out of curiosity or play. Those that were requests for police service included cold
vandalism, a pedestrian injury, spills, disruptive kids, and other similar low impact
crimes. Only a handful would be categorized as "emergency calls" had they gone
through a regular call into the 911 Center. Costs, feasibility and effectiveness of the
kiosks would probably need additional review.
SECOND SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS
1) Curfew: This topic is under review and will take continued review for legislation and
implementation. One area of particular impact is the resources necessary to enforce a
curfew. If offenders are taken into custody they would need to be released to a parent or
responsible adult. This can prove to be a time consuming endeavor which could tie up
police resources. It has also been suggested that the Dubuque Police Department
implement a curfew in an "as needed" type of enforcement. This would benefit the
Dubuque Police Department's available resources but could also create claims of
selective enforcement as well as result in legal challenges as to the Constitutionality of
such laws on one side, and complaints of not enough enforcement by another side.
2) Provide additional resources to COP: The unit is currently staffed by a Captain and
four corporals for the day to day COP unit. Additionally the COP Division is staffed by
two traffic officers with a third planned; and three School Resource Officers (one
corporal and two officers) with an additional officer planned. Expansion of COP
philosophy is a constant work in progress. Through attrition, promotion and other
movement, to date nearly 40% of the supervisory staff has served in the COP Division
and are allies in spreading the COP philosophy. In addition, the use of TAD has made
all supervisors more accountable to find solutions to problems in their assigned'
territories. The unit has expanded several times since its inception. Once we are able to
fill the vacant positions we will have a better understanding of the division's needs.
3) More aggressive enforcement of traffic and noise ordinances: Beginning with my
promotion to Chief of Police on February 2, 2010, staff meetings have been held with
the majority of the department personnel to discuss department goals and expectations.
Traffic and noise enforcement are discussed as part of these expectations. The
additional resource of traffic officers and TAD projects will help increase enforcement
efforts. 30% of all TAD special projects in 2009 were geared towards citizen requests
for extra traffic enforcement and this trend is expected to continue if not increase. In the
first six months of 2010, noise enforcement for traffic is up 28% in the department.
5) Give the SCTF and PD a chance to review and react to the NIU Crime study: As
mentioned in the response to the first set of recommendations, the DPD has actively
cooperated with the NIU crime study and provided information as requested. Once the
final report is in and the SCTF and DPD have had a chance to review the material, more
action might be taken towards this recommendation.
6) Establish a Safe Community Crime Commission: The DPD will cooperate with any
City Council direction that comes from this recommendation.
8) Mandatory background checks: The DPD offers this service free to landlords. A new
part-time position will be filled soon which be dedicated to this process. Should the
Council adopt such a policy change, the DPD will conduct the background checks as
necessary.
12) Landlord database: The City is exploring this through Crenna Brumwell in the Legal
Department. The Dubuque Police Department would be a partner in developing any
such project and this would most likely be a duty of the part-time records clerk assigned
to landlord.background checks.
13) Landlord training: The DPD has offered annual landlord training for 15 years
through its Crime Free Property training. Class size has varied over the years and
further study would be needed on the feasibility of additional sessions.
CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATION
The Dubuque Police Department has welcomed the Safe Community Task Force's
recommendations. Some have already been in progress or partially in progress, some
have been explored before and will get a second look and some will most likely be a
reality in the future after further study. We look forward to the continued partnership with
the Task Force.
ACTION REQUESTED
This is an informational memorandum with no action requested.
A good night to get
to know your neighbors.
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT
TUESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2010
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S °ONSO=2ED 3y
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You're invited to National Night Out
Date:
Tuesday - August 3, 2010
5:OOpm - 8:OOpm
Time:
Location: Comiskey Park - Dubuque, IA
Event Specifics:
Neighborhood gathering to support the partnership of
the Dubuque Police Department with the community.
Join us for food and games, along with give -aways and
music for all ages!
National Night Out is an annual event designed to strengthen our communities by encouraging
neighborhoods to engage in stronger relationships with each other and with their local law
enforcement partners. The goal is to heighten crime - prevention awareness, build support and
participation in local anti -crime programs, and most importantly, send a message that our
neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. It's also the perfect opportunity to get to know
your neighbors even better. See you there.
For more information visit nationalnightout.org
Note: In Texas, Tuesday, October 5, 2010, is an optional alternate date for NNO events.
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