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Police Dept AccreditationMEMORANDUM September 8, 2003 TO: FROM: SUBJECT: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager Police Department Accreditation - Reaccreditation 2004 Accreditation is a voluntary program of national standards established through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. The Dubuque Police Department has participated in accreditation for the past 12 years. Currently the department is accredited, with raaccreditation to occur in 2004. During the recent budget concems, the Police Department, along with other City departments, was asked to recommend cost reductions to address the budget shortfalls. Included within those reductions was the elimination of a staff position primarily dedicated to accreditation, along with two line items dedicated to the process and associated costs. During the budget process, the accreditation staff position was reinstated, along with $4,165 for related costs for the accreditation process. Police Chief Klm Wadding recommends City Council approval to use the reinstated $4,165 for the accreditation process and to continue voluntary participation with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies ~n pursuit of reaccreditation in 2004. I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval. Micfiael C. Van Milligen ~ MCVM/jh Attachment cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager Klm B. Wadding, Police Chief MEMORANDUM Date: August20,2003 To: Michael C. Van Milligen City Manager From: Klm B. Wadding ~q/'"~ Police Chief Re: Police Department Accreditation - Reaccreditation 2004 INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this memorandum is to request continuation of the accreditation process through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. Inc (CALEA) by continuing staff dedication and the use of $4.165 of reinstated budget monies to the accreditation process. BACKGROUND: Accreditation is a voluntary program of national standards established through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement agencies. The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc (CALEA) was established as an independent accrediting authority in 1979 by the four major law enforcement membership associations: International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP); National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE); National Sheriff's Association (NSA); and Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). The Executive Directors of these four associations appoint members to the Commission annually. The Dubuque Police Department has participated in accreditation for the past 12 years. Currently the department is accredited with reaccreditation to occur in 2004. During the recent budget concerns, the police department, along with other city departments was asked to recommend cost reductions to address the budget shortfalls. Initially, the police department offered prioritized reductions in the amount of $791.385. Included within those reductions was the elimination of a staff position primarily dedicated to accreditation along with two line items dedicated to the process and associated costs. DISCUSSION: Although budget losses for the police department did occur, the losses were significantly less than originally thought. Part of the budget reductions included several line items that were combined totaling $81.736. Those line items included overtime payments for traffic safety projects ($31,577), overtime payments for domestic violence investigations ($9,459), the elimination of a marked patrol unit and associated lights ($24,200) and two line items concerning accreditation ($4,000 and $12,500). The accreditation line items represent ongoing costs of accreditation including an annual accreditation payment, accreditation hearing costs for staff travel and lodging, and costs associated with manual preparation, printing and distribution. As the budget process unfolded, many of the budget reduction recommendations were reinstated including $4,165 to the above line items. Although full funding was not restored, two of the above line items have received some grant funding lessening the impact to those areas. Those areas are traffic safety $14,500 and domestic violence $3,500. With these amounts available, it is our hope to dedicate the reinstated $4.165 to the accreditation process. Accreditation remains a critical element in the pursuit of a professional police department; accreditation serves the department well as we strived for professional excellence in meeting and exceeding mandatory standards in professional law enforcement. The reinstated dollars alfows payment for our third and final installment for the three-year accreditation cycle. Additionally, we are exploring internal adjustments in the accreditation process limiting the production of printed manuals replacing with corn puter disks, limiting personnel attendance to the reaccreditation hearing, and restricting reproduction costs and associated expenses. Through these efforts we provide adequate funding to continue to participate in the accreditation/reaccreditation process. Our tentative accreditation schedule begins with a mock on-site in late January/early February 2005, the CALEA on-site assessment April 2005 and, if successful, the reaccreditation hearing July 2005. RECOMMENDATION: With the reinstatement of the accreditation staff position and the return of $4 165 for related costs, we recommend continuation of the accreditation process. ACTION REQUESTED: Action requested is to approve the use of the reinstated dollars of $4,165 for the accreditation process and to continue voluntary participation with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies ~n our pursuit of reaccreditation in 2004.