08-08-1990 Additions - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

TO: CMMDR BERGERON FROM: LT. VOTED/ DATE: 7/18/90 SUBJECT: REPORT TAKING AND INVESTIGATION OF WORTHLESS DOCUMENT OFFENSES RECOMMENDATION I am requesting and seeking your approval to put the following change in policy into effect regarding how the Sheriff's Office responds to and investigates worthless document offenses. BACKGROUND /ANALYSIS My analysis begins with the fact that since 9/1/89, RCS has responded to 155 calls for worthless document reports. Of those, 70 or 45 % have been for check loss amount of less than $25.00. 101 or 65 % have been for amount of loss less than $50.00. Cost /time usage factors involved in processing these cases involve the squad usage and manpower response and report writing time, (estimated to be .50 hours per check). There is investigative time used in attempts to contact business for any clarifications needed, attempts to contact the suspects to establish intent, gathering bank information, and report writing and issuance of citations. There is also city attorney's time involved reviewing and charging the case and always the potential for court time. Just the patrolmans time alone based upon the above averages is equal to 113 hours of service per year. My research of the surronding police agencies reveal that we have fallen behind in the criteria set for accepting, investigating, and prosecuting these types of cases. All Agencies, except one, had both minimun dollar loss amount and maximum passage of time for acceptance requirements. The most common minimuns for actually taking a report were a check of more than $50.00 and a maximum of not more than 30 days passage since the check was accepted. Most all the policies include specific procedural, identification, and documentation levels before a report will be taken. The attached policy was written by taking the best bits and pieces from those I gathered. Page 30