06-23-1993 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Another possible approach is to go with a phase in plan. This plan could be, to hire one Deputy in 1994. By doing this, we could put one squad on the street during certain days of the week, during particular times of the day. The squad that this deputy would use would be an older back up squad. In 1995 we hire a second deputy, and buy an equipped squad car. This will allow us to schedule the " power shift " squad on the street eight hours a day, seven days a week. The purchased squad should last at least three years. The emergency equipment should last between seven to ten years. In 1996 we could hire another deputy and ditto in 1997. The result would be a full sixteen hour " power shift " on the street every day of the year. The most important part of any plan begins right now. That part includes our philosophy and ability to change and modify our traditional approach to police service. As you know, we now assign squads primarily to patrol within city boundaries during basically traditional shifts. For example, 2460, 2461 and 2458 start at 7am, change shifts at 3pm work to llpm, change shift again at llpm and work to 7am. This happens 12 months a year everyday. What about not having 2458 ( I picked this squad arbitrarily ) not work from 3am to loam during the summer, but rather, have this available resource actually on the street when we really need more help? Of course other Contract City squads will have to pick up the resulting extra work load during this morning shift in the summer months. Then when winter comes and accidents start happening in the early morning while folks are on their way to work during slippery road conditions, we put the squad back on normal hours. My point is, that I would like you to consider giving me the authority to get creative with our squad scheduling. There may be an opportunity here for us to deal with the demands placed on our squads without going to the well for additional funds. We may find that we still need more help after we try this, but at least we will have given an alternative a chance. Now comes the hard part. This type of scheduling means that you your City ) may have to give up something. What you may have to give up is the perception that you have a particular squad car assigned to your city twenty four hours a day. Also low priority calls may be held for longer periods of time or the caller may be asked to call back later to make his /her report. Really what you will be doing is sharing more of your resources with your neighboring communities on a more frequent basis. The squad is no longer " my squad ", but " our squad ". Page 61