07/26/2010 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • AGENDA ITEM 4A STAFF ORIGINATOR David J. Pecchia Public Safety Director /Chief of Police DATE July 26, 2010 TOPIC Full -time Community Relations Coordinator VOTES REQUIRED: Simple Majority BACKGROUND The Lino Lakes Police Department is requesting council to authorize increasing the Community Relations Coordinator Position from 3/4 to full time. Volunteer involvement in the police department began in the 1980's with a few police reserve officers. In 2004 the city of Lino Lakes was awarded a grant from the Minnesota Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management that funded the creation of a Volunteer Coordinator position within the police department. In September of 2004 Karen Anderson was hired to fill that position and has successfully grown both the number and involvement of the volunteer program. In 2009 128 volunteers donated over 10,000 hours in support of the Lino Lakes Police Department mission. Community members have volunteered their time through the Reserves, Chaplains, Explorers, Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), office volunteers, interns and the Public Safety Citizens Commission. The interaction between volunteers and staff continues to strengthen the community partnerships that are instrumental in providing for a safe community. The volunteer program has been hugely successful. The Community Relations Coordinator was elevated to a command level position within the police department because of the importance of volunteers in the delivery of public safety services. Managing this growing program and its ongoing integration into the organization requires an increasing investment of time. Continued success will come from identifying new areas of volunteer involvement, ensuring volunteer retention, finding new sources for volunteer recruitment as well as developing and enhancing police / community partnerships. Increasing the Community Relations Coordinator position to full -time will support the