TITLE
Recommendation to:
1) Receive and file the June 2007, "Long Beach Police Efficiency Study";
2) Request City Manager and Police Department to review recommendations regarding "Civilianization," develop comprehensive strategies consistent with those recommendations, and advise the City Council and City Auditor as to progress and plans for implementation in 90 days, six months and one year from the date of receipt and filing;
3) Request City Manager and Police Department to review recommendations regarding "Redeployment," develop comprehensive strategies consistent with those recommendations, and advise the City Council and City Auditor as to progress and plans for implementation in 90 days, six months and one year from the date of receipt and filing;
4) Request City Manager, Police Department and Department of Technology Services to review recommendations regarding "Technology Upgrades," develop comprehensive strategies consistent with those recommendations, and advise the City Council and City Auditor as to progress and plans for implementation in 90 days, six months and one year from the date of receipt of filing; and
5) Request the City Manager, Police Department and Public Works (specifically Fleet Services and Towing Operations) to review recommendations regarding "Fine Enforcement," develop comprehensive strategies consistent with those recommendations and advise the City Council and City Auditor as to progress and plans for implementation in 90 days, six months and one year from the date of receipt and filing.
DISCUSSION
In November of 2006, our office, along with Public Financial Management (PFM), began a study of the Long Beach Police Department for purposes of identifying potential efficiencies and cost savings. A steering committee was formed which consisted of the following individuals:
· Laura Doud, City Auditor
· Alex Cherin, Assistant City Auditor
· Jerry Miller, City Manager
· Christine Shippey, Assistant City Manager
· Tony Batts, Police Chief
· Braden Phillips, Administration Bureau Chief
· Mike Killebrew, Director of Financial Management
· Ken Walker, Acting Director of Human Resources
The purpose of the steering committee was to guide the efficiency study, identify areas of study, provide input on further areas of review and to assess the feasibility of the recommendations made by PFM.
The study focused on twelve initiatives, representing a potential fiscal impact of $4.1 million in FY2008 and $24.3 million over the next five years. In summary, these initiatives can be broken down into four discernable categories: Civilianization, Redeployment, Technology Upgrades and Fine Enforcement. Within these broader categories are 12 specific initiatives designed to save costs while growing a competitive police force. These initiatives offer more effective and less costly means of implementing this goal. Several of the initiatives require additional analysis to be fully quantified but would add significantly to fiscal impact over the next several years. In addition, many of the initiatives would create additional revenue for the City.
This assessment is intended to be a working guide with recommendations implemented and used as a basis for further discussion. As such, our office is recommending that the City Manager, Police Department and other departments as specified above work to develop specific strategies consistent with the findings in this report. Although there may be some practical limitations to the specific recommendations made, the broader findings provide a starting point for implementing cost saving strategies within the Police Department.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
LAURA L. DOUD, CITY AUDITOR