TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute an agreement and any related documents with the Trustees of the California State University, on behalf of California State University Long Beach, to facilitate unpaid internship opportunities with the Long Beach Police Department for California State University Long Beach, School of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Emergency Management students, commencing upon full execution of the agreement and continue until terminated by either party by written notice of not less than 30 days. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
City Council approval is requested to enter in an agreement with the Trustees of the California State University, on behalf of California State University Long Beach (CSULB), to facilitate unpaid internship opportunities with the Police Department (PD) for CSULB School of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Emergency Management students. PD will benefit from the proposed agreement, as the student interns will be providing labor and services at no cost in exchange for the learning experience gained through the internship. Students will have an opportunity to experience a variety of professional opportunities in areas such as crime analysis, criminal investigations, records management, and community outreach.
PD staff will supervise each student, verify the number of student training hours and evaluate the student’s performance in his/her internship placement. PD will also conduct a Live Scan fingerprint check and background review on each intern prior to placement in order to comply with the minimum security clearance standards required by the Department of Justice (DOJ) for volunteers working in a law enforcement agency. CSULB will be responsible for providing all student orientations, placements, and provisions of liability and worker’s compensation insurance, while the students are interning at PD facilities.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Kendra Carney and Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on September 22, 2015.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action on this matter is requested on October 20, 2015, to ensure that the agreement is in place expeditiously.
FISCAL IMPACT
The cost per intern is $49 for the Live Scan (DOJ & FBI Clearance) and the background review will be conducted by PD personnel. The cost associated with the background process is budgeted in the General Fund (GF) in the Police Department (PD). For the State of California, the service value of each hour of volunteer time donated is $26.87. Given that each intern must provide a minimum of 130 hours of volunteer service, the impact and value of the volunteer service exceeds the cost incurred by PD. Additionally, many interns choose to stay on as volunteers beyond the requirements of their internship, which provides added benefits to this program.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
ROBERT G. LUNA
CHIEF OF POLICE
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER