TITLE
Recommendation to request a report from City Manager and Police Chief on gun violence in Long Beach within the past year, including what steps are being taken to address the violence and what additional resources are needed to assist with those efforts.
DISCUSSION
While crime remains among the lowest rates in the past 40 years in Long Beach, the City has seen an increase in violent crime over the past year and a half.
Any shooting in the City is one too many for the families and neighborhoods impacted.
During the past few years, Long Beach has utilized multiple approaches to combat violence in our neighborhoods, including funding for a prohibited possessors task force and additional use of cameras in high-crime areas.
In 2016, the City will be conducting two police academies in a year for the first time since before the start of the recession in 2008 necessitated significant reductions to our police staffing.
We would like to request a report from the City Manager and Police Chief on the recent increase in violent crimes, what steps are being taken currently to address the increase, and what additional measures the Police Department could take if additional funding were made available.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact with this request.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
AL AUSTIN
COUNCILMAN, EIGHTH DISTRICT
LENA GONZALEZ
COUNCILWOMAN, FIRST DISTRICT
ROBERTO URANGA
COUNCILMEMBER, SEVENTH DISTRICT
REX RICHARDSON
COUNCILMEMBER, NINTH DISTRICT