Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout46-Police Department ~IT~ OF SAN BERtODINO - REQUEST QR COUNCIL ACTION From: Daniel A. Robbins, Chief of Police Dept: Police Subject: Indemnity Agreement for Citizen Patrol Vehicles Dete: 6-8-92 Synopsis of Previous Council ection: None Recommended motion: 1. That the "Indemnity Agreement", drafted by the City Attorney's Office, which relieves auto dealerships from liability while donated cars are used in conjunction with the Citizen Patrol Program, be approved. 2. That $8,000 be allocated from Asset Forfeiture funds for expenses related to gasoline, maintenance and repair of vehicles donated by local car dealerships to be used in conjunction with the Citizen Patrol Program. / ~" Contact person: W.O. Smith, Lieutenant Phone: 384-5690 Supporting data atteched: FUNDING REQUIREMENTS: Amount: $S',OOO Source: City ~feiture C, yes Werd: Finence: Council Notes: 75.0262 Agenda Item NO~ CITY OF SAN BERtOOINO - REQUEST QR COUNCIL ACTION . . STAFF REPORT PROBLEM: In working towards establishing an auxiliary citizen Patrol Unit, the Police Department will receive five or six cars donated by local car dealerships. Liability for the cars should be assumed by the city while in use as Citizen Patrol cars. RECOMMENDATION: The Mayor and Common council approve the "indemnity Agreement" drafted by the City Attorney's office which releases the car dealerships from liability while the cars are used in this program. FINDINGS: The San Bernardino citizen Patrol program is a joint effort between the San Bernardino Police Reserve Unit and the Neighborhood Watch Association of San Bernardino, Inc. The program is supported by volunteers and donations from the community. If car repairs are needed, funds from aSset forfeiture would be used. Expenditures for gas and maintenance would be $8,000 and also would be funded through asset forfeiture. Citizen Patrol members must be at least 18 years of age, be physically fit, have good moral character and pass a background investigation. All citizen Patrol members must also be active members of the Neighborhood Watch Association of San Bernardino, Inc. Each member must successfully pass a 44 hour Citizen Patrol Academy which includes departmental organization, community service program education, patrol techniques, traffic control and use of radio as well as First Aid, CPR, and defensive driving. citizen Patrol members conduct high visibility patrols aimed at crime prevention rather than law enforcement. Patrols are conducted in uniform using donated vehicles visibly marked as Citizen Patrol vehicles equipped with pOlice radios. Patrols include vacation checks as well as public welfare checks. citizen Patrol members are also called upon to provide traffic control for special events and in case of emergency. Citizen Patrol members are responsible for a variety of crime prevention programs including Neighborhood Watch, Business Watch, Lady Beware and child fingerprinting. Members appear at special events and various community functions to make presentations of Crime Prevention programs available. San Bernardino Citizen Patrol members are the extra eyes and ears for the San Bernardino Police Department. Members are volunteers trained to provide a.wide variety of duties to increase crime prevention awareness. 75-0264 CITY OF SAN SERtORDINO - REQUEST OR COUNCIL ACTION STAFF REPORT The department has worked for several months to institute Citizen Patrol. The major obstacle to implementation has been our inability to provide cars. Police Commissioner Al Fletcher has worked diligently with local car dealers to persuade them to donate cars, at no cost to the city. Attorneys for the dealerships have approved the "Indemnity Agreement" as written by the City Attorney's office. Currently, Center Chevrolet, Harmon Auto Center, Toyota of San Bernardino, Crest Chevrolet, and Subaru of San Bernardino are committed to donating one car each. Each dealership has different time requirements as to how long the city can use the cars. However, when a donated car is returned to the dealership, that car will be replaced with another from the dealership. 75.0264 1 2 8 .. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 18 14 16 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 2S 24 25 26 27 28 o ..:) IMDDIN%'I'Y AGRBBMENT Thi. Indemnity Agreement ia made this ___ day of 1992, between the CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO, a Municipal Cnrporation ("CITY") and a ("AUTO DEALER"). RBCI'1'ALS WHEREas, CITY'S POlice department hall AAt:",blhhed a program known as "Citizen. Patrol", under which vol.llntellrll will 81111illt the Department 1n non-hazardOUS lIi1:lIl1t1on8: and WHEREAS, AUTO DEALER i"" willing to donate car for C%'1'Y'S ",oa in this program, lIubjeet t~ the termo and condLtions ..t forth below: MOW, THEREFORE, t:he partie. agree a. follows I 1. AUTO DEALER eOr..1I to provide one (1) v.~iol0 for C%'1'Y'B use In its "Citir.enll Patrol" prQ9ram, o&id vehicle boing de.crib.d ae follnwA~ Make~ Year: Lieerule No. I V%N Numberl 2. From time to time AtJ'1'O IlBALBR may, in its .ole disor.tion, lIub.tituto 8 different vohicle for "'S. in the prQ9ram. To do 80, AUTO DEALER IIha11 given written notLco to the Chief 0& Police raque8ting return of the vehicle then in "'8e, giving the year, mako, llcen.e and VIM number of tho vehicle tu be substit",tod, and the dato on which it i8 to be d.liye~ud to the C%TY. RJM:me[autodealor.6gm] 1 1 2 3 4 5 8 7 8 9 10 11 12 18 14 16 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 2S 2' 25 26 27 28 o o 3. Title to any vehicle provided to CITY undar thh A;reement shall remain with auro DEALBR. 4. CITY shall indemnify. defend and hold Aum nl':ILER, :I..ta officers, agents and employee.. free and harml.sR ~rom any ~d all liability, 10S8, damage, expense, causes of aotion, suits, olaimB or jUdgments arising from injury to perROn or property roeult1ng from or based upon the use or Operation of the vehicle Subjeot to this agreement: and CITY ahall, At it. own ooet and expenoo, defend any and all 8uita which mRy be brought againet AUTO DtALBR, either alone or oonjunction with others, upon any Duch l~abil~ty or claim or claims and ahall RRt1ofy, pay and diacharge any and all judgment8 and fins. thAt may be recovered again.t AUTO DBALSR in any such action Dr actions: provided, however, that tM.a indemnity shall not extend to any 1~ab~1ity, 1000, demage, expense, cauae of action, SUit, o1aim or judgment ro.ult~ng from or based upon tha RDl.e n"'l11iganoe or intentional mi. conduct of AUTO DEALER or itR nff1oers, agent. and employeoo. 5. C%TY Rhall be.r the riak of lose or damage (excluding normal weAr and tear) to the vehiole during .uch time a. it is in CITY'S pnRRA99fon. g. Bither party may oanoel thio ogreement upon giving liv~ (5) days written notice to the othor. 7. Any notice or other writton communication purauanL to thie Agreement, or oonoerning thie Agreement, .hell b. given a. ~0110w.: 1~ to CITY, Dan~e1 A. Robbins Chief of Pol1oe Ci ty of San BernarcUno 466 Weat Fourth Street San Pernerd~no, CA 92401 R3M:moCautodealor.agm] 2 1 2 8 4 I) 6 , 8 9 10 11 12 IS l( 16 18 17 18 19 20 21 22 2S 2' 21) 26 27 28 c If to AUTO DEALER: ~. -, o IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Perties have executed th1~ Aareement on the date first written above. Approved as to Form and Legal Content: Jamell F. -Penman City Attorney By: RJM:m.[autodealer.agm] .-. "CITY" w. R. Holcomb, Mayor Raehesl Kr.8sney. City Clerk "AUTO DEALER" By: 3 "" o '0 NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH ASSOCIATION OF SAN BERNARDINO, INC. PROPOSAL FOR C I T I ZEN PAT R OL Initial Proposal Presented by Don Baker President Neighborhood Watch Association of S.B.. Inc. November 26, 1990 o o 1. WHO - Anyone 18 years or older meeting basic background qualifications with the desire to help their community. A. NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH ASSOCIATION 1. ORGANIZATION The N.W.A. organization is already in place with Bylaws and Non-Profit status. 2. MEMBER SERVICE The N.W.A. membership desires to expand their involvement in the community, many members are already active in crime prevention and involved in various volunteer positions. The members understand the need for greater cooperation between citizens and the police department. Some members who are Highland residents are already active in the Highland Citizens Patrol. B. SAN BERNARDINO POLICE RESERVES 1. ADMINISTRATORS/ADVISORS Offers the reserve unit the opportunity to became more pro-active in crime prevention. The reserve unit is already acting as coordinators for the Police Explorer unit. Offers those that desire to put in "a few hours" various nights to do so. 2. TRAINING Most reserve officers are well trained and some have developed specialties such as First Aid instruction, Crime Prevention, etc. Training could also be provided by volunteer, off duty officers with an interest in furthering citizen involvement. o o II. WHAT A. CITIZENS PATROL Citizen Patrol members drive marked vehicles in special uniforms providing increased visibility for the department through patrol and crime.. prevention' activities, virtually increasing the police department personnel levels without increasing expenses. 1. VACATION CHECKS The community wants, needs and should have the peace of mind that, when they leave for a trip, someone who cares is watching their property. Due to the low priority of this type of patrol, it is not currently being done with any regularity.' This activity would provide not only increased protection but also increased visibility of the police department. 2. SHUT-IN CHECKS This activity protects those who have paid taxes for years and are now deserving of a little additional service as well as providing the police department valuable public relations. 3. EXTRA PATROLS Many times a citizen, residential and/or commercial, has the .need for extra patrol services. In most cases, . sworn officers are unable to provide this service. Again, Citizens Patrol can provide the service and increase visibility at the same time. 4. TRAFFIC CONTROL "(PARADES, SPECIAL EVENTS, ETC.) This duty is currently handled by reserve officers and explorers. Many times there are not enough of these officers to provide adequate manpower, yet this is one of the most visible but non-enforcement activities of the department. This activity is meant.to supplement, o o not replace, those who currently work these unpaid ~etails. B. CRIME PREVENTION 1. NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAMS Neighborhood Watch programs are currently conducted by community service reps. These programs are generally given at night or on week-ends causing the C.S.R. to either give up valuable work time during the ~ay or incur overtime pay. Who better to give these programs than the ones who have been actively involved with Neighborhood Watch programs for years, have seen them work and have benefitted from these programs, while at the same time, allowing C.S.R. 's to attend to those duties that cannot be handled by volunteers. Another problem is resolved when the programs are done in cooperation with the reserve coordinators in that the biggest complaint of the C.S.R. is that no sworn officer is usually available, and, when the Citizen Patrol member and the Reserve Coordinator work together as a team, this can be resolved. 2. FINGERPRINTING - A program that can save a life in the future and help educate in the present. Currently this program is done by paid crime prevention staff or 1.0. techs. By using volunteers this program, as well as many others, can be offered more often to more children. o o III. WHEN A. DAYLIGHT HOURS (PATROL ACTIVITIES) - Patrols will be conducted normally in 4 hour shifts between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. seven days per week (based on full participation). Hours will be flexible to.. conform with daylight hours and weather conditions. 8. SPECIAL EVENTS - Volunteer participation in crime prevention events at. local malls, schools, parks, etc. will reduce or eliminate compensating time off and/or overtime for paid staff. Visibility will be greater for the police department and for citizen patrol. This will allow the police department to become more active within the community and to allow citizens who care to help. C. PROGRAMS (NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH) - As 'stated previously, volunteer participation in conducting these programs increases manpower where needed (freeing paid staff) and provides a more complete program, whether it be Neighborhood Watch, 8usiness Watch, Lady. Beware or any of the numerous programs that should be available to the public. 8y educating the pUblic, citizen become more understanding of the problems of their community and police actions necessary to curtail criminal activity. o o IV. WHERE A. CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO 1. APARTMENT COMPLEXES, MOBILE HOME PARKS 2. RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL AREAS . o o v. WHY A. PUBLIC RELATIONS - Most citizens interactions with the police department are a result of a traumatic experience, or the result of publicity (mostly unfavorable). Citizens. . Patrol provides pro-active activities, police involvement within the community by the community itself. Citizen patrol is not just the act of patrolling, but rather the commingling of citizens w(th citizens. Patrol members will frequently be "walking the beat" talking with business owners and employees, offering crime prevention tips (don't keep your garage door open) and a willingness to explain and help. By the use of a marked unit, more patrols are noticed and mOre activity is evident. B. ADDITIONAL MANPOWER - Today all departments are in dire financial straights. With Federal cutbacks to the states, with state cutbacks to the cities, there is no where else to turn to. All departments are faced with the same shortages without the resources to increase already low levels of manpower. Now is the time to take advantage of the hue and cry of the community by offering them something they can do about it. They want the service and many are willing to be a part of the community and help offer the service. C. REDUCE OVERTIME - Right now, many duties that cost the city overtime, compensating time off or in place of other, possibly more important duties, can be done by properly trained volunteers. For several years, many volunteers have been offering to take over many of these duties, but there has not been the vehicle .to properly contain and distribute this untold wealth of help. Citizen Patrol can be this vehicle along with Neighborhood Watch. o o VI. HOW A. RECRUIT THROUGH N.W.A. - The N.W.A. is made up of community volunteers interested in the community they live in. These volunteers are of all ages, from all walks of life and with a great variety of backgrounds. Many will . join citizen patrol and patrol the communities in which they live, communities that they know and are known in. While actual patrol time is limited, the citizen lives in the community and is constantly aware. 8. TRAIN THROUGH CITIZENS ACADEMY - The citizen academy will include classes in First Aid, Defensive Driving, Crime Prevention, Patrol Techniques, Legal Concepts, Radio Usage and Traffic Control. Most courses will be instructed by reserves, off-duty officers who are willing to volunteer their time and other volunteers. C. PUBLIC SUPPORT - The proper program will gain the support of the pUblic, both for recruiting volunteers and for raising funds. This support will include additional support for local police as well as the many programs they must i mpl ement. Increased support wi 11 lead to increased awareness and assistance from the community. D. CONTRIBUTIONS - All expenses will be funded from contributions raised by patrol members. Fund raisers and solicitation of funds from local businesses will provide vehicles, equipment, maintenance and training. There is no direct expense to the city or the department e~cept those expenses that they wish to incur. Indirect expenses such as insurance, gas, etc. will be minimal for the support and cooperation of the community and the offsetting costs by reducing paid manpower needs.