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ORIGINAL
CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO - REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
From: Michael A. Billdt,Chief of Police Subject: Implementation of a Anti-
Graffiti Rewards Program
Dept: Police Department
Date: July 15,2008
M/CC Meeting Date: 7-21-08
Synopsis of Previous Council Action
On May 6`h,2008,the LRC Committee recommended for approval, and sent to Council.
Recommended Motion:
Receive and file.
MICHAEL A. BILLDT, C1-HEF OF POLICE
Contact person: Lieutenant Diane Holmes Phone: 384-5770
Supporting data attached: Yes Ward: All
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS: Amount: $10,000
Source: General Government Account
#001-092-5502
Finance
Council Notes:
Agenda Item No. o?a
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CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO - REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
STAFF REPORT
SUBJECT
Implementation of an Anti-Graffiti Rewards Program.
BACKGROUND
The San Bernardino City Council has taken a zero tolerance approach regarding graffiti. As
such, the Mayor's Office and Common Council want to increase our ability to arrest graffiti
criminals and better reward witnesses who report graffiti crime.
On May 6, 2008, the Legislative Review Committee reviewed this program and recommended
that it be approved.
The City of San Bernardino Anti-Graffiti Rewards Program provides a maximum of$1000 for
information that leads to the arrest and conviction of anyone for the crime of graffiti. The
purpose of the program is to encourage members of the community to call a rewards hot-line
when they have information about graffiti criminals that leads to the arrest and prosecution of the
criminal.
The Council Office will manage and administer the program. Attached is a summary of the
program.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
For the fiscal year 2008-2009, $10,000 is the estimated amount of funding for the Reward
Program, including advertising. This will be paid from the General Government account.
RECOMMENDATION
Receive and file.
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Anti-Graffiti Rewards Program Background Information
The City of San Bernardino Reward Program will provide a maximum of $1000 for
information that leads to the arrest and conviction of anyone for the crime of graffiti. The
purpose of the program is to encourage members of the community to partnership with the
Police Department and City Council Office to combat criminal graffiti.
It is important that the Anti-Graffiti Rewards Program be advertised and used as an
educational tool for maximum effectiveness.
The following criteria provides guidelines regarding issuance of the reward:
• The recipient of the reward need not be a City of San Bernardino resident
• City employees or volunteers in any capacity are not eligible
• The arrest made based upon the information given must be for graffiti vandalism.
• One reward limit per incident regardless of the number of criminals convicted
• In the event two or more people report the same incident, the caller who provides the
most useful information will be eligible for the reward
• In the event that two or more persons report equally valuable information, the first
caller will receive the reward
• The vandalism must have occurred in the City of San Bernardino
• The reward applies to public or private property
• The arrest results in conviction or assignment to a diversion program
• The recipient of the reward must repay the reward if they are arrested for a graffiti
crime at a later date.
Section 1 Graffiti Task Force Responsibilities:
• The Graffiti Task Force will maintain a "hotline" to which members of the public can
telephone with suspect information. This number will be publicized as the Anti-Graffiti
Reward Hotline, and the Graffiti Taskforce Hotline.
• The Graffiti Task Force officer will complete the Anti-Graffiti Rewards Program
Information Sheet (attachment one).
• The original form is the best evidence and will be maintained in the Graffiti Task Force
Office.
• A copy of the Information Sheet will be forwarded to the Rewards Program
Coordinator in the City Council Office.
• The Graffiti Task Force member assigned to the case will investigate and attempt to
validate the information provided by the caller.
- Information will be evaluated as to the usefulness in identifying suspects and its
value to the conviction of arrestees.
• The Graffiti Task Force will provide information about case upda g '_
Program Coordinator including the potential reward candidate's ide �e�"'��''r ��
• The Graffiti Task Force will provide the number of the Rewards P V
to the potential award recipient for updates.
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• The Graffiti Task Force will notify the Rewards Program Coordinator upon conviction
of the graffiti vandal.
Reward Program Coordinator Responsibilities:
• The Rewards Program Coordinator will reside in the City Council Office;
• The Rewards Program Coordinator will maintain a Rewards log completed with the
information provided on the Graffiti Rewards Program information sheet;
• The Rewards Program Coordinator will track the status of each case based upon
updates provided by the Graffiti Task Force;
• Once the case is filed with the District Attorney, the Rewards Program Coordinator will
track the status of prosecution and conviction through the District Attorney's Office;
• The Rewards Program Coordinator will receive update request calls from potential
rewards recipients, and be responsible for returning calls and giving case updates;
• Upon verification from the District Attorney's Office that the arrest resulted in conviction
or assignment to a diversion program, the Program Coordinator will complete the
reward paperwork;
• The Rewards Program Coordinator will advise the eligible recipient to respond to the
City Council Office and ask for the reward coordinator where they will provide their
identification for verification;
• The Rewards Program Coordinator will be responsible for confirming the outcome of
each incident.
Reward Custodian Responsibilities:
The Reward Custodian will be responsible for the issuance of all rewards associated with this
program, and maintaining the accuracy of the case account records.
• The Reward Custodian or the designated alternate custodian will reside in the City
Council Office and will maintain accounting of the reward fund;
• The Reward Custodian will track rewards issued and maintain a current balance of the
reward fund;
• When the reporting party claims a reward, the custodian will verify that their name
matches that recorded by the Rewards Program Coordinator, and that the case has
met eligibility requirements.
• When the name and eligibility is verified, the custodian will provide a maximum of
$1000 from the reward fund to the individual in the presence of a department witness.
• The Reward Custodian will record the police case number of the original graffiti
vandalism report, the date and amount of the reward provided, and to whom.
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CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO
ANTI-GRAFFITI REWARDS PROGRAM
INFORMATION SHEET
NAME:
ADDRESS:
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
DATE OF BIRTH:
DATE AND TIME OF CALL:
OTHER INFORMATION:
GRAFFITI INFORMATION:
GRAFFITI TASK FORCE USE:
This information was useful in a graffiti arrest, case #
This information was not useful in a graffiti arrest