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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - September 6, 2017 C-20CITY OF LODI COUNCIL COMMUNICATION TM AGENDA ITEM C2o AGENDA TITLE: Approve Response to 2016/17 San Joaquin County Civil Grand Jury Report Regarding Property Rooms, Missing or Messy, Case No. 0316 MEETING DATE: August 16, 2017 PREPARED BY: Chief of Police RECOMMENDED ACTION Approve response to 2016/17 San Joaquin County Grand Jury report regarding countywide property rooms, Missing or Messy, case no. 0316. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The San Joaquin County Grand Jury report reviewed 11 county law enforcement agencies' property rooms to determine compliance with their own policies and procedures along with the recommended policies and best practices of California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) and Lexipol within San Joaquin County. The 2016/17 Grand Jury made three findings and three recommendations that impact the Lodi Police Department's property room. The City of Lodi has 90 days to respond to the findings and recommendations. The deadline for the response is September 18, 2017 and requires Council approval. The attached letter responds to the Grand Jury's findings and recommendations. FISCAL IMPACT: Attachment None. AR c RI Tod atterson Ch -f of Police CITY COUNCIL DOUG KUEHNE, Mayor ALAN NAKANISHI, Mayor Pro Tempore MARK CHANDLER BOB JOHNSON JOANNE MOUNCE CITY OF LODI CITY HALL, 221 WEST PINE STREET P.O. BOX 3006 LODI, CALIFORNIA 95241-1910 (209) 333-6702 / FAX (209) 333-6807 www.lodi.gov cityclerk(a�lodi.gov August 17, 2017 The Honorable Jose L. Alva Presiding Judge of the San Joaquin County Superior Court 180 E. Weber Avenue Suite #1306J Stockton, CA 95202 STEPHEN SCHWABAUER City Manager JENNIFER M. FERRAIOLO City Clerk JANICE D. MAGDICH City Attorney Re: Response to the San Joaquin County Civil Grand Jury Report titled "San Joaquin County Property Rooms Missing or Messy 2016-2017 Case No. 0316" Dear Members of the Grand Jury and Honorable Presiding Judge Alva, The City Council of Lodi is in receipt of the San Joaquin County Grand Jury's report entitled "San Joaquin County Property Rooms Missing or Messy 2016-2017 Case No. 0316" (the Report). The Report sets out findings and recommendations following the Grand Jury's review of 11 County law enforcement agency property rooms, including the City of Lodi, to determine compliance with internal policies and procedures and the recommended best practices of California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) and Lexipol. Thank you for the time and effort that was dedicated to completing this Report. We have reviewed the Report and have addressed the findings and recommendations pertaining to the Lodi Police Department. Findings pertaining to the Lodi Police Department: General Finding. The Grand Jurors were not permitted to enter the property room, citing "the chain of custody." The Lodi Police Department was the only agency to refuse this access to the jurors. Response: The City disagrees with this finding. The Lodi Police Department was not the only department to restrict access into their property room. The Manteca Police Department also restricted the Grand Jury from entering their property room. Although the members of the Grand Jury were not allowed to physically enter the Lodi Police Department (LPD) Property Room, all of the doors that access the room were opened to allow members of the Grand Jury to readily look into the room from different locations and ask questions. Only essential authorized personnel are permitted to enter the LPD Property Room to assure the integrity of the Department's Chain of Evidence as well as control evidence maintained by the Department. P:\Admin Docs\Council Communications\Council Connnunications\FY 17.18\09062017\Grand Jury Response\lGrandJury.doc Lodi F1.1: Lodi does not perform annual audits and monthly inspections, as outlined in the Lodi Police Department Manual 802.8 (a) and (c). Response: The City disagrees with this finding. The Lodi Police Department conducts yearly audits and quarterly inspections pursuant to Lodi Police Department Policy 802.8 (Lexipol). The most recent yearly property room inspection was completed on January 12, 2017 by Captain David Griffin. The last three quarterly inspections were completed on September 1, 2016, January 2, 2017 and July 3, 2017, respectively, by Lieutenant Sierra Brucia. Copies of those reports, with the exception of the July 3, 2017 report, were submitted to the Grand Jury for review by Lieutenant Brucia prior to the completion of the Report. Lodi F1.2: The property clerk and supervisors have not attended formal property and evidence management training. Response: Appropriate Lodi Police Department personnel are scheduled for training as set forth below in the City's response to the Grand Jury's recommendation (Lodi R1.2). Lodi F1.3- Lodi does not have a safe to store currency and valuables. They are stored inside the narcotics vault. Response: The Lodi Police Department installed a safe for the storage of currency and valuables inside of the narcotics vault in February 2017. Recommendations pertaining to the Lodi Police Department: Lodi R1.1- By December 31, 2017, develop, adopt and implement an audit and inspection schedule, as outlined in the Lodi Police Department Policy Manual 802.8 (a) and (c). Response: The Lodi Police Department currently conducts yearly audits and quarterly inspections pursuant to Lodi Police Department Policy 802.8 (Lexipol) - Inspections of the Evidence Room. The most recent yearly property room inspection was completed on January 12, 2017 by Captain David Griffin. The last three quarterly inspections were completed on September 1, 2016, January 2, 2017 and July 3, 2017, respectively, by Lieutenant Sierra Brucia. Copies of those reports, with the exception of the July 3, 2017 report, were submitted to the Grand Jury for review by Lieutenant Brucia prior to the completion of the Report. No further action is needed. Lodi R1.2- By December 31, 2017, develop, adopt and implement a schedule for training of property room staff at a POST course in property and evidence management. Response: Technical Services Lieutenant Sierra Brucia, Dispatch Supervisor P•\Admin Docs\Council Communications\Council Communications\FY 17.18\09062017\Grand Jury Response\lGrandJury.doc Teresa Fulwiler, and Property Officer Kim Vantassel have been scheduled for POST Property Room Management training. Property Officer Kim Vantassel completed the POST Evidence and Property Function Management course on August 4, 2017. Technical Services Lieutenant Sierra Brucia and Dispatch Supervisor Teresa Fulwiler are scheduled to attend the course in October 2017. Lodi R1.3- By December 31, 2018, install a safe or vault for the storage of currency and valuables booked into evidence. Response: In February of 2017 a safe for the storage of cash and valuables was installed inside the Lodi Police Department narcotics vault. No further action is needed. The Lodi City Council reviewed the Report and authorized the foregoing response at its regular meeting on September 6, 2017. Sincerely, Doug Kuehne, Mayor, City of Lodi Date cc: Chief Tod Patterson P•\Admin Docs\Council Communications\Council Communications\FY 17.18\09062017\Grand Jury Response\lGrandJury.doc CITY COUNCIL DOUG KUEHNE, Mayor ALAN NAKANISHI, Mayor Pro Tempore MARK CHANDLER BOB JOHNSON JOANNE MOUNCE CITY OF LODI CITY HALL, 221 WEST PINE STREET P.O. BOX 3006 LODI, CALIFORNIA 95241-1910 (209) 333-6702 / FAX (209) 333-6807 www.lodi.gov cityclerk{5),lodi.gov September 18, 2017 The Honorable Jose L. Alva Presiding Judge of the San Joaquin County Superior Court 180 E. Weber Avenue Suite #1306J Stockton, CA 95202 STEPHEN SCHWABAUER City Manager JENNIFER M. FERRAIOLO City Clerk JANICE D. MAGDICH City Attorney Re: Response to the San Joaquin County Civil Grand Jury Report titled "San Joaquin County Property Rooms Missing or Messy 2016-2017 Case No. 0316" Dear Members of the Grand Jury and Honorable Presiding Judge Alva, The City Council of Lodi is in receipt of the San Joaquin County Grand Jury's report entitled "San Joaquin County Property Rooms Missing or Messy 2016-2017 Case No. 0316" (the Report). The Report sets out findings and recommendations following the Grand Jury's review of 11 County law enforcement agency property rooms, including the City of Lodi, to determine compliance with internal policies and procedures and the recommended best practices of California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) and Lexipol. Thank you for the time and effort that was dedicated to completing this Report. We have reviewed the Report and have addressed the findings and recommendations pertaining to the Lodi Police Department. Findings pertaining to the Lodi Police Department: General Finding. The Grand Jurors were not permitted to enter the property room, citing "the chain of custody." The Lodi Police Department was the only agency to refuse this access to the jurors. Response: The City disagrees with this finding. The Lodi Police Department was not the only department to restrict access into their property room. The Manteca Police Department also restricted the Grand Jury from entering their property room. Although the members of the Grand Jury were not allowed to physically enter the Lodi Police Department (LPD) Property Room, all of the doors that access the room were opened to allow members of the Grand Jury to readily look into the room from different locations and ask questions. Only essential authorized personnel are permitted to enter the LPD Property Room to assure the integrity of the Department's Chain of Evidence as well as control evidence maintained by the Department. P:\Admin Docs\Council Communications\Council Communications\FY 17.18\09062017\Grand Jury Response\IGrandJury.doc Lodi F1.1: Lodi does not perform annual audits and monthly inspections, as outlined in the Lodi Police Department Manual 802.8 (a) and (c). Response: The City disagrees with this finding. The Lodi Police Department conducts yearly audits and quarterly inspections pursuant to Lodi Police Department Policy 802.8 (Lexipol). The most recent yearly property room inspection was completed on January 12, 2017 by Captain David Griffin. The last three quarterly inspections were completed on September 1, 2016, January 2, 2017 and July 3, 2017, respectively, by Lieutenant Sierra Brucia. Copies of those reports, with the exception of the July 3, 2017 report, were submitted to the Grand Jury for review by Lieutenant Brucia prior to the completion of the Report. Lodi F1.2: The property clerk and supervisors have not attended formal property and evidence management training. Response: Appropriate Lodi Police Department personnel are scheduled for training as set forth below in the City's response to the Grand Jury's recommendation (Lodi R1.2). Lodi F1.3- Lodi does not have a safe to store currency and valuables. They are stored inside the narcotics vault. Response: The Lodi Police Department installed a safe for the storage of currency and valuables inside of the narcotics vault in February 2017. Recommendations pertaining to the Lodi Police Department: Lodi R1.1- By December 31, 2017, develop, adopt and implement an audit and inspection schedule, as outlined in the Lodi Police Department Policy Manual 802.8 (a) and (c). Response: The Lodi Police Department currently conducts yearly audits and quarterly inspections pursuant to Lodi Police Department Policy 802.8 (Lexipol) - Inspections of the Evidence Room. The most recent yearly property room inspection was completed on January 12, 2017 by Captain David Griffin. The last three quarterly inspections were completed on September 1, 2016, January 2, 2017 and July 3, 2017, respectively, by Lieutenant Sierra Brucia. Copies of those reports, with the exception of the July 3, 2017 report, were submitted to the Grand Jury for review by Lieutenant Brucia prior to the completion of the Report. No further action is needed. Lodi R1.2- By December 31, 2017, develop, adopt and implement a schedule for training of property room staff at a POST course in property and evidence management. Response:, Technical Services Lieutenant Sierra Brucia, Dispatch Supervisor P:\Admin Docs\Council Communications\Council Communications\FY 17.18\09062017\Grand Jury Response\lGrandJury.doc Teresa Fulwiler, and Property Officer Kim Vantassel have been scheduled for POST Property Room Management training. Property Officer Kim Vantassel completed the POST Evidence and Property Function Management course on August 4, 2017. Technical Services Lieutenant Sierra Brucia and Dispatch Supervisor Teresa Fulwiler are scheduled to attend the course in October 2017. Lodi R1.3- By December 31, 2018, install a safe or vault for the storage of currency and valuables booked into evidence. Response: In February of 2017 a safe for the storage of cash and valuables was installed inside the Lodi Police Department narcotics vault. No further action is needed. The Lodi City Council reviewed the Report and authorized the foregoing response at its regular meeting on September 6, 2017. Sincerely. Doug Kue Mayor, City of Lodi cc: Chief od Patterson 978- )10/7 Date P:\Admin Docs\Council Communications\Council Communications\FY 17.18\09062017\Grand Jury Response\lGrandJury.doc