HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - December 1, 1993. OF
CITY OF LODI COUNCIL C.--mmUNICATION
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AGENDA TITLE- Request Two Additional Police Officers For
Downtown Bicycle Proqram
MEETING DATE: December 1, 1993
PREPARED BY: Police Chief
RECOMMENDED ACTION: That the City Council approve the addition
of two full-time Police Officers, to be
used specifically for a Bicycle Program.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: On November 2, 1993, the voters of San
Joaquin County overwhelmingly passed
Proposition 172, which provides a
permanent extension of the 1/2C sales
tax as funds for public safety. San Joaquin voters passed this
initiative by 66.7%, which was the second highest percentage of
all 58 counties.
I believe the citizens of this County hav•� spoken and consider
public safety a high priority and expec. _hose funds to be used
to maintain and improve public safety services.
It is my proposal to add two additional Police Officers and
assign them, as a permanent assignment, to Bicycle Patrol. We
have had Bicycle Patrol for the last three years on a seasonal.
basis and during the time the officers have been out on a
bicycle, thev have been extremely effective. The Bicycle
Officers will provide a consistent police presence, and will
focus their efforts in the downtown area a majority of the time.
The two officers who were assigned to the program recently
completed on October 15, 1993, had a dramatic impact on the
sense of public safety. They arrested eight indivic:uals who
were making hand to hand transactions of narcotics. They made
numerous arrests for being under the influence of drugs. They
had an impact on the prostitutes, on gang activity, and on
transients sleeping in cars. They conducted searches on
parolees and probationers and found dugs in their possession.
They provided immediate response to downtown mei ha-nts' concerns.
I believe a permanent Bicycle Program of the downtown area will.
do much to alleviate the problems we have been dealing with for
the past two decades. The cost of two full-time Police Officers
is $104,396, for salary and benefits.
APPROVED _ ' _
THOMAS A PETERSON _ a•.yaea page
City Manager
CC-'
Request Two Additionsl Police Officers
For Downtown Bicycle Program
December 1, 1993
Page Two
A conservative estimate is that Proposition 172 will generate
approximately $125,000 in additional revenue.
FUNDING: $104,396 (Proposition 172 Funds)
4 V:&� . f 1
Larry D. Hansen
Chief of Police
LDH:sm
cc: City Attorney