02-02-1993 - Annual Report - 19920
City of West Covina
To CITY MANAGER AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM RONALD E.' HOLMES, Chief of .Police
Public Safety Division Manager
SUBJECT: ANNUAL REPORT - 1992
Memorandum
AGENDA
ITEM NO. I-1
DATE FEBRUARY 2 1993
SUMMARY: Each year the Chief of Police reports to the City Manager and City
Council on crime data and police related activity. This report reflects that
during the 1992 calendar year the total number of major crimes (Part I.
Offenses) decreased 2.8% over 1991. This was mainly due to a sharp decrease in
property related crimes as crimes against persons increased by 16.4%. For the
first time in several years, the response time to emergency calls moved over
the 5 minute mark at 5.3 minutes per response.
BACKGROUND: Part I crime statistics for the period January through December
decreased as stated to 2.8% with a total of 6,739 incidents. Of interest this.
year was a major decrease in homicides from 15 in 1991.to 4 in 1992, a
reduction of 73.3%. Howev.er, our officers and investigators were overwhelmed
with a sharp increase in crimes against persons (16.4%). Most notable was the
increases in robberies (19.3%), aggravated assaults (18.5%), and persons armed
during the commission of a crime (24.3%). These investigations are more
complex and require more field officer time for investigation, hospital follow
up, and evidence collection, which impacts our ability to respond to other
calls in a timely manner.
The department continued its high visibility approach in dealing with gang
members and noted another slight decrease in gang related crime with 189
incidents over our record high in 1990 with 228 incidents.. Street Crime
Apprehension Team officers, Gang/Narcotic detectives, and School Resource
Officers worked with school officials and merchants to insure gang activities
were curtailed.
As stated in prior years, the most effective deterrent to crime is the
assurance of a speedy arrest,. prosecution, and punishment. This year 5,276
individuals were arrested and processed in our jail system. This is a slight
increase from prior years (1.9%) as the department -continues to re-evaluate its
arrests and the likelihood of prosecution.
Another measure of activity for the department is the demand for service and
the ability of our personnel to respond in a timely manner. 1992 saw'our
officers respond to 36,396 such requests (does not include observation,
self -initiated calls), an increase of 5.4% over the Last year.* This figure
translates into one citizen initiated request for officer assistance every 14.3
minutes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. With these demands and other related
factors, we were not able to keep our emergency response time under 5 minutes.
This year's average for Priority I calls was 5.3 minutes (3,989 calls),
Priority II calls. at 14.5 minutes (21,394 calls), and.Priority III calls at
26.1 minutes (11,013 calls).
It appears that the 5.4% increase in calls for.service, the 16.4% increase in
crimes against persons, and the fact one less patrol officer was.in the field
during the year due to illness and a budget freeze of that position greatly
effected our response.times over 1991 with the Priority I increase of 5.3
minutes from.4.8,and.Priority II increase of 14.5 minutes over 13. This loss
of one field officer working 37.5 hours per week for 50 weeks accounted for
1,875 less field hours for emergency response. Hopefully the City Council will
reconsider its freeze of this position and allow it to. be funded in the 1993/94
Budget.
Our Special Enforcement Team (S.E.T.) continues to work major drug trafficking
with Federal, State and local teams and is totally funded by drug asset
forfeitures. Major cases resulted.in the recovery of 690 kilos of cocaine
valued at $69 Million street value and approximately $9.5 Million in cash.
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As stated .in other reports, Federal law provides for asset sharing with local
agencies that are directly involved inithe investigation of major drug cases.
This year the City has received $2 Million in shared asset funds with several
additional claims.pending.
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and.fil,e.
RONALD E. HOLMES, Chief of Police
Public Safety Division Manager
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