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WCPD Short 25 Cops?

April 18, 2011 Leave a Comment

The FBI recommends a staffing level of 1.5 Officers per 1,000 residents, based upon an analysis and average of staffing levels for local cities in the Western United States. As of 2008, the nearby city of Brentwood adopted this recommendation as part of their city ordinance (Section – 2.28.030). Making this ratio a matter of law was a conscious decision those city leaders made, to ensure their rapid growth did not surpass the ability to provide quality services to their residents.

Much like Brentwood, Walnut Creek has undergone significant growth in the past several years and we have approx. 1,400 new residential units in the planning stages for development in the near future. Instead of adding Officers to keep up with demand, city leaders recently froze 5 sworn Officer positions.
Interestingly enough, Walnut Creek has a city ordinance (Section: 10-1.602) for spending per 1,000 residents on recreational opportunities and an ordinance for public art spending on new developments (Section: 10-10.102), but we have no such similar requirement to match police staffing to our growth. Therefore, it probably comes as no surprise to anyone that we have fewer Officers now than we did 20 years ago.

By looking at the chart below, we can see that by our city council placing a priority on parks and art, as a matter of law, that police staffing levels have suffered. Based upon the latest 2010 population numbers, we should have a total of 100 sworn officers to meet the 1.5 Officers per 1,000 residents FBI recommendation.

Although we certainly agree that parks and recreational opportunities help make Walnut Creek special, a safe community is also important and a significant quality of life issue. According to this recommended ratio, we are short 25 sworn officers, with our current authorized staff of 75 Officers.  This gives us one of the lowest police staffing ratios in the county.

With residential burglaries up 33% last year and our active downtown nightlife, these additional resources would certainly be helpful. Please join us in urging city leaders to make public safety a priority and help keep our neighborhoods safe.

 

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Filed Under: Budget, Business Community, City Council, Crime, Featured, Neighborhoods Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Friday Night Bar Report – 15 Arrests

April 10, 2011 Leave a Comment

 

Patrons lining-up at a popular nightclub

On Friday April 8th, 2011  WCPD Officers were particularly busy with numerous alcohol related problems, which tied up all available officers. Most of the people involved in these cases did not live in Walnut Creek. The individuals contacted included residents of Vallejo, Richmond, Pinole, Antioch, Pittsburg, and other local cities. By the end of the evening, a grand total of 15 people had been arrested.

3 Arrested  -A brawl at a Locust Street bar resulted in three people being arrested for assault.

3 Arrested – A juvenile and two adults were arrested for public intoxication. Yes we said a juvenile!

5 Arrested – Five more adults were arrested for DUI, in unrelated stops.

1 Patron Hospitalized – This downtown visitor was so intoxicated, that AMR Paramedics took him to a local hospital for alcohol poisoning.

3 Arrested – Another bar brawl, this time at a bar on Civic Dr., resulted in three more arrests on charges including assault, challenging to fight, and public drunkenness.

1 Arrested – One adult was arrested after he was observed jumping in and out of traffic on Ygnacio Valley Rd. Three of his friends who were also intoxicated and part of the disturbance, would have likely been arrested if more Officers were available.  We were also out of room in the transport van. The three mostly cooperative subjects were release to a sober adult. The first subject, remained uncooperative, and had to be arrested.

Officers also responded to two disturbances at a local Motel.  One involved a prostitute who had been reported as a missing person out of Southern California.  The second involved a domestic violence dispute where the male half had fled before Officers could arrive.

Officers also responded to two auto burglary calls and one commercial burglary. Four residents in Rossmoor had their golf carts stolen.

The amount of time we spend on alcohol incidents is not in proportion with our staffing ratios and resources. This poses a particular problem for our residents, when all our Officers are downtown for the majority of the evening, and not out patrolling in our neighborhoods.  This is one of the reasons why we have such a problem with property crime in our community. Although we are not against the bars, we are in favor of additional staffing to help control the problems created by such a lively downtown area and to allow us to provide quality service to our residents at the same time.

Read more about the downtown bar issues here.

 

Filed Under: Business Community, Crime, Featured

Council to discuss the “Free Ride” Trolley

April 5, 2011 Leave a Comment

Tonight the city council will discuss funding the downtown shuttle in Walnut Creek. For a number of years the city has paid for this “Free Ride” Trolley, via Measure J funding. However that funding source has since ended. To continue the free service as it exists today, the Contra Costa County Transit Authority (CCCTA) requires reimbursement of approx. $200,000 a year in expenses.

As the city continues to grow, the WCPA recognizes the value of the Trolley towards relieving downtown traffic/parking congestion, towards attracting shoppers, and benefiting the many residents and employees who commute to work in the core downtown area. Therefore, instead of funding the Trolley using scarce city dollars, the WCPA encourages the formation of a partnership with the greater downtown business and developing downtown residential communities. This public-private partnership between the CCCTA and the greater downtown community is a common sense way to pay for this valuable service. It would also implement a long-term structural change for a city budget that is already stretched thin.

Another alternative to expending city monies for the Trolley, may be to explore the grant funding options for transitioning from the existing diesel busses, to energy-efficient electric busses. Perhaps these grant funds could be also be used to pay for the CCCTA subsidy, while the partnership with the downtown community is established.  It is clear the city is unable to continue to fund the trolley using city funds. Therefore, the WCPA calls upon the greater downtown community to support a service that caters to them.

We look forward to hearing the results of tonight’s meeting and hearing support for this partnership from the downtown community.

 

To read tonight’s Council agenda report click here.

To learn more about alternative transportation in Walnut Creek click here.

Filed Under: Budget, Business Community, City Council