2015 citizens task force sitka police department

2015 CITIZENS TASK FORCESitka police Department

Challenges and Opportunities

• Crime

• Staffing

• Facility

• Working with good partners

Complex Crimes

• Illegal drugs =crimes that reduce livability.• Heroin, meth, and prescription drugs.• Domestic disputes and assualts-189• Sexual assault of minors-15• Cuts to DA office, Probation, and Jails• 1 detective-occasionally 2

STAFFING

Staffing shortages and turnover-Very expensive• Sworn and civilian staffing cuts-from 21 officers to 17• Consistently below strength for both officers and staff• It takes at least a year to recruit, hire and train an officer. • Currently down 2 Dispatchers, 1 Jailer, and eliminated a Multi Service

Officer.

Opportunity cost• Want to change the future of crime but can’t.• Organizational health—Nature of the work and schedule=Attrition.• Increased victimization• People feel less safe

STAFFING

2014 Municipal Solutions Report

Ketchikan—Pop. 8,250--25 officers—30.13% of Budget

Wasilla----Pop. 8,456---24 officers---42.05% of Budget

Sitka---------Pop. 9,046---17 officers---16% of budget

Desired Strength• 2 FTE -Records/evidence clerk/backup dispatcher• 3 police officers-investigation/SRO/patrol• 1 FTE Detention Officer

The Building

Built in 1975• Home to multiple agencies and the

Courts• Substandard HVAC system• Poor electrical system• Not designed to be a police and jail

facility

THE BUILDING

• 32.5 staff and many prisoners in 5000 square feet.

• Small and unsecure evidence storage Ex. -renting off-site storage -impound lot• Not considered a community asset or

space• Municipal Solutions-propose a new

one stop facility

PATROL AREA

• 17 officers and equipment in a small area• Dark, cluttered, and inefficient• unsecure-open to the jail• No decontamination area• No locker room facility• 1 unisex toilet

PATROL AREA

PATROL AREA

PATROL AREA

SITKA JAIL

• 351 person days in October-days have been increasing

• Small space and no windows for prisoners• Unsafe for staff and prisoners-Smuggling• Unhealthy-Off site food pickup• Used to house people with mental health

problems-2 female cells• Release people to make room

SITKA JAIL

SITKA JAIL

DISPATCH-RECEPTION-RECORDS

• Small with no privacy• Old technology-15 year old RMS• Insufficient power back up• Not secure-Open windows and back door• Prisoners can hear radio transmissions• Reception area is small and inadequately

marked-unwelcoming

DISPATCH-RECEPTION-RECORDS

BREAKROOM AND EVIDENCE

• Small and inappropriate mixed use

• Kitchen space shared with evidence prep and storage

• Not healthy or clean

• Eat your sandwich next to heroin and body fluids

BREAKROOM AND EVIDENCE

ADMINISTRATIVE AREA

• Not secure or private• Storage converted to office space• 1 interview room• Roll call room-storage room-TWIC-

meeting space• limited IT space

ADMINISTRATIVE AREA

Finally:There are great things happening!

Partnerships with remarkable people

• Sitkans Against Family Violence• Sitka Tribe of Alaska• Sitka Counseling and Prevention Services• Sitka Fire--Search and Rescue• HOPE Coalition