HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/22/1979 Business Meeting 201
SPECIAL STUDY SESSION - FEBRUARY 22, 1979
The Council met in session on this date at 8:00 PM in the Council
Chamberaof City Hall, Yakima, Washington. Council members .present were
Mayor Betty L. Edmondson, Lynn Buchanan, Don Hinman, Jack Sparling and
Gordon Wonder. Council members Henry Beauchamp and Nadine Lee absent.
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City Manager Zais stated that this special study session was called in
order to give Council an in-depth overview of each division of the
Police Department.
Police . Chief Jack LaRue reviewed the chart of City Code 1.18.080 and
introduced Captain Clark, Division Commander for the Detective Division;
Captain Qualley, Administrative Captain, Administrative Services
Division; Captain Capen, Patrol Division; Lt. Kline, Administrative
Assistance; Alyce Bachison, Lt. May and Lt. Green. He stated that Lt.
Blesio is out-of-town attending a seminar. These nine people comprise
an administrative team for the Police Department.
Captain Qualley stated that under his supervision is the Training
Officer, Warrant Officer,. Bicycle/and School Safety Officer, Radio
Ccmmunications Specialists, -Complaint Desk and Auxiliary Police. He
briefly outlined each of their . and duties, as follows:
The Training Officer provides in-service training for the recruits,
advanced and refresher training sessions for the officers, training and
supervision for the command officers, specialist training in
photography, criminal investigation, etc., training of airport security
guards, and more. He stated that all officers are trained in CPR.
There is only one Warrant Officer and Captain Qualley displayed a chart
giving figures on the number of warrants he serves. The warrants must
be served by a commissioned officer. He stated that each year the
uncollected warrants are taken to the Court and most of than are
dismissed. Each warrant represents a $4.00 filing fee to the City.
The Bicycle and School Safety Officer gives approximately 100 school
safety programs each year. This position has been investigated and can
be dissolved and the duties distributed to other units, however, the
' contact with the school children is invaluable.
The Communications Specialists man the radio and dispatch calls. He
distributed a report on the priorities of the dispatcher. He stated
that they rarely have a fully staffed complaint desk and radio room.
There is a high turnover of personnel in this area.
Captain Qualley informed Council on the role of the Auxiliary Police
Officer and stated that they must contribute at least 16 hours a month.
There are currently 22 Auxiliary Officers and the limit is now set at
25.
Captain Clark stated that the Detective Division and Records Bureau is
under his supervision. There are three different squads in the
Detective Division: Squad A handles complaints on .4§7.8aialtarobberies,
hcmicide, bad checks, frauds and embezzlement; Squad B handles
narcotics, vice, intelligence, sex crimes and general assignments; and
Squad C handles burglary, auto theft, property damage and larceny. The
Youth Bureau was eliminated and those cases were distributed to the
three squads according to the type of complaint.
Lt. Kline reviewed the On-Guard Program, which is 95% funded by the
Federal Government and Washington State. The funding for this program
will cease this year. Two program S were initiated as a result of On
Guard - Radio Watch and Operation Notification. He stated that
volunteers provided over 35,000 hours of service last year.
Captain Clark reviewed the function of the Bureau of Records and
reviewed all the mandated records to he kept. He reported that if the
proper legislation were prepared, they could charge the public for some
services rendered, i.e., fingerprinting for local businesses, visa
requirements and insurance verification letters.
Captain Capen stated that he is responsible for the uniform officer,
fleet maintenance, traffic and patrol. He reviewed a chart on the
working days for the Patrol Division, and stated that holidays,
vacation, sick time and training has to be taken into consideration in
202 FEBRUARY 22, 1979
order to get a full squad. He stated that a Sgt. must have seven
officers on duty per shift even if it means overtime for an officer. It
takes seven to nine months to train an officer before he is out on his
own, and it takes five officers to put one man on the street 24 hours.
After checking the crime statistics, the City is divided into seven
patrol districts and the officers are distributed in those districts
based on crime statistics according to the time of day and incidents
occurred and where. Councilman Sparling requested a list of the
overtime of the patrol officers and suggested that a thrust should
possibly be made at the State Legislation regarding the delivery of
warrants and to consider replacing canmissioned officers investigating
traffic accidents with trained civilians. -
Chief LaRue distributed copies of the 1979 Annual Police Report.
There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting
was adjourned at the hour of 11:30 W.
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