DATE: December 15, 2015
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Chief of Police
SUBJECT
Title
Review of First Quarter Progress for Police Department
End
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
That Council reviews and comments on the Police Department’s first quarter report on its progress towards achieving the Council Priorities for FY 2016.
Body
BACKGROUND
The Police Department reports quarterly to Council on progress on the Department’s six performance measurements for FY 2016 as adopted by Council on May 21, 2013. This report covers actions taken or completed by the Police Department in relation to Council Priorities during the 1st quarter of FY 2016 (July 1 - September 30, 2015).
DISCUSSION
Priority #1: Reduce the number of Part 1 crimes consistently over the next three years.
Reduce theft-related crimes by five percent (burglary, auto theft, larceny).
Include Part I Uniform Crime Report data in the city manager’s bi-weekly report.
The FBI utilizes the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program to categorize crime. In Part I, the UCR indexes reported incidents in two categories: violent and property crimes. Aggravated assault, forcible rape, murder, and robbery are classified as violent while arson, burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft are classified as property crimes. These offenses were chosen because they are serious crimes, they occur with regularity in all areas of the country, and they are likely to be reported to police.
The UCR defines larceny-theft as the unlawful taking, carrying, leading, or riding away of property from the possession or constructive possession of another. Examples are thefts of bicycles, motor vehicle parts and accessories, shoplifting, pocket-picking, or the stealing of any property or article that is not taken by force and violence or by fraud.
Ø Quarterly progress, presented as first quarter year-over-year, is listed below.
- Burglaries decreased thirty-nine percent for the period.
- Larcenies remained the same.
- Auto Theft decreased thirteen percent.
- Overall theft-related crimes saw a twelve percent decrease for the quarterly period. Attachment I displays a year-over-year comparison of all theft performance measures.
Ø Actions Taken this Quarter
Four homicides occurred this quarter. Suspects in two of the homicides have been identified and arrested. The homicides are detailed below.
- In July, Sgt. Scott Lunger was ambushed as he approached a male suspect during a car stop. Sgt. Lunger was shot and killed. His cover officer, Ofc. Justin Green, returned fire wounding the suspect and damaging his truck. HPD investigators identified and arrested the suspect, who is in custody and awaiting trial.
- In July, a female victim was stabbed in her home by the suspect, her adult daughter. The suspect was arrested and is in custody awaiting trial. According to the suspect’s family, she has a history of instability and violence.
- In August, an adult male victim was working out, doing a run late at night with a female companion. A group of Latino males approached the runners and had a brief confrontation with the victim, mistakenly believing he may have some gang affiliation. One of the males shot the victim and then they ran off. Detectives are following up on various leads.
- In September, an adult male victim was driving into his apartment complex after a light night run to a nearby convenience store, when he was shot by unknown males. The victim was a member of a prominent Southern California criminal street gang. Detectives are investigating various leads.
Key Theft-Related Cases: Investigators directed enforcement in areas with high rates of theft. Below are highlights from four theft-related cases.
- In July, an attempted robbery occurred at a bank at Southland Mall. The male suspect simulated a weapon and demanded money from two different tellers, but fled when one of them advised she was new and didn’t have much money in her till. Patrol officers and a detective sergeant collaborated to locate and identify the suspect. The suspect was charged with two counts of attempted robbery and is out of custody awaiting trial.
- In August, coin operated washing machines in an apartment complex laundry room were damaged or burglarized several times. The apartment complex maintenance employee saw a male suspect burglarizing one of the washing machines and called HPD. The suspect fled, but was located and arrested. The male has an extensive criminal history of arrests for drugs and property crimes, including burglarizing laundry machines. At the time he was on felony probation for theft. He was charged with violating the conditions of his probation, but released from custody and his probation reinstated. Since then the suspect was arrested two or more times for drug-related crimes. Now he is in custody awaiting a probation status hearing.
- In August, a male suspect robbed a man and a woman at gunpoint, taking the man’s money and the woman’s cell phone. The woman saw the suspect the next day and called HPD. The suspect, who was already on probation for robbery, was located and arrested. Patrol officers and detectives collaborated and the suspect was charged with two counts of robbery and violating the conditions of his probation. He remains in custody awaiting trial.
- In August two male juvenile suspects committed several armed robberies of various victims in the vicinity of the A Street corridor. The suspects primarily took cash and cell phones, while armed with what appeared to be a gun and a knife. Patrol officers and detectives collaborated to locate and identify the suspects, who admitted to committing the robberies. The firearm turned out to be a bb gun. Both suspects were charged with robbery. One is in custody awaiting a hearing, and the other was released on probation.
Two cases involving latent print identifications were cleared in the first quarter, resulting in the arrest of three males.
Ø Community Engagement: Hayward Police Department continues to prioritize community outreach and engagement. Community meetings and events are important venues in the Department’s community outreach work. Our web messaging raises community awareness of crime-related issues in Hayward and provides ready access to crime prevention information.
- Internet outreach this quarter included eleven Nixle alerts.
- District Command staff attended no less than ten community meetings this quarter. A combined total of 328 people attended community meetings this quarter, including the following:
o Hayward Neighborhood Alert, Board Meeting, eight attendees
o Hayward Neighborhood Alert, General Meeting, twenty-four attendees
o Food Source Business Watch Meeting, eight attendees
o Crime Free Multi-Housing Training, Phase One of Three, twenty-three attendees
o Town Hall Meeting, Mission Hills Golf Course, twenty attendees
o Neighborhood Watch, Cascade Street, sixteen attendees
o Personal Safety Presentation for Sieman Industries, ninety-one attendees
o Youth Academy, thirty-three attendees
o Austin Commons Safety Social, thirty-five attendees
o Ridgecrest Apartment Safety Social, seventy attendees
- Other community events where the Department participated this quarter include Hayward Downtown Street Party, National Night Out, Chalk Art Festival, American Muslim Breakfast, Junior Giants opening and closing ceremonies, Million Father March (Winton Middle School), and Vintage Alley Car Show.
Ø Homeless Engagement: The homeless population consumes a significant amount of Department time and effort related to reoccurring negative behaviors associated with sleeping on public and private properties and the creation of encampments. We receive complaints of negative behavior associated with the homeless population frequently. District Command addresses this complex issue in coordination with property owners and multiple entities, including City of Hayward agencies, Southern Pacific Railroad, PG&E, Caltrans, and others.
District Command is part of the Homeless Task Force Committee developed at the direction of City Council. We also partner with local shelters, social service providers, and Alameda County Behavioral Health Services in an attempt to find alternative housing.
Homeless encampments remain an issue in many areas of Hayward. District Command officers work with Public Works staff to provide seventy-two hour warnings to occupants, and then follow-up with clearing out items left behind. Locations abated this quarter include the following:
- Industrial/Pacific (Sothern Pacific Railroad and BART property)
- Railroad tracks parallel to Huntwood Avenue (Southern Pacific property)
- Mission Boulevard/Arrowhead Way
- Denton Avenue
- 26723 Huntwood Avenue
- Bunker Hill (Caltrans, Church, and PG&E properties)
- Main Street/Hazel Avenue
- Silva Avenue/Jackson Street
- Carlos Bee/Overlook
- Hayward Historical Society
- Mission Boulevard/Torrano Avenue
Priority #2: Continue strategies to geographically reduce crime in “hot spots” by five percent.
The Department uses Trends-n-Tactics (TNT) software data to combat and prevent crime. TNT data analysis narrows the enforcement focus to geographical areas with a clustering of specific crimes. Geographic crime clusters are identified as “hot spots” in the North and South Districts, and resources then are directed to those areas.
For a three week period, patrol officers spend their discretionary time in the identified “hot spot” locations. Each officer is encouraged to conduct walking patrols, traffic enforcement, and pedestrian stops, and other proactive activities within the “hot spot.” At the end of the time period, data analysis is performed to determine the next focus area. The success of this plan partially relies on standard or above-standard staffing levels, among other factors.
Actions Taken this Quarter:
Four “hot spots” within geographical zones were identified in the North and South Districts during this quarter. Patrol and K9 officers spent discretionary patrol time conducting directed enforcement and/or high visibility patrol in the “hot spots.” Directed enforcement in “hot spots” resulted in an overall reduction in designated crimes in “hot spots” during the first quarter. Attachment II presents “hot spots” data before and after directed enforcement during the first quarter.
Priority #3: Reduce the number of traffic accidents citywide over the next three years.
Reduce accidents by ten percent within the top three accident zones.
The HPD Traffic Bureau relies upon traffic data that allows supervisors to assign traffic officers to conduct directed enforcement in collision-prone locations. The Traffic Bureau collects and analyzes CAD and traffic report data to identify the top ten high-accident intersections each quarter. These intersections are separated into three zones, to which traffic officers are assigned for directed enforcement.
The Traffic Bureau continued managing activities under two grants, the Alameda County “Avoid the 21” (Avoid), and the “Selective Traffic Enforcement Program” (STEP) grant awards. These grants enable the Department to spearhead DUI and other safety-saturation patrols, checkpoints, multi-agency traffic operations and warrant service operations, both locally and countywide on an overtime basis for our officers.
Optimal performance requires full staffing. During the first quarter, five of the nine authorized traffic officer positions were inactive due to one injured officer and four vacant positions. Additionally, Officers Jenkins and Johnson attended several traffic related courses, further reducing enforcement time this quarter. They are anticipated to be certified as motorcycle officers in October 2015. Staffing shortages negatively impact the unit’s ability to address directed enforcement citywide on any given day.
Ø Actions Taken this Quarter:
- Hot Spot Enforcement: The top ten high-collision intersections were identified at the beginning of the quarter. Citywide vehicle collisions increased five percent in the first quarter, from 225 to 236. Pedestrian involved collisions increased twenty-one percent, from fourteen to seventeen.
The vast majority of collisions occur between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., with a steep drop in collisions after 6:00 p.m. The three primary collision factors are speed, right-of-way, and unsafe turning movements. Most collisions occur on weekdays, with Monday having the lowest number of weekday collisions. Accordingly, Sgt. Corsolini will continue to deploy the five traffic officers to the shift assignment of 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Attachment III shows data for high-collision intersections during this quarter.
- This quarter the Traffic Bureau issued 1,102 citations, including 679 Notice to Appear (NTA) and 423 Courtesy Citations.
- Avoid and STEP grant activities during the quarter included the following:
o Thirty-two DUI saturation patrols resulting in nineteen DUI arrests.
o Three DUI/Driver License checkpoints resulting in seven DUI arrests.
o Seven distracted driving operations in high-collision zones resulting in fifty-six citations.
o Nine traffic enforcement operations in high-collision zones resulting in 128 citations.
o Six bicycle/pedestrian operations in the downtown corridor resulting in 101 citations.
o Motorcycle safety operations/motorcycle DUI suppression operations resulting in 136 citations of motorists and motorcycle riders, two DUI arrests, and one criminal arrest.
o One nighttime “Click-it-or Ticket” operation resulting in ten citations.
- Two officers received Drug Recognition Expert certification, and one officer received Advanced Roadside Impairment Detection Enforcement certification using grant funding.
- The Traffic Bureau participates in the High Intensity Traffic Team (HITT), a group of allied agencies in Alameda County. Participating agencies receive traffic enforcement resources from every department for one day, for up to five hours, to address specific traffic enforcement needs. Our motorcycle officers participated twice in this this task force during the first quarter (CHP-Hayward and CHP-San Lorenzo), resulting in a combined 450 citations issued by more than twenty motor officers per operation.
- One traffic fatality occurred this quarter. On July 5, 2015, a driver was speeding northbound on Hesperian Boulevard at Tripaldi Way and collided with a stopped vehicle, killing its passenger. The driver had a suspended license and fled the scene on foot. He was captured soon afterwards, and found to be DUI. The driver of the impacted vehicle also was seriously injured.
Priority #4: Conduct a minimum of nine SMASH operations.
Although the Department did not conduct a Synchronized Multi-Agency Safe House (SMASH) operation this quarter, District Command did conduct a significant operation at a commercial property, pursuant to the Social Nuisance Ordinance.
The auto body shop at 29525 Ruus Road has become a location for large parties. Recently, 500 people attended a party there, with a live band performing. The District Command, Vice and Patrol divisions collaborated to investigate the weekly parties. Intelligence was gathered and identified the tenant and his mother who hosted the parties where alcohol, illegal drugs, and prostitutes were available to attendees. The Department met with the property owners who issued an eviction notice to the tenant. A social nuisance order was issued to the tenant, and the Department continues to work with the property owners. The tenant is challenging the eviction notice through civil litigation.
Priority #5: Prevent the expansion of reportable gang crimes.
Increase number of gang-related arrests by five percent.
Increase contacts with gang members by ten percent.
Increase parole and probation searches by five percent.
Conduct at least two comprehensive conspiracy investigations targeting gang leadership.
The Special Duty Unit (SDU) is a street enforcement team that works collaboratively with the Special Duty Investigative Unit (SDIU), an investigative gang team. These two teams share intelligence, allowing them to strategically target gangs and gang-related activity throughout the City of Hayward.
Special Duty Investigative Unit: The SDIU is comprised of two Detectives and one Sergeant, and has two vacant positions. The unit investigates gang related crime and gang members operating in Hayward. The primary mission of the unit is to investigate arrest and prosecute mid- to upper-level gang members, statewide and federally.
SDIU practices intelligence lead enforcement by sharing information and working closely with other HPD units and local, state and federal outside agencies. The unit cultivates and utilizes confidential informants, and deploys technology to enhance investigations, such as GPS trackers, plot cameras, and surveillance vehicles.
SDIU has a five-point general strategy:
- Gather information and intelligence on active street gang members residing in Hayward, and others who may be committing crimes in Hayward while residing in neighboring jurisdictions.
- Conduct criminal investigations of gang related crimes.
- Investigate mid- to upper-level gang members to disrupt and dismantle gang leadership.
- Assist other specialized units with surveillance and intelligence.
- Collaborate closely with HPD Patrol, Investigations and Special Operations Divisions regarding issues related to criminal street gangs, and to assist with or assume investigations when warranted.
Special Duty Unit: The SDU is comprised of three Officers and one Sergeant, and has two vacant positions. The unit is responsible for identifying and documenting gang members, past and present, investigating gang motivated crimes, and conducting high-risk probation/parole searches. The primary mission of the unit is street level enforcement, investigation of gang related crimes, and the arrest and prosecution of low- to mid-level gang members.
SDU uses proactive enforcement strategies, such as traffic stops, pedestrian contacts, and probation/parole searches that generate intelligence that is shared with the various HPD units and outside agencies. SDU also uses unmarked vehicles, detective vehicles, and plain clothes operations to enhance productivity.
SDU has a six-point general strategy:
- Increase documentation of gang members.
- Conduct street level enforcement targeting Hayward street gang members and rival gang members from other cities.
- Conduct probation/parole searches on known Hayward gang members within our City, and Hayward gang members residing in other jurisdictions.
- Assist HPD units and outside agencies with street level enforcement, including gang intelligence gathering, probation/parole searches, enforcement stops related to surveillance, searching for wanted individuals related to Hayward investigations and individuals related to outside agency investigations.
- Collaborate closely with HPD Patrol, Investigations and Special Operations Divisions regarding issues related to criminal street gangs, and to assist with or assume investigations when warranted.
- Deliver public presentations in schools and community meetings regarding gang awareness and prevention.
Ø Actions Taken this Quarter:
- Five gang-related arrests were made during this quarter.
- Fourteen felony arrests made.
- Twelve misdemeanor arrests made.
- Nineteen search warrants were authored and executed.
- 120 gang contacts (Field Interviews) were conducted.
- Fourteen probation/ parole searches were conducted during this quarter.
- One handgun and three assault weapons were recovered.
- In July, EBRPD located a SSH gang member’s corpse at Coyote Hills. He had been shot and his body dumped there. SDIU and SDU worked with EBRPD detectives for several weeks assisting with intelligence, interviews, and search warrants. The case remains under investigation.
- In September, SDIU investigated a gang shooting that occurred at the AMTRAK station in which a South Side Hayward gang member shot a LTS Sureno gang member. A warrant was obtained for the shooter and a search warrant was served at his residence. A handgun and ammunition were recovered from the residence. The case was charged by the District Attorney and is pending.
- In September and in cooperation with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a large scale gang sweep was conducted called “Operation Prison Break”. A probation search was conducted on a VSG gang member. The gang member’s home has been the focal point of numerous problems, including being the target of several drive-by shootings. The warrant search uncovered two fully operational assault rifles, a third rifle ready for assembly, and a rifle equipped with a silencer. Also in the residence was a manufacturing area for drugs, assault weapon parts, knives, machetes, crossbows, and other weapons. The case is being charged federally, and the suspect faces the possibility of twenty-plus years of imprisonment. Attachment IV includes photographs of the recovered weapons.
The Youth and Family Services Bureau (YFSB) continues to provide a range of services designed to keep youth out of the juvenile justice system, including preventing gang association and activity. YFSB’s in-house Delinquency Prevention Network delivered crisis intervention, family counseling and case management services to thirty-seven new clients, serving an average of sixty-two families per month. Eighty-five youth were provided individual, family and group therapy in the school based program, alongside regular teacher and parent support interventions and school climate initiatives.
YFSB, the School Resource Officer (SRO), and counselling units collaborated and ran the Junior Giants summer baseball program from June 15th through August 6th. A total of 550 youth, ages five to fourteen, participated through the end of the season. SROs and counsellors were involved daily, assisting in character development and creating a positive environment for at-risk Hayward youth. Junior Giants is the only summer program available to many Hayward youth, and without it youth involvement with local gangs likely would increase.
Additionally, the SRO Unit continuously works to prevent the expansion of gang crime. SROs identify and contact suspected gang members and associates by completing field identifications with their schools. SROs provide security checks of local parks and public areas where students congregate. Sorensdale Park borders Tennyson High School, and is a place where students routinely gather before and after school. It is also an area where narcotics are sold and where gang members congregate. During this quarter, security checks of the park by SROs resulted in two arrests of subjects in possession of firearms and in possession of narcotics for sale. One subject was a documented Hayward gang member and the other is believed to be an associate of a local gang.
Priority #6: Continue to invest in our people.
The Police Department made progress in hiring, training and succession planning this quarter. Progress in recruiting helps overcome systemic issues related to historically low staffing levels that place an additional workload on operations and administration that can become unsafe and/or unmanageable.
Ø Actions Taken This Quarter:
- The Personnel and Training Department participated in two Police Officer recruiting activities, one at the City of Hayward Mariachi Festival, and another at Hiring Heroes in San Francisco. Hiring Heroes is an employment event for military veterans.
- Recruitments this Quarter:
o Three Police Officer Trainees were promoted to Police Officers.
o Two Police Officers were hired laterally.
o Eight Police Officer trainees were hired.
o One Community Service Officer was hired, pursuant to Measure C.
o One Call Taker was hired.
o One Communications Dispatcher was hired.
o One Provisional Property Technician was hired.
o One Administrative Assistant was hired for YSFB, pursuant to Measure C.
o One Senior Management Analyst was hired.
- Training Accomplishments this Quarter:
o In-House Academy for new Police Officers
o SWAT Training for Operation Planning
o CALEA Accreditation Manager Training
- Succession Planning Accomplishments this Quarter:
o Officer Zachary Hoyer was promoted to Sergeant.
o Officer Jose Banuelos became District Command Sergeant.
o Twenty-five Police Officers took the written exam for the Police Sergeant position.
Other HPD Accomplishments This Quarter:
- Officer Michael Clark received Commendation for Life Saving from San Joaquin County.
- Chuck Horner was selected by CPOA for its annual Certificate of Appreciation.
- Animal Services “Pawgust” event resulted in fourteen adoptions.
- HPD Intranet was updated, and line-up training became web-based.
- Police Crossfit Event with assistance from Officers Carrasco and Celes.
- YFSB was awarded a Federal Department of Justice planning grant award for juvenile services.
- Take-Back Saturday, an event for turning in prescription medications, resulted in 180 lbs. of turned-in medication.
- HPD participated as a scenario site for the Urban Shield competition, and Officers McGiboney and Maloney ran the site. HPD had a competitive Urban Shield team comprised of Officers Cosgriff, Green, Fay, Carrasco, Harden, Marion, Cannon, and Sgt. Sill.
- HPD’s SWAT team participated in the Best of the West competition with Officers Fay, Marion, Bell, Harden, Spillner and Corsolini.
Prepared by: Scott Turner, Program Analyst
Staff contact
Recommended by: Diane E. Urban, Police Chief
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Approved by:
Fran David, City Manager
Attachments: Attachment I: All Theft
Attachment II: Hot Spots
Attachment III Collision Intersections
Attachment IV Photo Weapons Recovered