HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncilmember Katapodis Item - Direct the City Manager to frCITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH
City Council Interoffice Communication
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Vembers
From: Jim Katapodis, Mayor Pro Tem
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Date: July 20, 2015
Subject: CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ITEM FOR THE JULY 20, 2015, CITY
COUNCIL MEETING -INCREASE 16 POLICE OFFICERS TO THE
Huntington Beach POLICE DEPARTMENT
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
Recently, citizens have been complaining about the increase of high density in the City
of Huntington Beach. Due to outstanding marketing efforts by our Downtown Business
Improvement Association and Visit Huntington Beach we also have an average of
somewhere in the neighborhood of 12-16 million visitors a year. Our current Police
Department, which is at an all-time low of less than 214 sworn police officers, is
overburdened and unable to be proactive. At times, there are only 6 officers to cover
the entire city of Huntington Beach which is when DUI accidents likely occur.
Response time to emergency calls has significantly increased. Due to high density
currently taking place in Huntington Beach, violent crimes and property crimes will increase
unless we become proactive by hiring more police officers.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Direct the City Manager to freeze all hiring of non-public safety positions until 16 more
sworn police officers are hired by the Chief of Police.
xc: Fred Wilson, City Manager
Joan Flynn, City Clerk
Robert Handy, Chief of Police
Michael Gates. City Attorney
Item Withdrawn - NO ACTION TAKEN
Item #24