Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 06-14-11 regular — reading text

Page 31 Packet Pg. 177  14. 3. e POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGETS Annual Budgets Two separate annual budgets have been developed for the proposed police department. Each budget includes two options based on differing salary levels. The higher salary level is designed so that Destin will be at, or near the top compared to the departments it is competing with for good officers. The lower levels would mean that Destin would have to hire larger numbers of new officers or less experienced officers. d Two levels of benefits are also presented, again one set at or near the top, and the c a second toward the lower end of comparable departments. rrvu 0 Budget One is based on the optimal level of staffing that the community should have for N effective policing and law enforcement with coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a r' L week. Staff includes a chief, five sergeants, 16 patrol officers, one detective, a marine patrol officer, two beach patrol officers, an administrative clerk, and five call- MM takers /dispatchers. Detailed budget estimates are shown in Appendix 1. v At optimal salary levels the first year cost it estimated to be $ 1, 893, 920. N O At minimum salary levels, the cost estimate is $ 1, 534, 382. C Start- up costs are estimated to be $ 1, 944, 948 d Variation one of the optimal staffing model includes a chief, five sergeants, 16 patrol officers, one detective, two beach patrol officers, and an administrative clerk. During the off season the beach patrol officers can work patrol beats or assist .with investigations. Marine patrol services and dispatching operations are contracted from the OCSO. Detailed budget estimates are shown in Appendix 2. At optimal salary levels the first year cost it estimated to be $ 1, 817,435. At minimum salary levels, the cost estimate is $ 1, 517, 851. Start- up costs are estimated to be $ 1, 663,434 Page 32 Packet Pg. 178  14. 3. e Budget Two is based on a minimum level of staffing that would allow for 24 hours a day, seven days a week coverage on three beats. This budget utilizes an " Officer in Charge" ( OIC) model, rather than dedicated supervisorslsergeants. Each squad would have a senior patrol officer designated as the officer in charge. OICs would also be responsible for responding to calls for service and general patrol activities in an assigned beat. Budgeted positions include a chief, five officers -in- charge, 11 patrol officers, one detective, and one clerical employee. While the budget includes one sworn marine officer, the beach patrol duties would be assigned to part- time civilian employees who would individually work 1000 hours during the high -volume tourist and summer months. 10 The department would contract for dispatching services from the Sheriff." Detailed budget estimates are shown in Appendix 3. At optimal salary levels the first year cost it estimated to be $ 1, 503, 949. At minimum salary levels, the cost estimate is $ 1, 293, 509. Start -up costs are estimated to be $ 1, 465, 938. Variation One of the minimal staffing model has a chief, five officers -in- charge, 11 patrol officers, one detective, and one clerical employee. It has two sworn beach patrol officers to be utilized in patrol or investigations during the off -season. Marine patrol services and dispatching operations are contracted from the OCSO. Detailed budget estimates are shown in Appendix 4. At optimal salary levels the first year cost it estimated to be $ 1, 543, 838 i At minimum salary levels, the cost estimate is $ 1, 331, 830. Start -up costs are estimated to be $ 1, 357, 224. Several departments have found that school teachers make excellent employees for this type of seasonal work, since their time off usually matches the peak periods. The department could create a pool of auxiliary officers, sponsor appropriate training, and create an effective part -time work force to meet this need. The Sheriffs Office has indicated that they would supply the city with five dedicated telecommunications dispatchers to operate a Destin dispatch system. A contracted total cost per dispatcher is estimated at about $ 33, 000, for a total of $ 165, 000. The actual cost will be determined through negotiations with the Sheriff_ Page 33 Padtet Pg. 179  14. 3. e All budgets have been established with a take -home car fleet. While the initial costs of the fleet are fairly high, the long -range costs for maintenance and replacement are actually lower than other police fleet models. Cars would be retained for up to five years ( rather than the standard one -year rotation) and would have lower mileage as well as officer- monitored maintenance and care. The take -home fleet also provides a high visibility presence in the community and serves as a recruitment incentive. d It is PERF' s experience that a police department needs to have continuing support for n c capital expenditures in the range of 8 to 14% in order to provide for necessary updating cv of facilities and major equipment. Therefore, new and replacement equipment costs have been included in the annual budget. L fe Liability insurance costs are figures at an above average figure. A newly formed M department, with no history of claims, would probably be considered an unknown risk until a claims records is established overtime, a All budgets also have an amount for transition. Expenses will be incurred while creating the Destin Police Department. Overlap coverage will be necessary between the Sheriffs Office and the DPD as the Destin department is being established. For example, the Chief should be hired six to nine months in advance of the " cut -over" date. The exact amount of this cost will depend on how quickly the city and the chief can hire qualified employees, secure the necessary equipment, and provide needed orientation training. At least two full weeks of patrol overlap should occur to give Destin officers the opportunity to learn the city and meet key community members. Approximately 40,000 should be allotted for the contract overlap along with $ 70, 000 to cover other transition expenses including salaries for the chief, senior staff, and officers as well as other expenses that are part of the operating budget but which start before " cut- over." Page 34 Packet Pg. 180  14. 3. e Start- up Budgets Accompanying each operating budget is an estimate of start- up costs. Differences include the number of vehicles and amount of equipment needed because the minimal staffing budgets use fewer officers. In addition, the minimal budget would use the Sheriff for dispatching service thereby negating the need for certain radio and dispatch equipment. Additional Issues Smaller police agencies usually rely on larger departments for specialized services that the smaller agency finds cost prohibitive and unpractical to maintain. Sometimes agreements for such services as canine, S. W.A.T. units, hostage negotiators, serious crime investigations, crime scene specialists, and use of firing ranges to meet firearm qualifications standards are informal. Other times they are part of a mutual aide agreement. Some jurisdictions charge for such services if the beneficiaries are a separate taxing jurisdiction. When the taxpayers in the small jurisdiction pay the same county taxes as those in unincorporated areas such services are provided at no extra charge as part of the county's obligation to its taxpayers. In this latter situation, excessive demands on specialized services may result in charges. If Destin establishes its own police department, it will need to negotiate with the OCSO and perhaps create a memorandum of understanding relating to this issue. Small police departments in Florida can draw on the services of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for assistance in serious crime and /or complex investigations. Frequently such investigations occur through the formation of a team with representatives from the local police department, the sheriffs office, and FDLE working together. Page 35 Packet,Pg. 181  14.3. e IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY AND START UP TASKS To create an effective police department for Destin, there needs to be a close and on- going relationship between the police and the public. City government and city residents should have continuous opportunities to provide suggestions and input to the department. The police department, under the direction of the chief, must meet the expectations of the City Manager and the elected officials. It is important, therefore, that the Mayor and City Council develop a clear set of expectation for the Destin Police Department. These expectations then