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Home My WebLink About08-23-2023 Public Comment About the 2024 Police Fire Budgets Handout from Sue KessimComments about the 2024 Police/Fire Budgets I appreciate they are doing an excellent job training the Citizen Police Academy. I highly recommend all Council members take it. I think it should be required for both old and new members in 2024 . There have been a lot of advancements. Other community training I would like to see by Police/Fire: • De-escalation classes • Bleed Stop Classes (with Beacon) Stacie Bobek taught th Hold them at fire stations and neighborhood centers . Filed in Clerk's Office AUG 2 3 2023 , \ ~~M,JONES 0 0 dM\:~ceR~:~..Q!,IS @G~i:::..o: nurse . • CPR Classes held at fire stations and neighborhood centers. Might be able to hold with the Bleed Stop Classes. • Women's Defense Classes (Resumed now since Covid) Need more promotion . • Monthly class on Victim Services available in the community. Invite those who have experienced a traumatic event in the last 6 months. Have grief counselors on hand and brochures on addiction services available . Some people turn to addictive substances to deal with a death or event. Community outreach to show there is caring and help. • Monthly Parenting Classes and Relationship Classes -Something like second and fourth Wednesdays. When officers go out on a Domestic Call they can hand them a nice looking "You're Invited " invitation that says, "Please join us for free Relationship and Parenting Classes taught by professional counselors . Learn easy tips on how to relate to spouses, children, family, and friends ." "We would love for you to join usf' "Light refreshments served ". Make it look like a somewhat fancy party invitation , so it is positive and upbeat. Location at a community center, not the police station. Include a website url and phone# for details. Have professional counselors give presentations and have printed handouts with tips . The people making these calls often do not have the means for personal counseling sessions and often were not raised in households with good parenting and relationship skills . Maybe the, "you know better, you do better" will help improve lives and reduce Domestic calls. • Securing Fluid Situations -Combine it with Beacon and businesses. Also invite Veterinarians since they are now a target. Professional training ' I would like to see budgeted in: • Better methods for closing Cold Cases . There are currently 70 to 100 still open. • Suicide training seems to be on the rise. Both how to avoid it personally and helping others. • Writing Grants Our library has a database with over 100 ,000 grants in it and a Reference Librarian that can train people how to use it. Training is FREE . Scott Sandberg, 574 -285- 4 7 44 There are MAJOR grants through the Department of Justice for the police . We need to get those State and Federal dollars back here along with other grants. Before Buttigieg there were professional grant writers on staff. There need to be again. • Police to visit Los Angeles "Predictive Policing" program . • Visits to Philadelphia and Baltimore GVI to see why they are getting better results . • Ways to approach those with mental illnesses to keep both the person and city staff safe. Equipment Funding • More cameras for the Real Time Policing Board • Magnetic Rollers to go over park grounds to pick up needles and drug items. • Books and stuffed animals to give to children on scene . Kohls sells them off cheap after Christmas . ($1 each) • Fire Laundromat where equipment is dropped off immediately after a fire to a central location for cleaning rather than contaminating the fire houses where they live with toxic chemicals . It is then picked up after it is cleaned . • Sharp Boxes inside walls of park bathrooms. (Small ones that hang on the wall would be stolen.) At least give a place other than the ground for them to go . • Massage Chairs for officers to sit in after their shift and before they go home. It has been shown that if officers are able to decompress before they go directly home, they have better family relationships and better health . I suggest the heavy-duty ones like they have in the middle of malls. My understanding is that Transpo has a nice area for their drivers. Could look at their setup for ideas for our officers. • Drug Monitoring in Sewers -Other cities are able to monitor the amount of drugs in the water coming into their sewer facilities. This is one way they are gauging the types and amount of drugs being used . Since we already have "Smart Sewers" with sensors , I think we may be able to add this additional technology and pinpoint problem areas. It could also be done for suspected drug houses. Once waste leaves a property it is up for analysis. Per Call Cost Analysis • What are the costs to taxpayers for shootings, domestic violence, drug overdoses? Two reasons: The public needs to understand those costs are upping their taxes . Crime is everyone 's cost , so if you see something, say something. Show how it is directly hurting their personal finances . Another reason is if the costs are itemized , it could show possible areas for decreasing costs . Yes , there are ways to come to this figure. Police Chief Salary vs Park Director Salary -Parks may have more employees, but there is no harder and more stressful department than overseeing a Police Department. The Police Chief needs to be better compensated . Online Counseling Services for First Responders -They have a stressful job in a city where we constantly hear sirens night and day, 7 days a week. Online because they may not feel like they can open up to someone who lives in our community and may know the same people. Again , it is inexcusable we do not have 2022 Comprehensive Financial Reports to compare figures. Sue Kesim Filed in Clerk 's Offi ce I AUG 2 3 2023 / DAW N M . JON t~> l C IT Y CLERK, SO UTI~ -:;• . i;-, -~---_______ ,.._ t