CC - Item 5C - Public Safety Commission Year-end ReportROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BEN KIM, CITY MANAGER % v
DATE: JULY 25, 2023
SUBJECT: PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION YEAR-END REPORT
SUMMARY
In 2022, the City Council created a Public Safety Commission to facilitate a citizen -based,
community effort to organize, promote, advocate, and participate in public safety efforts
concerning matters relating to public safety, understanding police and fire operations, crime
prevention, and emergency preparedness operations. The Commission has completed its first full
year and has prepared a Year End Report and is transmitting it to the City Council as required by
its charter. Therefore, it is recommended that the City Council receive and file the Public Safety
Commission Year -End Report.
BACKGROUND
On March 22, 2022, the City Council discussed the establishment of a Public Safety Commission
to facilitate a citizen -based, community effort to organize, promote, advocate, and participate in
public safety efforts concerning matters relating to public safety, understanding police and fire
operations, crime prevention, emergency preparedness, and any other issues which may be
assigned by the City Council. On April 12, 2022, the City Council introduced Ordinance No. 1010
creating the Public Safety Commission. Upon adoption of the Ordinance, the City Council
interviewed prospective candidates in the summer of 2022.
The Commission held its first meeting on August 25, 2022, and began its efforts to help improve
the safety and overall welfare of our residents and business community in partnership with the
Public Safety Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department ("LASD"), and the Los
Angeles County Fire Department ("LACoFD"). As directed by the City Council, the Commission
has completed its annual review of public safety services and developed its year-end report for
transmittal to the City Council. At the June 27, 2023, Public Safety Commission Meeting, the
Commission approved the year-end report and supported transmittal to the City Council.
Over the past year, the Public Safety Commission has reviewed a variety of public safety topics
related to Rosemead Public Safety Department operations, Los Angeles County Sheriffs
AGENDA ITEM 5.0
City Council Meeting
July 25, 2023
Page 2 of 3
Department operations, and the Los Angeles County Fire Department operations. Based on the
information provided, the Commission identified a series of topic areas that were of most concern
and requested additional information to formulate ideas and recommendations as outlined in the
report. Below is a summary of these topics:
• Rosemead Public Safety Department
• Los Angeles County Fire Department
• Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department
o Rosemead Patrol and Special Assignment Team
o Comparative Staffing
o Crime Statistics
o Response Time Analysis
o Crime Prevention
• Focus Areas & Recommendations
o Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Awareness & Narcan Administration
o Sidewalk CPR Workshops
o Crime Prevention Programs
o Public Outreach
o Anti -Camping Ordinance & Jurisdiction
o Public Safety Vehicle Street Access, Curb Markings, and Permit Parking
o Broken Windows Theory
o Public Safety Staffing & Budget
o HOST Team
o Flock ALPR Cameras
o Overnight Crime Suppression Patrol Pilot Program
o MET Team
Based on the feedback received from the Public Safety Commission, those areas where
administrative improvements could and should be made, the Public Safety Department adjusted to
ensure that programming and resources were made available to the community. These include
revamping the Community Area Watch program and offering additional services like Sidewalk
CPR programs and public outreach to schools, residents, and businesses.
Additional programmatic changes or items that required City Council approval, like addressing
response times or providing overnight crime suppression were items that were brought forward to
the City Council for discussion and adoption. Over the course of the upcoming year, the Public
Safety Commission will continue to review and monitor the progress of these items, as well as
discuss additional public safety program needs as they arise.
The Year -End Report provides a comprehensive summary of the Commission's discussions on the
items addressed during the past year, along with their recommendations to the City Council and
Public Safety Department staff.
City Council Meeting
July 25, 2023
Page 3 of 3
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council receive and file the Public Safety Commission Year -End
Report.
STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
None.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund.
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
This item has been noticed through the regular agenda notification process.
Submitted by:
/'kL
Michael Bruckner
Assistant City Manager
Attachment A — Public Safety Commission Year -End Report
M
Attachment A
Public Safety Commission Year -End Report
Public Safety 2022/2023
Commission
Year End
Report
June 2023
Page 12
Page 13
Rosemead Public Safety Commission
Dr. Michael Cao, Chair
Jeff Foutz, Vice -Chair
Liz Fonseca, Commissioner
Stephanie Garcia, Commissioner
Amy Wu, Commissioner
City Manager's Office
Michael Bruckner, Assistant City Manager
Jennifer Pineda, Management Analyst
Rosemead Public Safety Department
Wayne Co, Public Safety Manager
Mandy Wong, Public Safety Supervisor
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Lt. Kevin Tiwari, Interim Chief of Police
Los Angeles County Fire Department
Gerald Gonzales, Acting Assistant Fire Chief
Page 14
Page I5
Table of Contents
Tableof Contents..........................................................................................................................................5
Introduction ..............
...............................................7
AboutRosemead...........................................................................................................................................7
Rosemead Public Safety Commission............................................................................................................8
Rosemead Public Safety Department............................................................................................................8
Los Angeles County Fire Department..........................................................................................................10
Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department...................................................................................................11
Focus Areas & Recommendations...............................................................................................................18
Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Awareness & Narcan Administration................................................18
SidewalkCPR Workshops........................................................................................................................18
Crime Prevention Programs....................................................................................................................19
PublicOutreach.......................................................................................................................................19
Anti -Camping Ordinance & Jurisdiction..................................................................................................20
Public Safety Vehicle Street Access, Curb Markings, and Permit Parking...............................................20
BrokenWindows Theory .........................................................................................................................20
Public Safety Staffing & Budget...............................................................................................................21
HOSTTeam..............................................................................................................................................21
FlockALPR Cameras................................................................................................................................21
Overnight Crime Suppression Patrol Pilot Program................................................................................22
METTeam................................................................................................................................................22
CommissionCommentary ...........................................................................................................................23
RequestingInformation..............................................................................................................................23
Page 16
Page 17
Introduction
On March 22, 2022, the City Council discussed the establishment of a Public Safety Commission to
facilitate a citizen -based, community effort to organize, promote, advocate, and participate in public
safety efforts concerning matters relating to public safety, understanding police and fire operations, crime
prevention, emergency preparedness, and any other issues which may be assigned by the City Council.
As directed by the City Council, the Commission will help improve the safety and overall welfare of our
residents and business community in partnership with City staff and Temple Sheriff Station Deputies. In
addition, the Commission will assist in achieving Rosemead's 2030 Strategic Plan goal to, "Enhance public
safety in our City by providing safe access to public facilities, expand neighborhood safety programs, and
improve quality of life."
On April 12, 2022, the City Council introduced Ordinance No. 1010 creating the Public Safety Commission.
Upon adoption of the Ordinance, the City Council interviewed prospective candidates in the summer of
2022, and the Commission held its first meeting on August 25, 2022.
The Rosemead Public Safety Commission ("PSC" or "the Commission") was chartered by the City Council
to, 'facilitate a citizen -based, community effort to organize, promote, advocate, and participate in public
safety efforts concerning matters relating to public safety, including understanding police and fire
operations, crime prevention, and emergency preparedness to enhance public safety and improve the
quality of life in Rosemead. "To that end, over the past year, the PSC has received reports and information
from the Rosemead Public Safety Department, the Los Angeles County Fire Department, and the Los
Angeles County Sheriff's Department, regarding programs, services, staffing, deployments, and other
related information.
As required by Ordinance No. 1010, the following Annual Report was reviewed by the Public Safety
Commission on June 22, 2023, and was approved by the Commission for submission to the City Council.
About Rosemead
According to the US Census Bureau, the City's population is 50,245 (est. 2021) and encompasses
approximately 5.16 square miles in central Los Angeles County. The racial makeup of Rosemead is 10.2%
White (3.6% Non -Hispanic White), 0.5% African American, 0.9% Native American, 64.4% Asian, 3.8% from
two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race is 30.1% of the population. Owner -occupied housing is
49.1%, with 13,927 households, with 3.67 persons per household. Language other than English spoken at
home is 81.4%. The median income in Rosemead is $64,224 and approximately 12.5% of residents live in
poverty. The number of individuals experiencing homelessness in the City in 2021 was 83.
Page 18
Rosemead Public Safety Commission
The Rosemead Public Safety Commission held public meetings in 2022 and 2023. Below is a summary of
the meetings held in addition to a link forthe public to review Commission meeting Agendas and Minutes:
August 25, 2012 February 23, 2023
September 22, 2022 March 23, 2023
October 27, 2022 April 27, 2023
November 28, 2022 May 25, 2023
January 26, 2023 June 22, 2023
Rosemead Public Safety Department
The Rosemead Public Safety Department ("the Department') provides an array of safety services to
Rosemead residents and businesses, including managing the law enforcement contract with the Los
Angeles County Sheriffs Department, Code Enforcement, Crime Prevention, Animal Control, and
Emergency Preparedness. The Rosemead Public Safety Center is located at 8301 E. Garvey Avenue and
serves as the central hub for the community's interaction with the Department.
The Department is overseen by the Assistant City Manager and eight (8) full-time equivalent (FTE)
positions, including a Public Safety Manager, Public Safety Supervisor, 2.0 FTE Senior Code Enforcement
Officers, 3.0 FTE Code Enforcement Officers, an Administrative Analyst, and several part-time Community
Service Officers (CSOs) and Parking Control Officers (PCOs).
CODE ENFORCEMENT TOTAL CALLS FOR SERVICE
2,500
1,939 2,009
2,000 1,743 1,651
1,500 1,210 1,076 1, 65
1,000 1 878 716
459 S13 ` - 459
360 371
500 r�,.
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
-a-Animal Control -e-Parking Enforcement -8-Code Violations
Page 19
During 2020 and 2021, the City's Code Enforcement responded to 3,445 and 3,287 calls for service,
respectively. On the previous page is a five-year table of calls for service.
Code Enforcement has taken the lead in addressing homelessness in Rosemead. Homelessness continues
to be a significant public safety and humanitarian concern throughout Los Angeles County. In 2021, Code
Enforcement responded to 520 calls for services related to homelessness issues. Code Enforcement staff
engage in homeless -related contacts Monday through Thursday in the early morning hours to remove
individuals who are sheltering in the public right-of-way, private property via letter of agency, or City
facilities. These contacts are typically supported by LA County Sheriffs deputies. Further, the City's
municipal code restrictions are general in scope and may not be in full compliance with recent case law.
It is without question that homeless encampments in Rosemead create unsanitary, unhealthy, disorderly,
and dangerous conditions that may affect both the campers and the general public. The table below shows
the number of calls for service related to homelessness:
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
HOMELESS CALLS FOR SERVICE
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021/2022*
Homeless Outreach —*--Homeless Count
The Public Safety Manager oversees the City's Code Enforcement team, while the Public Safety Supervisor
coordinates animal licensing, crime prevention programs, and emergency preparedness activities. These
include:
➢ Animal Licensing
➢ Community Area Watch
➢ Neighborhood Watch
➢ Business Watch
➢ Coffee with Deputies
➢ Community Emergency
Response Team (CERT)
➢ Community Academy
➢ Amateur Radio Group
➢ Emergency Operations Center
Currently, the Public Safety Supervisor is the only full-time staff member assigned to the Public Safety
Center and the City's Code Enforcement team operates from City Hall. The Public Safety Department has
Page 130
been without its Administrative Analyst for over a year. In addition, the Sheriff's Department Rosemead
Special Assignment Officer (SAO) Team operates from Temple Station, which is nearly 4.0 miles away.
The City's FY 2022-23 Capital Improvement Program includes a $2.0 million upgrade to the Public Safety
Center to increase operational capacity and upgrade equipment. At the completion of the project, it is
anticipated that the Rosemead SAO and the Code Enforcement Team will be operating out of the
Rosemead Public Safety Center to be a one-stop shop for the community's public safety needs.
Los Angeles County Fire Department
The City of Rosemead is serviced by the Los Angeles County Fire Department ("LACoFD") for fire
suppression and emergency medical services. Unlike law enforcement, the City does not contract with
LACoFD for fire services. Rosemead has utilized LACoFD for fire suppression and emergency response
services since its incorporation in 1959. Prior to Proposition 13, the Consolidated Fire Protection District
("CFPD" or "the District") that comprises the LACoFD service area had the ability to levy a property tax
assessment to fund services. When unincorporated areas were annexed or a city contracted with CFPD,
the District levied its tax rate to generate funding to pay for services. As a result, CFPD was able to levy
taxes based on financial needs to deliver services. At the time of Proposition 13, CFPD served 40 cities
throughout the County, including Rosemead. Therefore, the City has no direct input or oversight of
LACoFD operations; however, the relationship with the department is strong.
Rosemead is serviced by two fire stations: Station 4, located at 2644 N. San Gabriel Blvd. and Station 42,
located at 9319 Valley Blvd. As expected, calls for emergency medical services far exceed calls for fire
incidents. The table below is a five-year summary of calls service for both stations:
ROSEMEAD TOTAL CALLS FOR SERVICE (LACFD)
4,000 3,080 3,024 3,136
2,908 2,822
3,000 ---
2,000
1,000 104 117 79 118 146
0
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
—40—Fire Incidents —o—EMS Response
Because fire and emergency response services are not "contracted" in the purest sense, the City is unable
to influence service delivery in any meaningful way. While there are pros and cons to the City's
relationship with LACoFD, the community has benefited from the high level and quality of services it
receives from LACoFD and is appreciative of the partnership and support it receives from LACoFD. Still, as
with any partnership, there are always areas for improvement and continued development. Of particular
Page 111
focus and interest are areas for enhanced community outreach and programming related to life safety,
fire safety, and emergency preparedness.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Trust between law enforcement agencies and the people they protect and serve is a foundational
responsibility of the government. It is essential to maintaining the stability of our community, the integrity
of our criminal justice system, and the safe and effective delivery of police services. Building trust between
law enforcement and the citizens they serve is vital to ensuring the mission of the Los Angeles County
Sheriffs Department ("LASD").
"The mission of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is to partner
with the community. To proactively prevent crime, enforce the law fairly
and enhance the public's trust through transparency and accountability."
The City of Rosemead utilizes a contract model for law enforcement services to support an ethnically
diverse City population of approximately 50,245. Based on readily available public information on staffing,
resources, and funding, the City conducted a comparative analysis of contract cities. While LASD is
commended for doing more with less, given current and projected crime trends in Los Angeles County,
the City may likely need to reevaluate its public safety service delivery in the near-term to meet its public
safety goals of enhanced visibility and increased response times.
Rosemead Patrol and Special Assignment Team
The City utilizes a contract model for law enforcement with LASD. The Fiscal Year 2022-23 contract is
approximately $9.4 million, and provides 29.5 FTE positions for law enforcement administration, patrol,
special assignments, and traffic enforcement. This includes the following positions:
➢ 1.0 FTE Lieutenant (Chief of Police)
➢ 1.0 FTE Sergeant
➢ 19.5 FTE (12 units) Patrol Deputies
➢ 7.0 FTE Special Assignment Deputies
➢ 1.0 FTE Grant Motor Deputy
The patrol deputies work three shifts (EM, AM, PM) and at any given time there are 2-4 patrol vehicles
operating in the City responding to calls for service, with a traffic car to address incidents per shift.
Therefore, there are a total of 3-5 law enforcement vehicles in the City at designated times. According to
LASD, response time goals for calls for service are established as follows:
➢ Routine Call: 50 minutes
➢ Priority Call: 15 minutes
➢ Emergent Call: 8 minutes
Page 112
Comparative Staffing
Theta bles below depict comparative law enforcement staffing for surrounding jurisdictions. The first table
lists all cities in the San Gabriel Valley that contract with LASD. The second table lists cities that neighbor
Rosemead that have their own police departments.
city
Pop.
Budget
Expenditure per
Sworn
Residents per
(millions)
Resident
Officers
Officer
Rosemead
50,245
$9.4
$186.93
29.5
1,704
South EI Monte
19,590
$5.7
$290.96
18.1
1,082
Temple City
35,763
$5.2
$145.40
15.6
2,292
Duarte
21,245
$5.0
$236.89
16.3
1,303
Industry
67,000*
$12.0
$179.86
37.5
1,786
La Puente
37,303
$8.5
$227.09
26.3
1,418
Diamond Bar
53,857
$7.3
$135.07
23.5
2,292
La Habra Heights
5,551
$0.6
$115.97
2
2,775
Walnut
27,830
$4.1
$147.03
13.7
2,031
San Dimas
34,064
$7.9
$233.15
26.5
1,285
*Population is mostly industrial and commercial workers (estimated)
Based on relevant data available for population and fiscal year 2022-23 police expenditures, the City
spends approximately $186.93 per resident on police services. The average for all contract cities is $189.84
per resident. The City currently utilizes 29.5 FTEs to support its law enforcement function in a City of
50,245, which translates to one sworn officer for every 1,704 residents. The average population of
contract cities is 31,716 and the average law enforcement personnel required is 20.9 FTEs, or 1,797
residents per sworn officer.
city
Pop.
Budget
Expenditure per
Sworn
Residents per
(millions)
Resident
Officers
Officer
Montebello
62,771
$19.6
$312.24
32
848
San Gabriel
38,670
$18.7
$483.57
54
714
Alhambra
81,211
$35.2
$433.43
86
944
EI Monte
106,907
$36.9
$374.16
122
876
Monterey Park
59,667
$23.9
$400.55
76
785
As shown in the table above, the five cities that neighbor Rosemead include Montebello, San Gabriel,
Alhambra, EI Monte, and Monterey Park. On average, these cities serve a population of 69,845 residents
and spend nearly $26.8 million on law enforcement services. This is nearly three times the amount spent
by the City ($9.4 million). On average, the cost per resident is over two times higher, $400.79 for
standalone departments compared to $186.93 per Rosemead resident, for law enforcement services. The
number of sworn officers is substantially higher in standalone departments due to several factors
including: having their own command structures, special bureaus and details (detective, traffic, K-9, etc.)
and jail requirements. As a result, the number of residents per sworn officer is also substantially lower.
Page 113
Crime Statistics
LASD provided the Commission with comparative crime data over a five-year and two-year period. The
chart below depicts the five-year crime trend for overall part -one crimes in Rosemead. In 2018, LASD
responded to or investigated 1,474 part -one crimes. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, part -one
crimes dropped to a five-year low of 1,090. By 2022, the last full calendar year of available data, part -one
crimes exceeded their pre -pandemic high to 1,656.
PART ONE CRIMES (FIVE-YEAR)
2,000
1,656
1,474
1,500 1,314
1,125 1,090
1,000
500
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
The summary table below shows the biggest rates of increase by part -one crime. The largest increase by
both percentage and raw number is burglary, followed by rape, grand theft auto, and theft. Aggravated
assualt, arson, and homicide, all declined from 2021 to 2022. Overall, part -one crimes in Rosemead
increased by 26% from 2021 to 2022.
Crime
2021
2022
A Change
A Percent
Homicide
1
0
-1
-100.0%
Rape
14
21
7
50.0%
Aggravated Assault
133
120
-13
-9.8%
Robbery
69
77
8
11.6%
Burglary
228
379
151
66.2%
Theft
640
777
137
21.4%
Grand Theft Auto
223
277
54
24.2%
Arson
6
5
-1
-16.7%
Total
1,314
1,656
342
26.0%
The chart on the next page shows a graphical representation of two-year part -one crimes. Although there
is no direct method to explain the increase, it is reasonable to assume that changes in bail laws during the
COVID-19 pandemic, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office modifications to sentencing
guidelines, and the effects of criminal justice reforms from Prop. 47, Prop. 57, and AB 109 all have a
collective impact on crime rates in Los Angeles County.
PART ONE CRIMES (TWO-YEAR)
2021 2022
640
228 1 223
133
69
1 14 _ 6
■ Homicide ■ Rape
■ Burglary ■ Theft
120 77
0 21 0 N
w�
Page 114
777
379
277
S
■ Aggravated Assault ■ Robbery
■ Grand Theft Auto ■ Arson
The table below shows arrests over the same two-year period. Although part -one crime increased year
over from 2021 to 2022, the number of arrests made declined slightly by 1.4%. Felony arrests increased
by 4.1% but misdemeanor arrests declined by 3.63'x.
Arrests
2021
2022
A Change
A Percent
Felony
604
629
25
4.1%
Misdemeanor
1,542
1,486
-56
-3.6%
Total
2,146
2,115
-31
-1.4%
The chart on the next page depicts part one crimes per 10,000 residents for all cities served by Temple
Station, which include Rosemead, Duarte, South EI Monte, and Temple City. Although it is the smallest
city by population, South EI Monte has the highest incidences of crime per 10,000 residents, followed by
Rosemead, Duarte, and then Temple City. Theft, burglary, aggravated assault, and grand theft auto are
the four leading part one crimes in the cities served by Temple Station, and according to LASD, similar
trends appear throughout the San Gabriel Valley and broader Los Angeles County.
Page 115
PART ONE CRIMES PER 10,000 RESIDENTS (TEMPLE STATION)
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
Duarte
Rosemead
South EI Monte
Temple City
■ Homicide
0.0
0.0
0.5
0.5
■ Rape
1.8
2.7
2.6
0.5
12 Aggravated Assault
11.5
16.0
32.7
6.9
■ Robbery
4.6
10.7
10.7
4.1
! Burglary
22.1
51.0
109.9
32.6
Theft
74.6
90.5
122.7
53.7
■ Grand Theft Auto
23.5
31.1
65.9
7.4
■ Arson
1.4
1.0
0.5
0.5
Response Time Analysis
As part of its review, the Commission requested summary data on calls for service and response times by
shift for all of 2022. The report was generated to help identify peak demand for services, as well as to
ensure that current law enforcement resources are allocated for maximum benefit. The table below
shows a summary of the average number of calls for service by deputy per shift.
AVERAGE DAILY CALLS BY DEPUTY BY SHIFT (2022)
20
17.7 17.4
16.1 16.1 15.7 16.4 16.2 16.4 16.9
15.7
16 14.3 14.7
13. 13.
12.
12 11. 12. 12. 11. 31. 1
10.
8.8 9.2
8 7.4 7.8 7.9 6.7
5.9 5.6 5.2 6.1 6' 6.1 5.5
4 I I
I I III III 0
January February March April May lune July August September October November December
OEM SAM ■PM
Page 116
Based on the data provided, EM or overnight patrol deputies are responding to approximately 6.7 calls,
AM shift deputies respond to 11.9 calls and PM shift respond to 16.1 calls, on average. The table series
below shows the average calls by type and shift, beginning with emergent to priority to routine.
The chart below shows the average response time for emergent calls, which are the most urgent calls for
service. On average, these calls are responded to within 4 minutes. The department's goal is an 8 -minute
response time.
AVERAGE EMERGENT CALLS BY SHIFT
10
s
6
4
2���r
0
Q¢�ok
P a.
SEM SAM QPM —Goal
The next chart shows the average response time for priority calls. On average, these calls are responded
to within 9 and a half minutes. The department's goal is a 15 -minute response time.
AVERAGE PRIORITY CALLS BY SHIFT
18
16
14
12
10
S
6
4
2
0
c c
PQc O`oc¢ o,�,o¢ ��o¢
¢ c ¢ ¢
S¢ / O
SEM SAM �PM —Goal
Page 117
The next chart shows the average response time for routine calls. On average, these calls are responded
to within 62 minutes. The department's goal is a 50 -minute response time.
too
80
60
40
20
AVERAGE ROUTINE CALLS BY SHIFT
0
t3
Crime Prevention
ea ce JCA
�
A O
SEM SAM QPM —Goal
The Public Safety Department oversees the City's crime prevention programming in coordination with
LASD. The City generally offers three programs for City residents and businesses, including: Neighborhood
Watch, Business Watch, and Community Area Watch. Below is a summary of each, along with the times
they are offered:
Neighborhood Watch
This program is designed to teach residents techniques to reduce the risk of becoming victimized at home
or in public. It trains residents on the importance of recognizing suspicious activities in their
neighborhoods and how to report them to law enforcement. Additional guidance is offered on how to
secure homes and properties to reduce instances of crimes. And, most importantly, it creates a safe and
friendly space for neighbors to get to know one another.
There are currently 43 established Neighborhood Watch groups in Rosemead; however, only 16 block
captains are currently active and in continuous communication with the Public Safety Department. For a
Neighborhood Watch group to become established, it requires a group of willing residents to come
together and invest their time and energy to help reduce crime in their neighborhood.
Neighborhood Watch group meetings can be scheduled at virtually any time, with or without City Public
Safety Department staff or law enforcement personnel. When requested, staff and LASD deputies can
attend these meetings to provide support to the group to address their concerns.
Page 118
In addition to formalized Neighborhood Watch group meetings, LASD has also offered community -wide
Neighborhood Watch meetings to allow any member of the community a platform to share their public
safety concerns with law enforcement. LASD just concluded a series of Neighborhood Watch meetings in
fall 2022 which were not well attended, despite the City's best efforts to advertise the events.
Business Watch
Like Neighborhood Watch, Business Watch is designed to address the unique concerns of business owners
in the City to help prevent crime in their establishments. These meetings are held virtually and scheduled
on the second Tuesday of odd -numbered months at 9:30 a.m.
Community Area Watch
The purpose of the Community Area Watch meeting is to educate the community on crime statistics and
trends, to share information on personal safety, securing homes and businesses, becoming a CERT
volunteer, and more. Historically, these meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month but were
transitioned to a virtual recording due to COVID-19. The pre-recorded messages are created and posted
on the City's YouTube channel.
Focus Areas & Recommendations
During the past year, the Public Safety Commission has reviewed program information and performance
data, and received numerous presentations regarding public safety programs and services in Rosemead.
As a result of these intensive efforts, the Commission focused on several key areas to help identify areas
for improvement, in addition to enhancing the public's knowledge about public safety. The
recommendations below summarize the efforts the Commission has taken this year. Where appropriate,
the Public Safety Department has taken steps to implement the Commission's recommendations.
Alternatively, the Commission has referred some items to the City Council for further consideration.
Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Awareness & Narcan Administration
The Commission recommended that the City partner with local schools to offer education courses on the
dangers of fentanyl and methamphetamines, and how to administer Narcan during a potential overdose
episode.
Recommendation: The Commission reviewed this item on February 23, 2023. It was requested that LASD
plan and execute a drug awareness outreach at local schools which LASD has scheduled. Additional drug
awareness information is being provided to community members during regularly scheduled crime
prevention programs like Neighborhood Watch or Community Area Watch.
Sidewalk CPR Workshops
The Commission recommended that the City reinstitute Sidewalk CPR workshop training for Rosemead
residents and businesses that are interested in learning more about CPR administration. The Los Angeles
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County Fire Department has indicated that they can support the City with this effort and will supply all
the necessary training materials and equipment.
Recommendation: The Commission reviewed this item on February 23, 2023. The Public Safety
Department will coordinate quarterly sidewalk CPR training with LACoFD. Sidewalk CPR workshops are
scheduled on a modified quarterly basis for CY 2023 and sessions were held on March 2911 and June 2151.
Another CPR training is scheduled for August 151, and will continue a rolling cycle of meetings in perpetuity.
Crime Prevention Programs
The Commission reviewed this item on March 26, 2023, and approved the recommended changes to the
City's crime prevention programs as follows. These items have already been implemented by the Public
Safety Department.
Recommendation(s): In consultation with the Public Safety Department staff and LASD, the City is
recommending the following programmatic changes:
• The City should be subdivided into seven (7) reporting districts that coincide with LASD reporting
districts. An SAO deputy will be assigned to each district as its community policing liaison.
• Community Area Watch meetings will be held twice a year in each reporting district.
• The meetings should be tailored to provide crime trends citywide and then specifically to each
reporting district.
• For Business Watch, it is recommended that the Rosemead Special Assignment Team contact
business owners and pass out information about how to participate in the Business Watch
program.
• Business Watch meetings should be held in-person once a month to support the unique needs of
the City's business community.
• All crime prevention meetings should be attended by the Rosemead Chief of Police or their
designee in their absence.
• Neighborhood Watch meetings will continue as requested by new and/or established groups.
Public Outreach
The City uses a variety of methods to communicate with the Rosemead community. These include the
City website, social media, press releases, and our new weekly e -digest called Rosemead This Week. The
City is in the process of creating its first-ever Communications Plan and has completed a survey of the
Rosemead community to identify opportunities to expand our outreach. This survey was provided in
multiple languages and was designed to find out how and where Rosemead residents consume
information so we can meet them where they are at.
The City has also recently engaged in efforts to update the City's website. The current site is limited in
terms of organization, search, and functionality. The new site will offer more robust communication tools,
including translation options that will bridge the divide for non-English speakers.
Recommendation: The Commission reviewed this item on February 23, 2023, and recommended
conducting a citywide Public Information Perception Survey to identify opportunities for broader
engagement with the Rosemead community.
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Anti -Camping Ordinance & Jurisdiction
Per its mandate, the Commission also reviewed current City and LASD practices and case law related to
homeless encampments. To fully explore additional enforcement, per the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
decision in Martin v. Boise, for the City to enforce or prosecute its anti -camping laws, a shelter bed must
first be offered. If the individual accepts shelter, then no enforcement is warranted, and placement in a
shelter can help remove individuals experiencing homelessness from City streets. If an individual refuses
shelter and continues to camp, then enforcement can commence, and the individual can be removed by
law enforcement.
Recommendation: The Commission reviewed this item on March 26, 2023, and was provided with a list
of areas from where camping will be always prohibited, in addition to recommendations where
involuntary camping could be allowed for the City to be in compliance with Boise and begin enforcement.
At the April 27, 2023, Commission meeting, the Commission recommended tabling this item pending
further updates to recent case law that is further shaping public policy related to anti -camping
enforcement.
Public Safety Vehicle Street Access, Curb Markings, and Permit Parking
The Commission reviewed information regarding public safety vehicle access and whether current parking
standards and curb markings in the City are sufficient to provide access to public safety vehicles. The Public
Safety Department consulted with both LACoFD and LASD, and determined in most instances there is
sufficient ingress and egress on City streets for vehicles.
Additionally, the Commission also requested more information about more red curb stripping on City
streets. The Public Works Department oversees curb stripping in the City. In consultation with the Public
Works Department, it was determined that any requests for additional curb stripping be submitted to the
Traffic Commission, which is the advisory board charged with providing recommendations to the City
Council on this topic.
The Commission inquired whether recreational vehicles can be parked on City streets. Staff has reviewed
the City's municipal code and section 17.112.070 expressly requires that recreational vehicles be properly
stored on side or rear yards and screened from view of the street.
Finally, the Commission inquired as to whether a permit parking program would help enhance public
safety by clearly identifying which vehicles belong in the permitted parking area and which vehicles are
not permitted.
Recommendation: The Commission reviewed this item on March 26, 2023, and tabled this item.
Broken Windows Theory
First proposed by the late criminologist James Q. Wilson in 1982, the broken windows theory of criminal
justice holds that seemingly minor instances of social and physical disorder in urban spaces can contribute
to an atmosphere of lawlessness that encourages more serious crimes. The question before the
Commission is whether this is true for the City and what steps need to be undertaken to prevent the
"broken window" from occurring. LASD does not believe that the City is in a "broken windows" cycle as
low-level offenses like graffiti and other forms of vandalism are quickly addressed by law enforcement
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and City staff. The increase in property and other crimes is largely attributed to the state's efforts at
criminal justice reform and the revolving door of justice being championed by the Los Angeles County
District Attorney's Office.
Recommendation: The Commission reviewed this item on February 23, 2023, and recommended that
LASD and the City continue to monitor quality -of -life crimes and address them in a timely manner.
Public Safety Staffing & Budget
The Commission reviewed crime trends, calls for service, and response time data to address concerns
related to response times and visibility of LASD patrol deputies. Based on this analysis, call volume and
response times are negatively impacted during the AM and PM patrol shifts, with the PM patrol shift
demonstrating the most resource constraints. The data was also supported by operational analysis
provided by LASD that PM patrol deputies are typically moving from call to call with little to no time to
conduct proactive policing activities, thereby impacting response times and the ability to conduct
proactive patrols for enhanced visibility.
Recommendation: The Commission reviewed this item on April 27, 2023, and May 25, 2023, and
recommended that the City reinstitute the Community Service Officer ("CSO") patrol support program
and add two additional 56 -hour patrol units.
HOST Team
The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST) is responsible for
addressing homeless encampments with 10 or more people in Los Angeles County. HOST will engage with
individuals in these encampments to assist with connecting them with services in the County's continuum
of care. After a required notification period, HOST will assist with enforcement related to encampment
clean-up efforts. Currently, there are no encampments in Rosemead that meet the 10 or more threshold.
Recommendation: The Commission reviewed this item on February 23, 2023, and recommended that the
Public Safety Department continue to monitor homeless encampments in Rosemead and engage with the
HOST Team on an as -needed basis.
Flock ALPR Cameras
Overthe years, the City has acquired and implemented several automated license plate recognition (ALPR)
cameras at strategic intersections throughout the City. The ALPRs cameras provide law enforcement the
tools to search vehicles by type, make, color, plate, and more. They provide law enforcement with real-
time monitoring and alerts if a suspect vehicle has entered the City. The City currently has 25 ALPR
cameras at major intersections throughout the City.
Due to operational concerns about sharingthe location of the ALRP cameras, no information was provided
about the location of the cameras; however, the Public Safety Department has mapped the location of
the existing cameras. The Commission supported the idea of adding additional ALPR cameras where
appropriate.
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Recommendation: The Commission reviewed this item on February 23, 2023. The Public Safety
Department acquired three in -unit ALPR City patrol and SAO vehicles to serve as a force multiplier for the
fixed camera system. The vehicles will be available in the coming months.
Overnight Crime Suppression Patrol Pilot Program
In response to a series of commercial burglaries along major commercial corridors in Rosemead, the City
Manager authorized the creation of an Overnight Crime Suppression Patrol Pilot Program. Beginning in
January 2023, the City's Code Enforcement team volunteered to adjust their work schedule to begin
overnight patrols from 12:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. to assist the LASD with identifying suspicious individuals
and vehicles in the City during the overnight hours. The pilot program concluded at the end of February
2023.
During the first several weeks of the program, Code Enforcement staff identified a break-in in progress,
and several individuals who have been involved in vandalism during the overnight hours. As a result of
the program and the coordination with LASD, 3 individuals were arrested. More notably, since patrols
began, according to initial reports by LASD, commercial burglaries have declined in the City over this
period. It should also be noted that the Special Assignment Team has adjusted its schedule to conduct
overnight burglary suppression activities in support of the City's crime prevention goals.
The City is in the process of hiring additional part-time Community Service Officers to supplement the
work of our full-time Code Enforcement team to continue overnight crime suppression patrols.
Recommendation: The Commission reviewed this item on April 27, 2023, and supported the
implementation of the program. The Public Safety Department has hired three (3) part-time Community
Service Officers to supplement the work of our full-time Code Enforcement team to continue overnight
crime suppression patrols and will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the program.
MET Team
At the February 23, 2023, meeting, the Commission received a presentation from the County's Mental
Health Evaluation Team (MET). After the presentation, the Commission requested information regarding
the cost of the MET team as well as demographic information about the populations served. These
included the number of MET -related calls from Temple Station and Rosemead in particular, as well as the
number of calls related to housed versus unhoused individuals.
As shared in the presentation, the City of West Hollywood is the only City in Los Angeles County that funds
its own MET team. Based on the information provided by West Hollywood and LASD, the cost of the
program is estimated to be $361,000, which includes the cost for a bonus, non -relief deputy (MET
Deputy), and a mental health clinician assigned by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health.
MET provided information for calls for service and indicated that they do not track calls by housed or
unhoused individuals. The calls for service information for MET at Temple Station are broken down as
follows:
2019 — 550 calls
2020 — 506 calls
2021— 384 calls
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2022 — 422 calls
Recommendation: The Commission reviewed this item on March 26, 2023, and no action was taken. The
MET team is available as a resource to Rosemead residents on an as -needed basis.
Commission Commentary
The members of the Public Safety Commission would like to extend their appreciation to the Rosemead
City Council for the opportunity to serve the community and participate in this important discussion
regarding the future of the City we all cherish. We hope that you find these recommendations to be
helpful in your policy deliberations moving forward. The Commission firmly believes that if its
recommendations are implemented, the City of Rosemead's public safety services and programs will be
enhanced for the foreseeable future. While the circumstances that created this situation were beyond
the control of the City Council, the solution to tackling this complex challenge is well within its grasp.
The Commission would also like to extend its appreciation to all the City staff that supported this body in
efforts, particularly Assistant City Manager Mike Bruckner, Interim Chief of Police Lt. Kevin Tiwari, Acting
Assistant Fire Chief Gerald Gonzales, Public Safety Manager Wayne Co, Public Safety Supervisor Mandy
Wong, and Management Analyst Jennifer Pineda. Their professionalism and dedication were instrumental
in ensuring that the Commission had all the resources and information it needed to reach its conclusions.
We thank them for their service.
Requesting Information
For general information regarding the Public Safety Commission, please contact the City Manager's
Office at (626) 569-2100 or visit the Public Safety Commission's webpage at cityofrosemead.or.
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