HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-12-05 PD CAC MINUTESRoxana Kennedy
Chief of Police
MEMBERS:
Ray Aragon
Martin Barros
Gustavo Bidart
Norma Cazares
Patty Chavez
Takisha Corbett
Jose de la Garza
Henrietta Harb
Marla Kingkade
Peter Mabrey
Anthony Millican
Gerry Sablan
STAFF:
Captain Vern Sallee
Captain Phil Collum
Captain Eric Thunberg
ASM Jonathan Alegre
DCA Carol Trujillo
SAS Cathy Miller
AMENDED MINUTES
A REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
CHULA VISTA POLICE DEPARTMENT
315 FOURTH AVENUE
CHULA VISTA, CA 91910
CALL TO ORDER: 5:00 PM
ROLL CALL:
Community Room
December 5, 2019
5:00 PM
Present: Ray Aragon, Norma Cazares, Patty Chavez, Takisha Corbett, Jose de la
Garza, Henri Harb, Marla Kingkade and Anthony Millican
Not Present: Martin Barros, Gustavo Bidart, Peter Mabrey and Gerry Sablan
City Staff Present: Roxana Kennedy, Eric Thunberg, Vern Sallee, Jonathan
Alegre, Joseph Walker, Carol Trujillo and Cathy Miller
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
No public comments.
1. Approval of minutes of October 2, 2019 minutes.
Motion to approve the October 2, 2019 was made by CAC member de la
Garza and seconded by CAC member Cazares. CAC member Aragon and
CAC member Chavez abstained. Motion tabled due to lack of quorum after
abstention.
2. Chief's Comments: Welcomed members and discussed:
Update on Open Data Initiatives: Since December 2016, the chief is pleased to
announce the hiring of 72 officers; 24 laterals; 36 professional staff and 62
promotions.
She introduced Supervising Public Safety Analyst Joseph Walker who has
created the open data initiative to build community trust through transparency.
Included in the data is demographics, citizen complaints, press logs, crime and
disorder, transient activity, traffic collision and much more. Working on a
School Resource Officer page and adding the domestic violence protocol. SPSA
Walker and his analyst team also uses this as an outreach tool to the
councilmembers so they can distribute to their constituents. The GMOC
website also includes response times and educating the public. Response times
have decreased with Priority One calls being answered within 6 minutes.
1
The School Resource Officer dashboard will highlight how the department can serve the
community better; and what their mission is. The data will be built around growing trends.
Included in the dashboard will be Youtube resources (videos on bullying etc.). CAC member
Cazares thought it would be beneficial to a community forum, along with social media blasts
and the school district. She recommended most schools have a parent night where an app or
information could be shared. If an app is available, it would be beneficial to include resources
should a homeless student access it.
CAC member Millican could be a liaison to the schools to share a paragraph in the district letter
regarding this information. It could also include P3tips, the anonymous hotline which has
proven successful. P3tips is monitored through SDPD and will be forwarded to the right agency.
Within the agency it might go to the SRO unit, dispatch or the watch commander.
SPSA Walker continued with the presentation on multiple dashboards and discussed maps that
pinpoint complaints. CAC member Kingkade asked if 290s are shown on this map, which they
are not. CAC member Cazares asked about the domestic violence data is on webpage. General
rather than specific details will be on the webpage. The department demographics are updated
once a month. The press log is now available which shows calls for service. CAC members were
asked to practice accessing information and giving SPSA Walker feedback. CAC member Aragon
asked to include a link so suggestions could be made. SPSA Walker will review to see if a link
could be included for suggestion feedback.
Update on UAS (Drones): Captain Sallee thanked the CAC for being a vital part to reach out to
the community regarding the drones and how successful the program has become. CVPD has
flown 1144 missions. CAC members were shown 2 videos on how vital the Drones as First
Responders (DFR) is, as well as using it as a de-escalation tool. One was a national video
depicting a tragedy because first responders who did not have enough information, and the
other was a CVPD response to a call for service to a gun call where the suspect was taken into
custody without incident. With the use of the DFR, Officers are able to be staged in areas; PERT
is able to respond; and outcomes are better because there is more information available to
officers, which decreases the need to use force. The drone pilots are experienced officers who
can set perimeters and work with responding officers. CAC member Aragon asked how high
the drone was flying regarding the gun call. Drones usually fly 100' to 200' and can go as high
as 400'. Drones are more accessible and less expensive for smaller cities to deploy since
helicopters are limited due to cost ($5 million) and flight cost ($1 thousand).
CAC member Corbett asked who the opposing groups were for police surveillance and if they
have watched the drones as first responders' video. Opposing groups have included ACLU and
Black Lives Matter. CVPD is working with Assembly Member Weber's office to showcase the
program. Chief Kennedy and Captain Sallee have recently presented to the International Police
Chiefs Association with great success. This valuable program helps the community and officers
stay safe.
CAC member Kingkade asked if the drones can be flown by cell phones. The program has one
pilot and one drone observer. The equipment is computer based with a dispatcher's headset
2
and foot pedal. Other countries such as Norway and Brazil are using the drone programs and
the hope is to show the positive effects with police response when using them. CVPD has the
support of FAA. Website captures every flight from the past 24 hours. Community can review
to see best practices.
CA Trujillo reminded CAC members that at the start of the drone program in 2015, CVPD
interacted with the ACLU for transparency and get input.
CAC Corbett discussed that over time, members of the community had concerns and
apprehensions about the potential abuse of this program and that there may be history of
similar abuses. CAC member Corbett suggested the police department invite different
organizations and advocacies to dialogue with the police department to acknowledge and
address those concerns and apprehensions so the Chula Vista Police Department could prevent
any abuse of this particular program. CAC Corbett said this was a great program. Captain Sallee
encouraged CAC members to use their voice if they hear opposition and share their insight. CAC
member Kingkade suggested a presentation to the National Alliance on Mental Illness so families and
advocates can understand. CAC member Chavez mentioned how she could understand how some
community members would think they were being watched by law enforcement. Captain Sallee
reinforced the program is used as a drone as first response to calls for service. CAC member de la Garza
asked what happens when the program expires and if you can hear the drones. CVPD would like the
program to continue (ends 10/2020 with the FAA). The drone can be heard up to 150' in the air. CAC
member Corbett expressed how well CVPD works with the community and if the department could
share with other agencies. CVPD is reaching out to Dr. Weber's office to show drone usage. CAC
members also were encouraged to be advocates to the community on the way the department uses the
drones.
Update on news articles: CAC member Cazares was thanked for forwarding an article from the
Sacramento Bee stating CVPD misused CLETS a government database in 2018. The article stated
backgrounds were run on retired sworn personnel who requested a CCW. The department was running
checks on all requests to ensure there were no felonies for applicants. The violation was corrected, and
the department is in compliance. The second article was on becoming a welcoming city, which Chula
Vista is now certified as #2. CAC member Cazares shared meeting a Turkish family who spoke highly of
the department and the city.
The chief reminded members about the holiday meal giveaway on 12/17/19 and all are
welcome to attend. 500 families will be able to have food, bicycles and toys. The meals will be
a full turkey dinner.
The award ceremony will be 05/07/2020 at 11:30 and a fundraiser golf tournament is
scheduled for 06/08/2020. 09/26/2020 will be Evening with Heroes and additional information
will be sent on location and time.
Chief Kennedy will be the president of the San Diego County Chiefs' & Sheriff's Association as
well as a member at large on the CAL Chiefs board of directors.
3
3. Officer Wellness: Captain Thunberg discussed a tool the department uses "Cordico",
purchased by the Police Foundation and the City which is a wellness app as well as the
department having a peer support team that is available 24/7, 365 days a year to help with
officers' emotional and physical needs. The Foundation also purchased a BBQ Pavilion to
encourage camaraderie and wellness.
4. Crime Stats: SPSA Walker displayed available dashboards and showed east side activity in the
mall (cell phone theft). Aggravated assaults have increased due to the expensive phones
carried by youth. Hope to reestablish the satellite office to decrease crime and have a CSO
available for reports. $950 is the value limit for misdemeanor theft, which is a citable offense.
Measure A has increased officers and will increase with 4 additional traffic officers, 4 school
resource officers and 2 more patrol officers.
Next Door is a social media platform for sharing information in community neighborhoods.
Although it is a community platform the community is reminded to call police to report a crime.
The meeting concluded at 6:27 hours and everyone was wished an enjoyable holiday season.
Next meeting will be 03/05/2020.
Cathy Mill , Sr. Administrative Secretary
:i