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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDECEMBER 19,1995 I I I ]; : l' ; 0 ~ OncJ -, u I 'J/rI7 ~ ~c CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS ARE TAPE RECORDED AND ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK ROLL CALL 1. 2. 3. 4. DISCUSSION OF POLICE DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES 0/0 _ ~(l AI J'r MINUTES CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA ! and the ARCADIA REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING DECEMBER 19, 1995 The City Council and the Arcadia Redevelopment Agency met in an adjourned regular meeting at 6:02 p. m., Tuesday, December 19,'-1995 in the Conference Room of the Arcadia City Hall Council Chamber. . :,. PRESENT: ABSENT: Councilmembers Kuhn, Ulrich, Young and Lojeski Councilmember Chang (arrived at 6:05 p.m.) On MOTION by Mayor Pro tern Kuhn, seconded by Councilmember Ulrich and CARRIED on roll call vote as follows, Councilmember Chang was EXCUSED, SUPPLEMENT AL INFORMATION FROM STAFF REGARDING AGENDA REPORTSI ANNOUNCEMENTSlST A TEMENTS In response to a question from Mayor Lojeski, the City Attorney replied that questions and/or discussions of ballot arguments can be taken up during the "Matters from Elected Officials" segment of the 7:00 p. m. meeting this evening. QUESTIONS FROM CITY COUNCILIREDEVELOPMENT AGENCY REGARDING CLARIFICATION OF AGENDA ITEMS. None AUDffiNCEPARTIC~ATION None Police Chief Ronnie Gamer presented a report on the Arcadia Police Department activities. Chief Gamer stated in part that his job with the Arcadia Police Department is to lead, guide and direct the Department into the twe!lty-first century. He cannot do that from a reactive posture; he will have to think proactively. He must look ahead at trends and events, and what is coming up in the future of Arcadia. Looking ahead at trends and events to see what is coming up in the future of Arcadia will enable the Department to plan for it so that the officers are capable of handling it. A philosophy 12/19/95 37:~)J-:2 that people can identitY with is needed, one that they can understand, embrace, accept and move forward with. He outlined things he has learned and the way the profession has changed in the last twenty years, as well as where the City is going with it. When Chief Gamer started back in 1970, in the parlance of the day there was a very clear philosophy, and the job involved only one thing which was to put the bad guys in jail, and the police did that job very well, An assumption was that those put in jail stayed in jail which made the community safer and police accomplished that objective. As we've moved into the 90's we have learned that bad guys don't stay in jail. Recycling the criminals through these institutions only makes better criminals, who are harder to catch the next time, In 1970 there were 196,000 people in the United States in prison; in 1980 the figure was 315,000; in 1985, 480,000; in 1990 739,000; and last year 1,012,000. We have more people incarcerated in our country than any free country on earth, Each year the net increase continues to grow. As we see the impact of "three strikes" in the near future, instead of increasing on a linear line, there will be a big jump because fewer people will be getting out of prison. Today 4.9 million people are under some form of correctional supervision - parole, probation or in prison. Today the average time served for murder is eight years; robbery, five years; rape, three years, three months. This impacts the deterrent effect. on criminals. Overall U,S. crime statistics seem to be favorable, with the exception of one category - that of juvenile crime. In the last six years juvenile homicide is up over 100%. From 1983 to 1992 in California, juvenile arrests for violent crime increased 75%; juvenile assault crime increased over 100%; homicides by juveniles increased from 286 to 645. In 1984, 62% of juvenile homicides involved a gun; in 1992, 83% of juvenile homicides involved a gun; and in 1993".95% involved a gun. California has 11% of the juvenile population of the United States; 25% of the arrests are for juvenile homicide. The reason for that is the availability of handguns. Sociologists also cite the breakdown of the two parent family. In the 60's 10% of all births were to unmarried women; in the 90's 30% of births are to unmarried women. In California the illegitimacy rate among teenagers has increased from 44% to 73%. When there is a single parent family, more often than not the unmarried female has to raise the child, is unable to work, and must be supported by the State. 90% of children from unsafe, unstable homes become delinquents, Less than that 6% of those delinquents perpetrate most of the violent crime in the State. 74% of juveniles who carry guns do SO to protect themselves against that 6%. Many of these juveniles who kill, do SO because they are frightened - they live live in neighborhoods which have been devastated by crack cocaine and degradation; they arm themselves for no other reason that for self defense, As a result, fights that once might have been settled with fists or clubs are now settled by guns. We do not have that particular situation in Arcadia, but we are impacted by it because those gang neighborhoods where they have the crack cocaine, and where they live by the gun, are within driving distance of our City. Since we have a very mobile society, weare severely impacted by that I I The projections for the future, if we let things continue as they are, are not rosy, By the year 2004, the California juvenile population will increase by 20%. Most of the homicides occur in the age group from II and 17, and the numbers in that age range will increase 33%. Juvenile arrests will increase 29% if they stay proportional. Juvenile arrests for violent crimes will increase 62%. By a recent quote from the Council on Criminal Justice: "our juvenile justice system is an abject failure, and has failed at a time when most traditional institutions have become irrelevant to large segments of our youth". We used to depend upon institutions like the church, the YMCA, and the family itself to give our children some basic values. Those institutions don't mean anything to our youth any more. We have failed in raising them. Where we used to teach citizenship and the responsibilities of citizenship, the kids now learn that they have rights, and they are more concerned about the rights than about the responsibilities. I 2 12/19/95 :'-"'l".:"," 1 ~ . ~ . ~,~., , , 37: 'j 36~ I We have to go back to the basics and teach them the responsibilities of citizenship. and the value of human life ... very basic things that are being ignored today. MIllions of dollars are being spent on honest. but misguided efforts to rehabilitate young offenders who are already into a life of crime. This money is better spent on the innocents - the five' to ten year olds who are not yet in trouble. and who will truly benefit from our precious and limited resources. This is the result of a study done of all the juvenile programs in the State which are aimed at the fifteen to eighteen age group, The programs will 110( impact those kids, They are already in gangs; are already hardened; they don't want help; don't want to hear about it. They already have a life style. The money is better spent on young children five to ten years old who are impressionable; who we can teach; who will still listen. Chief Gamer then presentCd a video describing in considerable detail the youth crime problems and discussing the dangers of denial of these problems. and the fact that the percentages will only increase as time goes by. It pointed out that our present system of dealing with crime is very costly, and is not working. This is the cost of denial. The video also presented some measures that government and police departments throughout California have implemented, as well as suggestions for possible additional solutions. One of the most valuable measures has proven to be the Community Oriented Policing Programs (COPPS). which places police officers in the community and, In some instances, in the schools to establish a relationship of trust. especially on the part of the yoUnger children. This program has been seeing some success. Society must invest in such programs with the aim of deterring youth from going the wrong way. Instead of investing in bigger jails, we must invest in parks, in communications, in schools, etc. In the long term such investments will payoff. I Chief Gamer is concerned about tbe youth of Arcadia, because we are in the greater Los Angeles and crime visits Arcadia. Some gang members actual1y live in Arcadia; solicit in Arcadia schools. We have to prepare the kids to say "no"; to know that it is not cool to be a gang member, it's 110( good to use drugs. We are starting at fifth grade with D AR.E. If we can get to the children when they are starting to be recruited, they will not be as susceptible as they are now, The community will have to provide programs for them so they can occupy their minds and their time. The Police Department alone cannot do this, the rest of the community has to be involved. Chief Gamer noted that here in Arcadia the community policing program is called PAC.E. 2000, This IS a matter of sharing resowces and establishing partnerships with people in the community, and putting things together to solve problems as a group. Chief Gamer gave as an example the "Adopt A School" program, and noted the efforts of Officer Jim Blackwell, with tbe support of Captain Hinig, at the Foothill Middle School. Chief Gamer also noted that the HAM Watch and Neighborhood Watches have been successful. There are plans for a School Resource Officer for the high school; a Citizen Academy Program which involves R.S. V.P, (Retired Seniors Volunteer Patrol); and a program to council young offenders wben they are filSl-time offenders. I CounciImember Chang said it is his opinion that the biggest problems are in the high school, rather than tbe middle schools. Chief Gamer said they bave not given up on the high school age stUdents, but it is important to reach the ten year olds, In response to a question from CounciImember Young, Chief Gamer said the gang recruiting occurs at the high school level. In response to questions from Mayor Lojeski, Chief Gamer responded that in comparison to some cities, the Arcadia Police Department is undermanned, At the present time the Department is down three people and six are in training. The Department is consistently recruiting. Mayor Lojeski said that he would o 3 12/19/95 3; : IJj ;1) expect the Police Cluef to come to Council and communicate problems and needs. Council has always been responsive to its Police Department. ADJOU~'MENT At6:55 p. m. the Adjourned Regular meeting ADJOURNED sine die. I ATTEST: ayor of the City of Arcadia ~f~d~~ I I 4 12119/95