City Budget Cuts: Glendora PD Turns to Technology, Civilian Officers

Faced with a , nearly a quarter of the proposed reductions were made to the

For the department, which makes up about more than half of the city budget, $225,000 in cuts were made, with most of the reductions made to its personnel staff – two code enforcement officers and one records specialist.

Cutting anymore would undermine the department’s ability to provide the kind of 24-7 public safety the residents of Glendora expects, said Police Chief Rob Castro.

“We looked at what we reduced from the department within the last 8 years or so and what else we can cut that would have the least impact on our primary mission,” said Castro. “That is to respond to emergency calls and provide immediate public safety and emergency services.”

For a department that has whittled down from 102 full-time staff to 85 employees over the years, the department has turned to technology and unsworn officers to fill the void of available manpower.

A leaning toward technology has eliminated the record specialist position, which was responsible for data entry of citations and tickets. The department will purchase hand-held devices for its police officers that would allow them to automatically input and file citation and ticket information once they have been issued.

The benefits are not only financial, but the new technology will improve the department’s efficiency, said Castro.

The department is also encouraging residents to utilize its website to report minor incidents or safety issues to reduce calls of service to the dispatchers. A new online service will also allow residents request a police report.

The two eliminated code enforcement officer positions were funded through the now defunct community redevelopment agency and the significantly reduced Community Development Block Grant.

Castro said the police department had been considering eliminating code enforcement for some time -- which monitors municipal and building code violations. Instead, the department has decided to share the responsibilities of code enforcement with other departments including Planning and Community Services.

City staff would be able to write warnings and citations for violations, while a third party contractor would follow up and collect unpaid fees, said Castro.

“Code enforcement is important – but when we look at the primary mission of what we have to do, it’s not the most critical in terms of everyday life and safety issues that come up,” said Castro.

The department is also relying on its team of 33 civilian staff, including full-time volunteers who assist in what would have been traditionally a sworn officer’s duties. Volunteers, including members of the Auxiliary Police, have taken part in patrols, house checks and other minor calls of service. Community service officers have reported injury accidents, collected crime scene investigation data and coordinated DUI task force campaigns.

However, Castro said the from overcrowded jails during a time when police departments are stretched thin will have an overwhelming impact on public safety.

Most of these prisoners are convicted of low-level, non-violent crimes, most of the types of crimes committed in Glendora. With the number of increasing slightly over the years, Castro said the problem can get worse.

“Some of the people we arrest, who normally would have been held longer in a state prison, are back out from jail within a number of weeks,” said Castro.