Item 6-H
Council Meeting: May 25, 1999 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Recommendation to Direct the City Attorney to Draft an Ordinance to Allow Public Safety Dispatchers (Communications Operator II) to Participate in Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST).
INTRODUCTION
This report recommends that the City Attorney be directed to prepare an ordinance which allows Public Safety Dispatchers (Communications Operator II) to participate in Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST).
BACKGROUND
The Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) adopts rules for the purpose of raising the level of competency and establishing minimum standards relating to recruiting and training of law enforcement staff, including Public Safety Dispatchers. For a City Police Department to participate in the POST program for Public Safety Dispatchers, the State requires that the City Council adopt an ordinance accepting the requirements of sections 13510(c) and 13512 of the California Penal Code. A certified copy of this ordinance is a requirement of section 13522 of the Penal Code if the City is to receive reimbursement for schools attended by Public Safety Dispatchers, and must be on file with POST.
The purpose of participating in the POST program is to assure that the Department
=s level of professionalism, training and recruitment procedures remain equal to those of other agencies throughout the State. It also allows the City to recover some of the costs involved in the training of dispatchers.The proposed ordinance would stipulate that the City accepts the requirements of sections 13510(c) and 13512 of the California Penal Code relative to the recruitment and training standards of Public Safety Dispatchers. Section 13510(c), Chapter 1, of Title 4, states that the City will adhere to the standards for recruitment and training established by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) for Public Safety Dispatchers. Section 13512, Chapter 1, states that the Commission and its representatives may make such inquires as deemed appropriate by the Commission to ascertain that the City of Santa Monica
=s public dispatcher personnel adhere to standards for selection and training established by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.The City will be required to adhere to POST guidelines which, in part, include a pre-employment medical screening and background investigation, a probationary period of no less than one year, and implementation of the POST skills assessment test to qualified applicants. Currently, the POST skills assessment test is being used for a fee; therefore, no current selection or testing practices would be changed.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The cost for medical exams for new employees annually, would be approximately $2,000. Funds are available in the department
=s operating budget. As a benefit of participation, POST will reimburse a portion of the City=s costs to train Public Safety Dispatchers. At this time it is difficult to project the amount of reimbursement for training. Reimbursement monies will vary based on the number of schools attended and POST=s reimbursement policies, which may change from year to year.RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council direct the City Attorney to draft an ordinance which would allow participation of Public Safety Dispatchers in the POST program.
Prepared by: James T. Butts, Jr., Chief of Police