Item 8DAGENDA ITEM # 8D
MARCH 23, 2009
Atlantic Beach
Police Department
2008 Annual report
Highlights
The Police Department, along with all City Departments, has prioritized its efforts
towards the Mayport Corridor Improvement Plan. There are 2 Police Officers that make
up the Community Oriented Policing unit assigned full-time to the Mayport Corridor. In
December we were able to team up with JSO and they also committed to assigning 2
officers for their portion of the corridor.
The unit has been operational since mid August. The officers spend the majority of time
doing bike and foot patrols making contact with residents and businesses in the corridor.
They attend the majority of meetings in the corridor such as the Mayport community
meetings, Business Association meetings, Neighborhood Watch meetings and attended
special events such as Movie in the Park and the Fall Festival. The officers are certified
in police bicycle operations and one has completed a class in Crime Prevention Through
Environmental Design (OPTED).
The increased concentration to the area is already producing dramatic results. For
example there has been a 41% decrease in violent crime in the Mayport Corridor in 2008
from 2007. There was a 12% reduction in traffic accidents on Mayport Road. There has
been a big decrease in the transient population through a combined effort of the COPs
unit and the Sulzbacher Center. Most, if not all, of the homeless camps have been
removed. The prostitution problem has drastically declined as well. Monthly counts are
taken and in the last month of the year the average was .09 sightings per day. Most have
moved to another area or quit working.
Crime
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has not yet officially released the 2008
annual crime stats for all jurisdictions in the state. However, we were able to obtain the
annual stats from the other beach cities. Annual crime stats were not yet available from
Jacksonville or the state.
Location AB NB JB Jax Florida
Per Capita 38.53 48.43 76.71 Not Not
Crime Rate Available Available
2008
Per Capita 43.19 50.47 72.22 62.71 46.94
Crime Rate
2007
AGENDA ITEM # 8D
MARCH 23, 2009
As shown in the table above, Atlantic Beach continues to have the lowest per capita
crime rate of all of the beach cities. In addition, based upon past years and the 2008
semiannual reports it is suspected that we will continue to be lower than Jacksonville and
the State as well. Atlantic Beach had a 10.7% drop in crime for 2008 when compazed to
2007. Neptune Beach had a 4% decrease and Jacksonville Beach had a 6.2% increase.
The 2008 semiannual report showed Jacksonville and the State both were reporting
increases as well.
There were decreases in virtually every category of part 1 crimes. Rape, Robbery and
Aggravated Assault were down 37%, 11% and 40% respectively. This is a city wide
reduction in violent crime of 32%. There has been a 23% decrease in the amount of
property stolen year to date in 2008, which equates to $194,741. 'The recovery rate
continues to be high at 38% or $237,129.
Productivity
The department continues to experience a high volume of calls for service. Although the
numbers for 2008 are down from 2007, there were still significant increases from prior
years. Traffic citations are down from 2007, which is somewhat attributable to staff
shortages. However, accidents also decreased 10%, which is a strong indicator of a
successful traffic enforcement program. Arrests were at an all time high for the
department going back to at least 1985. There was an increase of 10% while at the same
time a 10% decrease in crime from 2007. DUI arrests were up an amazing 45% from
2007 and 110% from 2006.
The Crime Suppression Unit (CSU) continues to be very productive with 217 arrests in
2008. This is a 39% increase from 2007 and a 50% increase from 2006. They aze
aggressively conducting alcohol compliance checks on a monthly basis and have charged
24 individuals with violations during the year. Prostitution arrests for 2008 were up 40%,
however, the vast majority of those were "Johns" who tried to solicit an undercover
officer during a deployment. The fact that most arrests were on the males, correlates with
the large reduction in sightings reported in the "Highlights" section above.
Animal Control reported increases in activity from the prior yeaz. Citations increased
18% and Dog Bites decreased 18%. This is another example of a successful enforcement
program. They have impounded more animals and answered more calls, but the public is
safer as demonstrated by the reduction of bites.
Personnel
At the end 2008 the Police Department had 4 vacancies for police officers and 2
vacancies for civilian positions. Recruitment and selection were elevated to a very high
priority and at the time of this report, all vacancies within the Department have been
AGENDA ITEM # 8D
MARCH 23, 2009
filled. We aze cautiously optimistic that we will maintain a better staffing level in 2009,
which will allow us to more effectively carry out our mission.
We have been doing succession planning for the past two years knowing that we would
have retirements and advancement opportunities in 2008 and into 2009. An informal
mentoring program was initiated and employees who had a desire and the ability to
advance were sent to specialized schools and allowed to work in other azeas for a more
well rounded base of experience. During 2008 and at the time of this report two Sergeants
were promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.
Further 4 Sergeant promotions have been made two from the inside and two were hired
from other agencies. Six promotions during such a short time frame is remarkable when
considering the Department only has 9 supervisory positions not counting the Chief.
Additional mandatory retirements will occur during 2009, which will result in 3 more
promotions. This means that within a 2 yeaz period of time, there will have been a 100%
complete change over in the supervisors and managers within the Department.
Training
The Department is deeply committed to providing quality training to all of its employees.
Employees attended job related training in the following topics:
• Leadership/Supervision
• Recruitment and Background Investigations
• DUI Enforcement
• Field Sobriety Testing Instruction
• Criminal Investigative Techniques
• Sex Crimes Investigations
• Interviews and Interrogations
• Safe and Legal Traffic Stops
• Police Cyclist
• Taser Instructor
• Criminal Patrol
• Verbal Judo
• Animal Control
• Firearms
• Defensive Tactics
• Use of Force
Advanced training keeps employees current and on the cutting edge of Public Safety
techniques, trends and strategies. The Department believes a better trained employee
results in the delivery of a higher quality of service. The above list does not include
classes taken by the employees who are enrolled in various degree programs. The
department currently has two people who have recently obtained their Masters Degrees
and a number of others enrolled in undergraduate programs.
AGENDA ITEM # 8D
MARCH 23, 2009
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