Agenda Item 8AAGENDA ITEM # 8A
FEBRURAY 28, 2011
Atlantic Beach
Police Department
010Report
Highlights
The Police Department, along with all City Departments, has continued to prioritize its
efforts towards the Mayport Corridor Improvement Plan. The COPS officers recently
completed a residential survey in the Mayport Corridor. There were a total of 232
residents surveyed from all parts of the corridor.
Seventy four percent of those surveyed reported that there were no problems in their
neighborhood. Of those who did report a problem, traffic topped the list. Eighty two
percent replied that they see the police daily or frequently. Sixty eight percent felt that
there was a low frequency of crime. Seventy percent of the residents said they used city
parks with Russell Park leading, followed by Donner and Jordan respectively.
The overall results of the survey appeared very positive. Previous surveys indicated a
high level of complaints regarding drugs, prostitution and transients. In this survey, only
a few residents even mentioned those things as a concern. This shift in survey results
confirms what one can observe in the corridor on a daily basis as compared to 2 -3 years
ago. It is believed that this is a direct benefit of, and closely correlated to, the Mayport
Corridor Project and its initiatives.
A crime analysis, specific to the corridor, was completed following the first full year of
the project (2009). The evaluation revealed that when compared to 2008, there was an
incredible 25% (from 271 to 203) decrease in Part I crimes which includes murder, rape,
robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft. The level of
decrease far exceeded the department's expectations. The challenge for 2010 was to
maintain the 2009 decrease. The total number of Part I crimes in 2010 was also 203,
exactly the same as 2009. In the Mayport Corridor there was a 33% decrease in the
violent crime last year, down from 51 in 2009 to 34 for 2010.
The Atlantic Beach Police Department continues to have an exceptional emergency
response time. The average emergency response time for 2010 was I minute 47 seconds.
Crime
City wide, there was an 8% decrease in Part I crimes in 2010 as compared to 2009 (from
531 to 490). This drop in crime represents the lowest crime rate in more than a decade.
Violent crime in 2010 fell from 82 in 2009 to 73 in 2010, or I 1 %. The largest decreases
were in aggravated assaults and larceny. Auto accidents also fell from 278 to 240 or 14 %.
AGENDA ITEM # 8A
FEBRURAY 28, 201 I
The state publishes crime rates for all jurisdictions semi annually and annually. Atlantic
Beach has traditionally had the lowest crime rate per capita for all of Duval County.
Although the annual crime reports have not been published at the time of this report,
Atlantic Beach did have the lowest crime rate for the first half of 2010.
Productivity
Calls for service in 2010 were virtually identical to 2009 levels 29,889 and 30,005
respectively. Arrests were down slightly, but some of this is attributable to the decreased
crime rate. In 2010 the department made 324 DUI arrests which is the most of any of the
beach cities.
The Crime Suppression Unit (CSU) and Investigations Division continue to be very
productive. The department has over a 28% clearance rate which means more than 1 out
of every 4 crimes is solved. Atlantic Beach has typically been on the upper end of the
spectrum in this category. CSU made 10 alcohol deployment arrests in 2010. Detectives
are conducting alcohol compliance checks on almost a monthly basis and the compliance
rate has increased dramatically compared to past years.
Animal Control had an increase in the number of calls from 2,380 in 2009 to 2,647 in
2010. Citations are up slightly in 2010 when compared to 2009 (275 to 293). The ACO's
conduct monthly beach surveys to measure leash law compliance. The average
compliance rate for 2010 is 83 %.
Personnel
Currently the Police Department has four vacancies for police officer and applicants are
being processed for those positions. All other divisions in the department are fully
staffed.
Training
The Department is deeply committed to providing quality training to all its employees. In
the first three quarters of 2010, employees have attended training in the following topics.
• Leadership /Supervision — Several classes
• Police Applicant Background Investigation
• Officer Bill of Rights and Discipline
• Computer training in Microsoft Office
• Field Training Officer
• Radar /Laser Training
• Communication Center Supervision Training
• Dispatch Field Training Officer
• Animal Control Certification
0 Interviews and Interrogations
AGENDA ITEM # 8A
FEBRURAY 28, 2011
• Firearms- training and qualifications
• Police Cyclist
• Property and Evidence Room Management
• Instructor Certification
• Emotional Intelligence
• Dealing with Difficult People
• Public Records Management
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 college degree programs. One
officer received their Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice this year.
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