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1996 Annual Report
Office of Administrative Services

The Office of Administrative Services (OAS) is comprised of the Administrative Services Division and the Special Services Division.

Administrative Services Division

The Administrative Services Division encompasses three sections: Community Relations, Resource Development, and Jail and Custody.

The goal of the Community Relations Section is to foster a positive working relationship between the Department and the community. Through diversified programming, the section attempts to assist members of the community to recognize and take steps to eliminate or reduce crime risks. This year, the section expanded its crime prevention efforts through the addition of two crime prevention coordinators. Both employees bring years of previous City service and experience to their new positions. Working with senior staff members, the section was able to implement several new and innovative outreach activities as well as maintain and enhance its core crime prevention programs.

During the year, the successful Citizen's Academy completed two more sessions, bringing the total number of academy classes to five. Graduates from all of the classes have shown a keen interest in maintaining a bond with the Department. With staff support, an alumni association was formed for academy graduates which will enable alumni to assist the Department with numerous outreach efforts.

The Citizen's Self-Defense Course, started in 1995, proved to be one of the most popular programs the Department offers. Designed to educate citizens in self-defense skills and awareness of surroundings, 12 classes were offered during the year. Because of its popularity, classes will again be offered in1997. The Gun Suppression Plan again proved to be successful in curbing the discharge of firearms within the city on New Year's Eve. There were only three gun-related radio calls that night, and two of those were verified as firecrackers while the other was undetermined. As in 1995, a combination of efforts went into notifying the community of the hazards and punishments involved with such a crime. Special flyers were distributed door to door throughout the city, press releases were sent to all local news and print media, a special bulletin was distributed to all students within the school district, and all local churches and synagogues were given pamphlets explaining the dangers associated with gunfire on New Year's Eve.

During the month of October, the Community Relations Section hosted the first Community Safety Expo. The event was held at Santa Monica College. More than 35 local vendors participated along with the Fire Department, Red Cross and Santa Monica College Police. Free food and beverages were provided and numerous donated door prizes given away. Public attendance was estimated to be between 200 and 300. A second Community Expo is planned for early fall of 1997.

For the third consecutive year, the section organized and participated in National Night Out. The program focuses on combating local crime by supporting a vigorous "Neighborhood Watch" effort. A parade down the Third Street Promenade and refreshments in Palisades Park highlighted the event. Chief Butts addressed the supportive crowd of more than 250 and congratulated them for their continuing efforts to "take back the streets" and make Santa Monica a safe place to live. The Police Department received an awards plaque from the National Night Out Council recognizing the Department's involvement with the program.

Officer Joe Analco and Crime Prevention Coordinator Michael Cveyich received the Outstanding Crime Prevention Practitioner of the Quarter award from the California Crime Prevention Officers Association for the spring quarter. They were also honored by the Los Angeles County Office of Education with certificates of appreciation for providing the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District with effective crime prevention programs.

The Police Activities League (PAL) is a free citywide program for youth ages six to 17 years with an emphasis on reaching those at risk. Presently, more than 1,800 youths are registered, participating in an array of educational, cultural and recreational programs. Staff and volunteers work closely with the young people to build their self-esteem and develop skills and problem-solving capabilities. PAL is long-range community policing at its best and furthers the Department goals of reducing gang violence and drug use.

PAL sponsored a broad range of special events for the year. A highlight was the PAL Halloween Carnival where more than 4,000 youths and adults enjoyed an evening of fun and fright. The annual event provided a safe place to trick or treat, tour a haunted house, play games and compete in a costume contest. Other events included a holiday workshop with games and gifts from Santa Claus; spring and winter break programs with trips, computer contests and arts & crafts; and the Spring Faire at which there were egg decorating, crafts, games and a candy hunt. Trips were taken to amusement parks, sporting and cultural events, and there was a camping trip to the snow in Big Bear. Regular programming included cooking, ceramics, volleyball, tennis, computers, aerobics, dance and the publication of a quarterly newsletter written by PAL youth. The newsletter contains articles, poetry, quotes and photos.

A boy's baseball team and a girl's softball team participated in the CAL-PAL state tournaments. Santa Monica PAL hosted the CAL-PAL basketball tournament at which the Santa Monica PAL 16-years and under team won the state championship. The team traveled to Atlantic City to represent California in the National PAL basketball tournament. The trip to the East Coast gave team members the opportunity to see many sights in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.

Other sports activities included karate belt ceremonies in which 50 youths participated and more than 30 earned new belts. Also, PAL's 7/8 grade flag football team competed in the Youth Flag Football League, and, for the second year in a row, won the championship.

During the summer, a free lunch program was offered at the center. Santa Monica/Malibu Unified School District staff prepared 1,559 lunches at Santa Monica High School and delivered them to PAL where they were served to children from the community. PAL staff also delivered 10 donated turkey dinners to selected PAL families on Thanksgiving Day and 20 donated food boxes on December 22.

The Virginia Avenue Project hosted "The Butler Did It" at UCLA's Little Theater. Sixteen of the children from the Creative Dramatics Class performed with professional artists in short one-act plays that had been written by adults. The children and adults traveled to Ojai and spent a week at Thatcher School rehearsing for the performance.

PAL also sponsored a recognition luncheon at the DC 3 restaurant to thank all of the community and Police Department volunteers who helped make PAL a success throughout the year. Their generous donation of time, in-kind gifts and financial support are greatly appreciated and make PAL the dynamic and effective program it has become.

The Resource Development Section recruits, screens and hires qualified police officers and police cadet candidates. Other responsibilities of the section include conducting background investigations on new employees, updating the Department's Manual of Policy and Procedures and the Field Training Officer Manual, identifying training needs, implementing training goals, and ensuring that all training is conducted in accordance with legal mandates, statutes and regulations.

During 1996, 11 police officers who were laterals from other agencies were hired and staff oversaw the completion of 34 background investigations of prospective, non-sworn employees. In July 1996, the City Council authorized an increase of sworn personnel from 196 to 208. To fill these vacancies, there was an open application process for lateral police officers and pre-service candidates. Testing began in November and, at year end, 12 lateral candidates were in the background phase of the employment process. Assertive recruitment and hiring are needed to fill positions.

Training is a primary purpose of the section. To impact the Department's goals on suppression of narcotics activity and gang violence, the section sent 19 officers to narcotics schools and 17 officers to gang awareness training. In addition to the Department's goals, the Training Unit's objective of sending all sworn personnel to the Emergency Vehicle Operation Course progressed satisfactorily. Fourteen officers attended the advanced officers driving course sponsored by the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department.

Other training activities for sworn and non-sworn personnel included: the scheduling and completion of mandated CPR/first aid requirements, 24 hours of Peace Officers Standards of Training (POST) mandated defensive tactics, a four-hour curriculum of taser training for supervisors, and a 16-hour session on ethics and community policing.

The Range Section provided officers with firearms training and monthly qualifications with the 9mm and shotgun. Training involved the use of the standard qualification course and the International Combat Arms and Tactics system.

The Jail and Custody Section maintains custody of suspects until arraignment in court, transfer to county facilities or other disposition. During 1996, the jail personnel completed 5,852 bookings. That number included processing 1,450 felony and 4,276 misdemeanor arrestees and 151 juvenile detainees.

The section operates under the close security of the Los Angeles County Health Services and the Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Court. All inspections and surveys found the jail facility to be in compliance with requisite guidelines governing arrestee meals, medical screening and juvenile detention.

The Jail Manager received a certification of appreciation from the Board of Corrections. The certificate was for outstanding achievement in complying with mandated selection and training standards for jail personnel under the Standards and Training Correction Program.

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