Item Coversheet

Board Action Request
17-0054 R1
Revised

Item Description:
Expand the Joint Community Police Partnership (JCPP) to the City of Crystal
Resolution:

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Human Services and Public Health Department's 2017 expenditure budget be increased by $120,000, staffing complement be increased by 2.0 FTEs and the 2017 contingency budget be decreased by $120,000 to expand the Joint Community Police Partnership to the City of Crystal, be approved, and that the Controller be authorized to disburse funds as directed; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that staff is hereby directed to work with the JCPP Executive Committee to develop criteria for admitting future partners to the JCPP and analyze funding support from the current member cities and county.  The criteria and funding analysis will be provided to the County Board for review and consideration prior to considering additional cities for membership.

Background:

The Joint Community Police Partnership (JCPP) is a partnership between Hennepin County (HSPHD) and law enforcement jurisdictions to enhance communication and understanding between law enforcement and local cultural communities.  Currently the cities of Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Hopkins, St. Louis Park, Richfield, and Bloomington are members of the JCPP.  The Crystal City Council has authorized the Crystal Police Department to join the JCPP effective January 1, 2017, and staff are conducting initial work to implement the program in Crystal pending final approval of funding.

 

There are five key elements to the JCPP:

1.   A community liaison dedicated to each city by Hennepin County

2.   Establishment of a Multicultural Advisory Committee (a diverse group of community leaders representing many different ethnicities/nationalities that meets at least monthly with police command staff to advise on ongoing community policing practices).

3.   Recruitment and training of multicultural cadets and Community Service Officers.

4.   Cultural awareness training for law enforcement officers.

5.   Community trainings that include dialogues and Q & A sessions regarding the role of the police.

 

Currently, there is a half-time supervisor for the Hennepin County community liaisons.  This supervisor is also the community liaison half-time for Brooklyn Center.  The police chiefs of the current JCPP members and county staff have agreed that adding another community liaison will require a full-time supervisor.  In addition, Brooklyn Center was served by a full-time community liaison prior to the addition of a half-time supervisory position and the city has requested that their community liaison be returned to full-time status.

Moving to a full-time supervisor will require hiring a full-time community liaison for Brooklyn Center, as the current half-time supervisor/half-time community liaison will become the full-time supervisor.  HSPHD will fund this second full-time community liaison position out of its approved 2017 budget, but requests an FTE be approved for the position.  This request, therefore, includes 2 FTE's.