City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: 12-06-10 Item Number: _C-2
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM: Introduction of an Ordinance Accepting the
Requirements of the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training
(P.O.S.T.) Relating to the Recruitment and Training of Public Safety Dispatchers
Contact Person/Dept.:
Sgt. Bill Browne/Police Department
Phone Number:
(310) 253- 6212
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [x] Date: _______________
Public Notification: Meetings and Agendas – City Council ( (12/02/10).
Department Approval: 11/18/10
Don Pedersen (11/18/10)
City Attorney Approval:
Carol Schwab (by L. Vidra 11/22/10)
Chief Financial Officer Approval:
Jeff Muir (by M. Noller) (12/01/10)
City Manager Approval:
John M. Nachbar (12/02/10)
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council introduce a proposed ordinance accepting the
requirements of the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.)
relating to the recruitment and training of public safety dispatchers.
BACKGROUND:
On July 1, 1990, the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training
(P.O.S.T.) established a certificate program for Public Safety Dispatchers. The
purpose was to raise the level of competency and to establish rules of minimum
standards related to recruitment and training for Public Safety Dispatchers. Currently
there are 376 departments/agencies statewide that participate in the POST Dispatcher
program.
DISCUSSION:
Staff is proposing that the Culver City Police Department (CCPD) enter its
Communications Unit into the P.O.S.T Public Safety Dispatcher Training Program. To
do so, there are two requirements that must be met.
First, a letter from the Chief of Police must be written and sent to the Executive
Director of P.O.S.T. stating the desire and intention to bring the CCPD
Communications Unit into the Public Safety Dispatcher Program. Second, the Culver City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
CityCity Council must adopt an ordinance accepting the requirements of Penal Code
Sections 13510(c) and 13512, relative to the recruitment and training standards of
Public Safety Dispatchers (Attachment A is the proposed ordinance; Attachment B
contains the relevant Penal Code sections). It is not necessary that this ordinance be
codified into the Culver City Municipal Code.
Once these requirements are met, each newly hired dispatcher will be required to
attend the P.O.S.T. 120 hour basic dispatcher course within one year of being hired.
All current dispatchers who have not attended the course will not be required to attend
the 120 hour course, but may attend at the discretion of the CCPD.
However, the Department intends to send all of CCPD’s current dispatchers to the
training so they can benefit by the latest training and updates. The schedule for this
will be dependent upon the availability of overtime to cover their absences.
As previously stated, the purpose for P.O.S.T. creating a certificate program was to
establish higher standards for recruitment and training standards for Public Safety
Dispatchers.
Currently, the vast majority of agencies in California, including Santa Monica Police,
Beverly Hills Police, El Segundo Police, and Los Angeles Police Departments, as well
as the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, all participate in the P.O.S.T.
dispatchers’ certificate training program.
Staff believes that entering the CCPD Communications Unit into the certificate
program will add additional expertise to the unit, as well as allow the City’s
Dispatchers to attend certified training on a recurring basis. The training will enhance
their ability to perform their duties and provide a better quality of service to the officers,
as well as to the residents and business owners of the community they serve.
Additionally, by entering into the P.O.S.T. program, the City will be entitled to
reimbursement of certain costs incurred for sending a dispatcher to a P.O.S.T.
certified training course. This is a benefit the City is currently not afforded as a result
of not being entered into the certificate program.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
If a dispatcher takes the basic 120 hour, P.O.S.T. certified dispatcher course
reimbursable expenses for the training would include a per diem and travel expenses
(mileage). Expenses such asovertime backfill, lodging, and course tuition are not
reimbursable. Whenever possible, CCPD makes every effort to find training close to
Culver City. The average course tuition is approximately $63.00 for the entire 120
hours.
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
While dispatchers are away at training it may be necessary to fill the vacancies with
overtime.
The Department plans to utilize existing overtime and training resources to cover any
vacant shifts. Therefore, there will be no effect on the current fiscal year budget.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Proposed Ordinance
2. Penal Code
MOTION:
That the City Council:
Introduce an Ordinance accepting the requirements of the Commission on Peace
Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) relating to the recruitment and training of
public safety dispatchers.
MEETING DATE: December 6, 2010
AGENDA ITEM: Introduction of an Ordinance Accepting the Requirements
of the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.)
Relating to the Recruitment and Training of Public Safety Dispatchers
ATTACHMENTS
Pages|109| Proposed Ordinance 1-2
2. Penal Code excerpts 3ORDINANCE NO. 2010-
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CULVER CITY,
CALIFORNIA, ACCEPTING THE REQUIREMENTS OF
THE COMMISSION ON PEACE OFFICER STANDARDS
AND TRAINING RELATING TO THE RECRUITMENT
AND TRAINING OF PUBLIC SAFETY DISPATCHERS
WHEREAS, the City of Culver City public safety dispatchers require continuous
training to stay current on developments in their field and to sharpen their skills as public
safety dispatchers; and
WHEREAS, the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training ("P.O.S.T.")
offers training classes designed to keep public safety dispatchers current and adequately
trained; and
WHEREAS, P.O.S.T. will reimburse the City of Culver City for this training, but as a
condition to the City's application for state aid, California Penal Code section 13522
requires that the City's governing body adopt an ordinance stating that the City of Culver
City will adhere to P.O.S.T.'s standards for recruitment and training.
NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CULVER CITY,
CALIFORNIA DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City Council, as the governing body of the City of Culver City,
declares that it desires to qualify to receive aid from the State of California under the
provisions of Section 13522, Chapter 1 of Title 4, Part 4 of the California Penal Code.
SECTION 2. The City of Culver City hereby declares its acceptance of the
requirements of California Penal Code section 13510(c) and will adhere to the standards
for recruitment and training of public safety dispatchers established by the Commission on
Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.).|101010101010101010 10
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28SECTION 3.
The City of Culver City will adhere to the requirements of California
Penal Code section 13512, such that the P.O.S.T. Commission and its representatives
may make inquiries as deemed appropriate by the Commission to ascertain that City of
Culver City adheres to the standards for selection and training for public dispatcher
personnel.
SECTION 4.
Pursuant to Section 619 of the City Charter, this Ordinance shall take
effect thirty (30) days after the date of its adoption. Pursuant to Sections 616 and 621 of
the City Charter, prior to the expiration of fifteen (15) days after the adoption, the City Clerk
shall cause this Ordinance, or a summary thereof, to be published in the Culver City News
and shall post this Ordinance or a summary thereof in at least three places within the City.
SECTION 5. The City Council hereby declares that, if any provision, section,
subsection, paragraph, sentence, phrase or word of this ordinance is rendered or declared
invalid or unconstitutional by any final action in a court of competent jurisdiction or by
reason of any preemptive legislation, then the City Council would have independently
adopted the remaining provisions, sections, subsections, paragraphs, sentences, phrases
or words of this ordinance and as such they shall remain in full force and effect.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED this day of , 2010.
CHRISTOPHER ARMENTA, Mayor
City of Culver City, California
ATTEST: APPRSV D ASITO FORM:
MARTIN R. COLE, City Clerk e- ROL A. SCHWAB, City Attorney
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28ATTACHMENT 2
California Penal Code
13510(c) For the purpose of raising the level of competence of local public safety dispatchers,
the commission shall adopt, and may from time to time amend, rules establishing minimum
standards relating to the recruitment and training of local public safety dispatchers having a
primary responsibility for providing dispatching services for local law enforcement agencies
described in subdivision (a), which standards shall apply to those cities, counties, cities and
counties, and districts receiving state aid pursuant to this chapter.
These standards also shall apply to consolidated dispatch centers operated by an independent
public joint powers agency established pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 6500) of
Chapter 5 of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code when providing dispatch services to
the law enforcement personnel listed in subdivision (a). Those rules shall be adopted and
amended pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of
Title 2 of the Government Code. As used in this section, "primary responsibility" refers to the
performance of law enforcement dispatching duties for a minimum of 50 percent of the time
worked within a pay period.
13512. The commission shall make such inquiries as may be necessary to determine whether
every city, county, city and county, and district receiving state aid pursuant to this chapter is
adhering to the standards for recruitment and training established pursuant to this chapter.
13520. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a Peace Officers' Training Fund, which is
hereby appropriated, without regard to fiscal years, exclusively for costs of administration and
for grants to local governments and districts pursuant to this chapter.
13522.
Any city, county, city and county, or district which desires to receive state aid pursuant
to this chapter shall make application to the commission for the aid. The initial application shall
be accompanied by a certified copy of an ordinance, or in the case of the University of
California, the California State University, and agencies not authorized to act by ordinance, by a
resolution, adopted by its governing body providing that while receiving any state aid pursuant to
this chapter, the city, county, city and county, or district will adhere to the st/andards for
recruitment and training established by the commission. The application shall contain any
information the commission may request.