HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Public Safety (Committee) - 03/10/2015 Public Safety Committee Minutes
March 10, 2015
CALL TO ORDER
Council President Dana Ralph called the meeting to order at 4:31 p.m.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:
Council President Dana Ralph and Councilmember Les Thomas were present.
Councilmember Jim Berrios was absent.
Changes to the Agenda:
None
Item 1 — Approval of meeting minutes dated February 10, 2015
Councilmember Thomas MOVED to approve the minutes of, February 10,
2015. The motion was SECONDED by Council President Ralph and PASSED
2-0.
Item 2 —Interlocal Agreement with Department of Corrections —
Recommend Ratification.
Chief Ken Thomas presented information regarding the Interlocal Agreement
between the city of Kent the State of Washington Department of Corrections for the
purpose of the cooperative effort to allow community corrections officers with the
state Department of Corrections (DOC) to use space at the Kent Police Department
once or twice a week. Having a DOC officer within the Kent Police Department has
allowed the Department and DOC to foster better cooperation and to enhance
information sharing regarding offenders residing in the city of Kent who are
involved in continued criminal activity.
Councilmember Thomas MOVED to recommend Council ratify the police
chief's execution of an Interlocal Agreement with the state Department of
Corrections, and Amendments 1 through 6 that have been made to that
Interlocal Agreement, to allow a state community corrections officer to
continue to use space at the Kent Police Department in accordance with
the Agreement's terms. The motion was SECONDED by Council President
Ralph and PASSED 2-0.
Item 3. Police Chief's Update
Chief Ken Thomas advised the committee regarding the following current events
affecting the police department:
1. School Zone Traffic Safety Camera Program Update, The Chief presented
details regarding the number of tickets issued since the inception of the program.
In 2014, there were a little over 8,000 tickets issued. In January of 2014, there
were 649 tickets issued. The number of violators has decreased over the past year
in both school zones. The police department is updating their speed studies to
determine which schools would benefit from school zone traffic safety cameras to
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improve safety. The Chief will present recommendations at a future Public Safety
Committee meeting.
2. The Chief presented details regarding the recent drug arrests and drug
seizure by the Special Investigation Unit. The Chief detailed the amount of drugs,
guns, and cash that were seized and the approximate street value, Ten percent of
drug money that is seized goes to the state. If the drug money is ultimately
forfeited, it goes into the state seizure fund and can only be used for drug-related
education, intervention, or to assist with further investigations of drug trafficking.
The City uses state seized funds to support the Alive and free program, the Cops in
schools program and to further drug investigations.
3. The Chief presented information regarding the recent Vandalism at the Kent
Hindu Temple. An arrest has been made. The crime is still under investigation, but
it has been determined that the vandalism was not a hate crime.
The Mayor, Chief and police officers attended the celebration of colors event
at the Kent Hindu Temple. The Chief indicated that the event was enjoyable and
that the children enjoyed their interaction with the police officers.
4. The Chief indicated that at the March 17, 2015, City Council Meeting, two
officers will be sworn in, three citizens will receive the Chief's award for citizen
commendations and three officers will receive the lifesaving medal.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:46p.m. by Council President Ralph.
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Kim Komoto
Public Safety Committee Secretary
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