HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Public Safety Committee - 09/12/2017Public Safety Committee
Minutes
Approved October 10, 2017
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Date: September 12, 2017
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Place: Chambers East
Attending: Dana Ralph, Les Thomas, and Jim Berrios, Chair
Agenda:
1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Changes to the Agenda
There were no changes to the agenda.
4. Approval of Minutes dated August 8, 2017.
D. Ralph moved to approve the Public Safety Committee minutes dated
August 8, 2017. L. Thomas seconded the motion, which passed 3-0.
5. 2018 – 2020 Target Zero Manager Funding Agreement - Recommend.
Community Education Coordinator John Pagel asked members to move forward
the acceptance of grant funds to continue his combined role of being the
Target Zero Manager (Manager) in South King County. The terms of this new
agreement will include:
reimburses a portion of the salary and benefits dedicated to the Target
Zero campaign in the amount of $64,500.00 for three years, and
the Manager will work to coordinate the education and enforcement
efforts of the King County Target Zero Task Force in support of the
Target Zero plan.
The new agreement will extend fund reimbursement for the basis of three
years which is up from prior two-year agreements.
D. Ralph moved to recommend that Council authorize the Mayor to accept
grant funds in the total amount of $193,500 from the state Traffic Safety
Commission to fund the Region 8 (South King County) Target Zero Manager
position. This three year agreement provides funding to the police
department in the amount of $193,500 ($64,500 per year). L. Thomas
seconded the motion, which passed 3-0.
Public Safety Committee
Minutes
Approved October 10, 2017
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6. Budget Requests – Information Only.
Chief Thomas informed members that the Finance department has
recommended using monies for 2017 purchases from the Criminal Justice Fund
rather than from the School Zone Camera Fund. Purchases include:
Items: Amount
Utility Budget Truck 65,000
Evidence Processing Equipment 125,000
Handgun flashlights & holsters 42,000
Firing Range baffle supports 20,000
Rifle suppressors and compensators 135,000
Total: $387,000
Police department budget requests were previously approved during the 2017
– 2018 budget adoption. Chief explained this request would go to a future
Operations Committee meeting then to full Council.
7. Chief’s Report – Information Only
Chief’s supplied information on a variety of topics, they are:
Hookah Bar shootings has become a huge issue in Kent and
surrounding cities. The Police department along with the City’s Law
department, Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board, and the
Public Health Department are exploring every opportunity of closing
down the East Hill establishment as a public health and safety
nuisance. To date, there have been two shootings, one being an officer
involved shooting the other being gang related.
Today around noon, there was a non-injury shooting near the
downtown Department of Corrections (DOC) office on West Gowe
Street. The subject was leaving the DOC office when the suspect got
out of another car firing four rounds. Both the subject and suspect got
into their cars and sped off. The DOC was able to identify the subject,
that person was questioned. This investigation is ongoing.
The inquest proceedings regarding an officer-involved shooting that
occurred in March in Des Moines is wrapping up with deliberations.
Officer Lewis, assigned to the West Hill, was aiding Des Moines’ police
with a hostage situation. The suspect was shot and died on the scene.
The police department is working with the Kent Police Officer
Association (KPOA) in regards to staffing issues. The department and
KPOA are collaboratively working on the recruitment process and
shortage of officers. Overtime requests fill about two-pages each day,
some being in the field while others are to catch up on desk work.
Currently, there are 130 officers able to work in the field but the
department has been approved to have up to 156 in-field officers.
Three lateral hires are set to start October 1, with another five open
Public Safety Committee
Minutes
Approved October 10, 2017
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positions that haven’t been filled yet. Other jurisdictions are in the
same short-staff situation as Kent is.
The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC)
were at the city jail to conduct the onsite state jail accreditation.
WASPC awarded the jail with a 100% score for all policies being in
compliance. This makes Kent the second jail in all of Washington to be
state accredited; the recognition will take place this November.
8. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 5:10 p.m. by J. Berrios.
J. Hays
Jennifer Hays
Public Safety Committee Secretary