COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Board of Supervisors

 

DATE:

March 28, 2006

BOARD MEETING DATE:

April 4, 2006

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Supervisor Jerry Hill and Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson

SUBJECT:

Expansion of the San Mateo Countywide Gang Task Force – Gang Intelligence and Investigations Unit

 

RECOMMENDATIONS:

 

(1)

Accept a Report on the Work of the San Mateo Countywide Gang Task Force;

 

(2)

Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the County Manager to enter into Service Agreements with Cities for Gang Intelligence and Investigations Unit Services

 

(3)

Adopt an Ordinance amending Ordinance Number 04271 adding a new Deputy Probation Officer position

 

(4)

Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request transferring $357,500 from non-departmental reserves to:

 

(a)

the County Manager’s Memberships and Contributions budget unit ($225,000) for costs of the service agreements; and

 

(b)

the Probation Department’s budget unit ($132,500) for the Deputy Probation Officer position.

 

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Ensure basic health and safety for all.

Goal: Maintain and enhance the public safety of all residents and visitors.

Commitment: Responsive, effective and collaborative government.

Goal: County and local governments effectively communicate, collaborate and develop strategic approaches to issues affecting the entire County.

 

BACKGROUND:

In August 2005 the San Mateo County Police Chief’s and Sheriff Association tasked a group of senior law enforcement managers to develop a proposal for a Countywide Gang Task Force as a result of increased gang-related activity throughout San Mateo County.

 

On September 27, 2005, this Board approved the creation of a Sheriff’s Gang Intelligence and Investigations Unit to support the Countywide Gang Task Force. The Gang Intelligence and Investigations Unit was the result of numerous meetings with the Sheriff, District Attorney, Chief Probation Officer, the County Manager and their respective staff and represents a collaborative approach to addressing the issue of gangs in San Mateo County. The Unit was tasked with:

 

(1)

Creating a centralized clearing-house of gang related programs, gang member information and a confidential hot line to report gang members and activities,

(2)

Conducting long-term investigations that target criminal street gangs by using a combination of traditional and non-traditional techniques (wire taps, surveillance etc.) to identify, prosecute and dismantle criminal organizations both in State and Federal Courts.

 

The accomplishments of the Countywide Gang Task Force and the Gang Intelligence and Investigations Unit have been significant and are detailed in the attached report. There have been numerous arrests along with identification of the top three criminal street gangs in San Mateo County. As originally envisioned, the Unit has recently formed a task force with other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to dismantle gangs.

 

The attached report provides an overview of the Countywide Gang Task Force, its activities and accomplishments in its first six months, and operation plans for 2006. Countywide efforts are working. However, a fully staffed Gang Intelligence and Investigations Unit, as initially proposed, will be more effective in countering the gang-related activities that we continue to witness in our community.

 

DISCUSSION:

The Countywide Gang Task Force Sheriff’s Gang Intelligence and Investigation Unit currently includes one Sheriff’s Sergeant, two Sheriff’s Detectives, one Intelligence Analyst, and one Deputy District Attorney. When conceptualized, the Unit included two city Police Officers and one Deputy Probation Officer to better coordinate the intelligence efforts between cities and the County, but these positions were not funded. In order for the plan to continue to work, full implementation as originally intended is necessary.

 

The majority of the resources in deploying the Countywide Gang Task Force have been provided by the local city Police Departments. So far, during FY 2005-2006, a conservative estimate of the city resources used to support the Countywide Gang Task Force totals approximately $540,000, but may be as high as $725,000. This represents in kind personnel costs and is a commitment on the part of city Police Departments to continue gang suppression efforts. This contribution is expected to continue at or above this level.

 

Expanding the Gang Intelligence and Investigations Unit to include two city police officers, by authorizing the County Manger to enter into service agreements with cities, will augment the capacity of the Unit to accomplish its goals and enhances the active participation by local city Police Departments. It is anticipated that these contracts will be approximately $90,000 per city or $180,000 annually.

 

Likewise, the addition of a Deputy Probation Officer to the Gang Intelligence and Investigations Unit will provide additional technical expertise and coordinate the activities of the Probation Department for a seamless approach to gang monitoring and suppression activities. The cost of adding one Deputy Probation Officer is $106,000.

 

If fully funded for FY 2006-2007, the effectiveness of the Gang Intelligence and Investigations Unit would be re-evaluated in a year to ensure desired outcomes are being met. Criteria will be developed and reported to determine the status of gang-related activity, the success rate of the Unit and the necessary level of future county financial commitment.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

The net county cost for the service agreements with the cities would be $180,000 in FY 2006-2007, with a prorated portion of $45,000 in FY 2005-06 for implementation the last quarter of this fiscal year. The net county cost for the Deputy Probation Officer would be $106,000 in FY 2006-2007, with a prorated portion of $26,500 in FY 2005-2006 for implementation the last quarter of this fiscal year. Total net county cost in FY 2006-2007 is $286,000. Total net county cost in FY 2005-2006 is $71,500.