HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/13/2016
B A K E R S F I E L D
Staff: Committee Members:
Chris Gerry, Administrative Analyst III Councilmember, Chris Parlier - Chair
Caleb Blaschke, Management Assistant Councilmember, Jacquie Sullivan
Councilmember, Willie Rivera
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS
AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE
of the City Council - City of Bakersfield
Thursday, October 13, 2016
12:00 p.m.
City Hall North – Conference Room A
1600 Truxtun Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93301
A G E N D A
1. ROLL CALL
2. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
3. ADOPTION OF OCTOBER 15, 2015 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
4. REPORTS
A. Gang Activity Update – Williamson
B. Bakersfield Safe Streets Partnership Update – Mullins
5. NEW BUSINESS
A. Southside Police Substation Update – Williamson
6. COMMITTEE COMMENTS
7. ADJOURNMENT
B A K E R S F I E L D
/s/ Chris Gerry Committee Members
Staff: Chris Gerry Councilmember, Chris Parlier, Chair
Administrative Analyst Councilmember, Jacquie Sullivan
Councilmember, Willie Rivera
REGULAR MEETING OF THE SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS
AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE
Thursday, October 15, 2015
12:00 p.m.
City Hall North – Conference Room A
1600 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
The meeting was convened at 12:00 p.m.
1. ROLL CALL
Councilmember Rivera was absent.
Committee members:
Councilmember, Chris Parlier, Chair
Councilmember, Jacquie Sullivan
City staff:
Steve Teglia, Assistant City Manager
Chris Huot, Assistant City Manager
Chris Gerry, Administrative Analyst – City Manager’s Office
Caleb Blaschke, Management Assistant – City Manager’s Office
Virginia Gennaro, City Attorney
Richard Iger, Deputy City Attorney
Greg Williamson, Chief of Police
Captain Hajir Nuriddin, Police Department
Lieutenant Joe Mullins, Police Department
Lieutenant Jeremy Grimes, Police Department
Sergeant Clayton Madden, Police Department
Cindy London, Crime Prevention Supervisor – Police Department
Kelsey Taylor, Community Relations Specialist – Police Department
Additional Attendees:
Bhavna Sharma, Global Family Care Network
Paulina Vivanco and Frank Franco Velez, Jr. - Students
Members of the media
Safe Neighborhoods and Community Relations Committee
Agenda Summary Report
October 15, 2015
Page 2
__________________________________________________________
2. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
There were no public statements.
3. ADOPTION OF FEBRUARY 19, 2015 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
The Report was unanimously adopted as submitted.
4. REPORTS
A. Update regarding Gang/Graffiti Enforcement
Police Chief Williamson introduced Lieutenant Mullins, who provided a brief summary
of the information that had been included in the meeting packet.
Year-to-date, gang-related shootings are down by approximately 25% in
comparison to 2014. They continue to be concentrated in certain areas, generally
south of State Route 178 to Brundage Lane and east of State Route 99. However,
the three gang-related homicides that occurred this year happened west of State
Route 99. Gang activity in general continues to be concentrated in the
economically disadvantaged areas of Bakersfield. Year-to-date, 100 guns have
been seized. Those gang members convicted of crimes with guns typically receive
lengthy sentences.
The Department is making a concerted effort to address problems that have been
occurring in the same locations over a long period of time through various methods,
such as community outreach and intervention. There are a number of things citizens
can do to make their neighborhood less attractive to gangs, and they were listed in
the handout.
B. Update regarding Safe Streets Partnership Efforts
Lieutenant Mullins reported that the partnership involves service providers, clergy, law
enforcement and members of the community. A 501(C)3, non-profit status was
recently established. Partners include Stay Focused Ministries, Garden Pathways and
the National Brotherhood Association.
There is a gang call-in scheduled in November, and it will involve a specific gang
that has exhibited am increase in activity.
Approximately 12 public safety cameras deployed in the Downtown area and
extending eastward have been successful in gathering evidence after a crime has
occurred. The Watch Commander and staff in the Communications Center are able
to adjust the angle, zoom in and out, and otherwise view crime scenes. As funding
becomes available, the project will be expanded.
Committee Chair Parlier asked staff to look at a shot spotter type of technology to
assist with efforts. He also asked that staff survey comparably sized cities that also
have clusters of gang activity to learn what their results have been.
Safe Neighborhoods and Community Relations Committee
Agenda Summary Report
October 15, 2015
Page 3
__________________________________________________________
5. NEW BUSINESS
A. Discussion regarding Efforts to Address Human Trafficking
Police Chief Williamson introduced Lieutenant Grimes, who is in charge of the Vice
Narcotics Unit. Also in attendance was Kelsey Taylor, Community Relations Specialist
from the Department, who completed her masters’ thesis at California State University
Bakersfield on human trafficking. Ms. Taylor has also developed an educational
program for prevention and awareness, which can be provided to any interested
group.
Lieutenant Grimes gave a PowerPoint presentation and provided a brief overview.
Human Trafficking
The definition of human trafficking varies from prostitution. As a result of the
enactment of Proposition 35 in November, 2012, prison terms and other
consequences faced by those convicted of human trafficking are greater. Most of
the juveniles rescued from traffickers are reported runaways. If there is no responsible
adult to release the juveniles to, they are taken to the Jamison Center. Investigations
are conducted by patrol officers, and Detectives from the Special Victims Crime Unit
and the City/County Joint Vice Task Force. The Joint Task Force is comprised of a
Sergeant and two Detectives from the Police Department, and one Senior Deputy
from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office. The Police Department’s Vice Unit is comprised
of eight Detectives and one Sergeant.
Prostitution
Undercover officers pose as both Johns and prostitutes in their sting operations.
Detectives use an “out-call” method to encourage alleged prostitutes to visit their
location. A large number of arrests have been made. Some prostitution operations
take place in massage establishments. It was noted that some trafficking has been
discovered during undercover prostitution operations in massage establishments.
In response to questions from Committee member Sullivan, Lieutenant Grimes said that
in the past citations were issued in prostitution cases, but the Department changed its
strategy in 2014, and began arresting more individuals. The result is fewer incidents of
recidivism. Occurrences of human trafficking are more readily recognized than
before. More stringent laws allow cases that were typically considered as pimping to
be classified as human trafficking, which enables law enforcement to move forward
and prosecute for stiffer penalties.
In response to a question from Committee Chair Parlier, Lieutenant Grimes said that
the Department received full grants from the State Alcohol Beverage Control
Department the past three years for prostitution enforcement. This year, the Sheriff’s
Office received such a grant and the Police Department received a mini grant for
tobacco enforcement.
Committee Chair Parlier thanked the Police Department for being proactive and for
conducting good investigations. He added that the item is informational.
Safe Neighborhoods and Community Relations Committee
Agenda Summary Report
October 15, 2015
Page 4
__________________________________________________________
There were no public speakers on this item.
Police Chief Williamson noted that all of the Community Partners are listed in the
PowerPoint, and he thanked them for their efforts.
6. COMMITTEE COMMENTS
There were no comments.
7. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 12:34 p.m.
BAKERSFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT
SPECIAL ENFORCEMENT UNIT
Gang Activity Update to Safe Neighborhoods Committee
Thursday, October 13th, 2016
Gang‐Related Shootings 2016 YTD
(67)
BAKERSFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT
SPECIAL ENFORCEMENT UNIT
Gun Seizures by SEU 2016 YTD
(165)
BAKERSFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT
SPECIAL ENFORCEMENT UNIT
Gang‐related shootings are up 59% in 2016 YTD compared to October 2015. This year
will see the highest number of gang‐related shootings in the last decade.
o A contributing factor includes a large numbers of justice‐involved individuals are on
the streets due to adjustments in the court and prison system.
o The majority of the gang shootings involve young African‐American men involved in
one of the three largest local criminal street gangs.
Gang activity is primarily focused in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods.
o Two square miles in Central Bakersfield includes over 1/3 of the city’s gang
shootings and homicides.
o Area has some of the city’s lowest rates of employment, income, and high school
graduation.
Officers are making efforts to address long‐term “location‐based problems” through
community outreach and intervention methods rather than traditional arrests.
o Personnel complaints on SEU officers are down.
o Due to focused investigations, SEU has seized over 165 guns from gang members
this YTD. This is a 75% increase over gun seizures YTD 2015.
Community members can help by calling attention to problems, including:
o Eliminate graffiti;
o Maintain homes and businesses and encourage neighbors to do the same; and
o Communicate with the police and code enforcement.
Outreach: The Bakersfield Safe Streets Partnership has engaged in four community
outreaches this year.
o Conducted at neighborhood locations that have suffered gun and gang violence.
o Community members met for food, entertainment, and interaction with officers.
The Kern County Superintendent of Schools was our public agency partner.
o Local community organizations include Stay Focused Ministries, Garden
Pathways, New Life Center, the Wendale Davis Foundation, and Operation
Soulwinner provided information on community services and assistance.
The BSSP continues to carry out Project Ceasefire gang “call ‐ins” to provide gang
members with opportunities to reduce violence.
In conjunction with the Cops, Community, and Clergy grant, BSSP members and
partners from local churches include The Cross, Compassion Christian, and Saints
Memorial Church have been working together to increase community capacity to care
for at‐risk individuals.
Police and community members have attended training together in Youth Mental
Health First Aid and youth mentoring.
Beginning in January 2017, police and community members will work and train
together in procedural justice, police legitimacy, and violence reduction.
Our Values
Respect‐Love‐Fairness
Our Mission
The Bakersfield Safe Streets Partnership engages a diverse group of community
members to intervene in the lives of those at risk of gang violence in order to save
lives in our city.
Documents
Presented At
Safe Neighborhoods &
Community Relations
Committee
October 13, 2016
Meeting
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