| | | | | | | |  | Committee Assignments - C4 X
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM |
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| | | | | | | | | TO: | Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission | | | FROM: | Commissioner Tanya K. Bhatt | | | DATE: | May 15, 2024 | | | |
| | SUBJECT: | REFERRAL TO THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS THE HIRING OF ADDITIONAL MBPD DETENTION OFFICERS AS PART OF THE FY 2025 BUDGET PROCESS. |
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| | | | | | | | BACKGROUND/HISTORY
| Was Agenda Item initially requested by a lobbyist which, as defined in Code Sec. 2-481, includes a principal engaged in lobbying? No
If so, specify name of lobbyist(s) and principal(s): N/A |
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| | | | | | | | ANALYSIS
| Please place on the May 15, 2024 agenda a referral to the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee to discuss the potential hiring of two (2) additional MBPD detention officers as part of the FY 2025 budget process (and ongoing) in order to increase MBPD police officer visibility and coverage on City streets by alleviating issues concerning police officers being out of service for hours while completing paperwork and transporting prisoners across the bridge to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center (“TGK”) in Miami.
While the City of Miami Beach Police Department is already dealing with a hiring shortfall to fill their vacant positions, the officers we already have on staff are sometimes pulled from their assigned roles to provide backup to our detention staff, thereby removing the officers from their primary function. The current practice of utilizing MBPD police officers, from time to time, to transport prisoners across the bridge to TGK leads to police officers being out of service for extended periods of time, thereby reducing the police presence in our community.
The Police Department has already submitted an FY 2025 budget enhancement request for one (1) additional detention officer; I have asked the Police Department to request an additional budget enhancement for a second detention officer as part of the FY 2025 budget process. In discussion with MBPD leadership, I believe that hiring two (2) detention officers is important for maintaining public safety and fostering a sense of security among residents and visitors since two (2) additional detention officers should suffice to fill any gaps in coverage to ensure that detention officers, and not police officers, will handle all prisoner transports which, in turn, will contribute to the overall effectiveness of law enforcement operations and police officer coverage in the City.
As part of this referral, I would request that the Police Department conduct an appropriate staffing and shift analysis in order to be prepared at Committee to discuss their needs pertaining to detention officer staffing in order to ensure that detention officers, and not police officers, handle prisoner transports across all shifts and areas of the City. |
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| | | | | | | | SUPPORTING SURVEY DATA
| | N/A |
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| | | | | | | | FINANCIAL INFORMATION
| | Administration is requested to be prepared to address the fiscal impact of this proposed measure, if any, at the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee meeting. |
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| | | | | | | | | Is this a "Residents Right to Know" item, pursuant to City Code Section 2-14? | | Does this item utilize G.O. Bond Funds? | | | No | | No | |
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| | | | | | | | Legislative Tracking
Commissioner Tanya K. Bhatt |
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