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Home My WebLink About08/12/1997 COW agenda COMMITTEEOFTHEWHOLE AGENDA Meeting Location: Meeting Date and Time: Mount Prospect Senior Center Tuesday, August 12, 1997 50 South Emerson Street 7:30 P.M. I. CALL TO ORDER- ROLL CALL ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING OF JULY 29, 1997 Ill. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD IV. PROBLEM SOLVING OFFICER (PSO) - COPS AHEAD GRANT PROGRAM REVIEW In 1995, the Police Department received a Federal COPS AHEAD program grant for the purpose of implementing a community-oriented policing program in the Village. The grant provided $150,000 to the Village in decreasing amounts over a three-year period in return for the assignment of two Officers to community-oriented policing or problem solving policing on a full-time basis. The Department's Problem Solving Officer (PSO) unit was implemented to bring community po[icing to the Department, the Village and the community. The initial Problem Solving Officer to be assigned to this program was Officer Joe ravia when he was assigned to the PSO unit in July 1995. The second Officer to be assigned to the Problem Solving unit was Officer Tony Halachoulis and his assignment became effective July 1996. The Village chose to receive the grant mon~es during the first two years of the grant period instead of the three-year option which was also available. Consequently, Federal funds for offsetting the cost of the PSO program are set to expire in fiscal year 1998 which coincide with the assignments of the two Officers. The PSO program was established to bring problem solving philosophy into the Police Department and to facilitate partnerships with other Village employees and residents for the purpose ofjoinfiy identifying and resolving underlying causes of community problems. Based on the survey results from citizens which have had contact with the Problem Solving Officers and the general Police services survey, the PSO program has met or exceeded the initial goals established when the program was organized two years ago. Among the notable successes of the PSO program include a reduction of calls for service from specific problem areas. Also, the PSO Officers have been instrumental in addressing residential issues and resolving these issues which have had an overall positive impact upon the neighborhood; i,e., the Boxwood Permit Parking Program. NOTE: ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND THIS MEETING BUT BECAUSE OF A DISABILITY NEEDS SOME ACCOMMODATION TO PARTICIPATE, SHOULD CONTACT THE VILLAGE MANAGER'S OFF/CE AT 100 SOUTH EMERSON, MOUNT PROSPECT, ILLINOIS 60056, 847/392-6000, EXTENSION 5327, TDD #847/392-6064. While this program is only two years old, there are benefits which are readily being identified. The continuation of the PSO program will obviously reap long-term benefits as the program continues to evolve and include additional Officers and residents in resolving issues. With the pending expiration of the Federal grant funding, the Officers' salaries will need to be covered fully by Village funds. Offsetting revenue from the Grants will soon no longer be available to cover ail or par( of the Officers' salaries, Therefore, staff is requesting direction from the Village Board as to whether the PSO program should continue with the funding to be provided exclusively with Village funds. While it is the intention to continue to pursue other funding opportunities to assist in covering the cost of the PSO program, there is no applicable funding source currently available which has been applied for recently which would assist in making up the funding from grant monies Chief Paviock and PSOs Favia and Halachoulis will be in attendance to facilitate discussion. There will also be several representatives from the areas in which the PSOs have worked in over the last couple of years providing service. V. REVIEW OF ~THE STUDENT RESOURCE OFFICERS - RIVER TRAILS MIDDLE SCHOOL AND WESTBROOK (NS_SEO) Rive_r TrBils Middle School Student Resource Officer The River Trails Middle School Student Resource Officer has been assigned to the middle school since October of 1995. School District 26 has provided the funding to cover the Officer's salary during the school year since that time. The working relationship which has been established between School District 26 and the Village has reaped numerous benefits including improving the safety and security of the learning environment and providing an additional positive role model within the school environment. Officer Allen Wilcox was assigned as the River TraiLs SRO after interviews and discussions between the Police Department and School District 26. While some of the activities Officer Wilcox has been involved in include resolution of law enforcement issues in the school setting, he has worked diligently to have a positive impact on staff, parents and students through all contacts he has made. The review of Officer Wilcox's performance as the SRO Officer have been extremely positive as evidenced by the correspondence from School District 26 representatives and Police Department evaluations. Staff is requesting that the Village Board consider continuing the River Traiis Middle School SRO program for school year 199%1998. Representatives from the Police Department including SRO Allen Wilcox and representatives from School District 26 will be in attendance to foster any discussion. Westbrook Student Resource Officer (NSSEO) Officer Ken Lee was assigned to the Westbrook School as part of an agreement with the Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization (NSSEO) for the school year 1996-1997. Officer Lee was responsible for similar duties as any other SROs, which included assistance for disciplinary issues at the school and providin9 a positive role model for the students through various contacts during the school day. Many of the students who attend the NSSEO program are in need of positive role models and a disciplined environment which Officer Lee assists in providing are important in creating an appropriate educational environment. The first year et the NSSEO school has been a learning experience for both the School, the School District and the Village Police Department. When the program was initially approved by the Village Board, there were some concerns about Officer Lee becoming the in-house disciplinarian and as evidenced by the program evaluation provided by Chief Pavlock, the breadth of the duties which Officer Lee provides is much broader than specifically disciplinary in nature. Officer Lee's presence has obviously resulted in more efficient delivery of Police service and reduced the need of calls for service from the school because Officer Lee was empowered to resolve these issues by his presence at the school. Based on the activity level at the school in terms of Police involvement, the SRO program is quite effective in providing the requisite law enforcement services. Officer Lee's close working relationship with the school staff has contributed greatly in establishing an orderly and safe school environment where learning can be facilitated. The ability for quick intervention in potentially disruptive situations has prevented any major problems at the school and minimized the school's potential impact on the surrounding neighborhood. Chief Pavlock has recommended the Beard consider continuing the funding arrangement with NSSEO and assign an SRO to the NSSEO School during the 1997-1998 school year, Chief Pavlock, Officer Lee and representatives from School District 57 and NSSEO will be present to facilitate any discussions. VI. MANAGER'S REPORT VII ANY OTHER BU_SlNESS VIII. ADJOURNMENT DEFERRED ITEMS Signs in Rights-of-Way Density/Residential Redevelopment Downtown Redevelopment Options Busse Road Widening Annexation Opportunities Parliamentary Procedures