MAY 2023 - Blues Vol 39 No. 5

AROUND THE COUNTRY

AROUND THE COUNTRY possibly other staff, with new Axon body cameras, and the program should be operational by the end of 2023. The county commissioners have approved the contract with Axon, a cost that is being supplemented with a 8,053 grant from the state. Sheriff Richard Jones asked the state for 0,089 to implement the program but few who applied got their full ask. For years, Jones has been vehemently opposed to the technology for a number of reasons, but he told the Journal-News “times have changed” and “they’re going to make it so you can’t get grant money if you don’t have these cameras eventually.” “When they first came out, I was not in favor of them because it was so expensive, just not for the cameras but storing the data and personnel to manage this,” Jones said. “That’s all changed now, the data management has gotten easier, and we can look at what others have done, and we don’t have to reinvent the wheel.” The sheriff put out a request for proposals and received offers from three vendors, Chief Deputy Anthony Dwyer said “the only vendor that met all of our requirements” was Axon. He said they still have a long way to go before deputies can clip the cameras on their uniforms. They are working with Axon on the details of rolling out the program, but they should be deployed by the end of the year. There are 320 sworn officers who could potentially wear the recording devises, including patrol, the jail, detectives, school resource officers and others so Dwyer said they need to determine who should be prioritized. Then there is the matter of training. He said they have a draft policy — which was required for the state grant — that establishes guidelines for their use. The contract is for three years, but Dwyer said they are trying to stretch it to five. This was the second time Jones applied for state money, the first time he also asked for 0,089 to implement the program but was unsuccessful. He said transparency isn’t an issue with his agency, but he knows in this day and age there are people constantly accusing the police of wrongdoing, so the videos can be helpful. “I don’t know if it’ll make us more transparent, but we’re already transparent with everything we do. It’s what it is, and it will please some people and some people it will not please no matter what you do,” Jones said. “If you have photographs, if you have video, you have statements, in these big cities it still doesn’t matter, they still have riots, they still burn parts of the city down, they still don’t believe it. We’re already transparent, maybe this will make some feel that we’re more transparent.” MICHIGAN STATE POLICE LAUNCHES 911 TEXT PROGRAM The Michigan State Police will be testing a pilot program in which 911 callers are sent a text yrs. informing them of how long it will be before a trooper arrives. If the anticipated arrival time changes, then they receive an update notification. Earlier this week the Michigan State Police (MSP) launched a test program in which 911 callers are notified by text that a trooper has been dispatched, provided an estimated time of arrival, and given updates if the trooper is delayed in the response. It is a pilot program rolled out Wednesday morning that will be tested for 90 days with callers across four counties in mid and southwest Michigan. “Utilizing technology to provide our customers with real-time updates and seek their feedback on our service delivers on our commitment to modern policing,” says Col. Joe Gasper, director of the MSP. “We strive to provide the best customer service experience to each person we interact with and by using automatic text message notifications and satisfaction surveys we’ll be able to not only provide better customer service, but also make adjustments based on direct customer feedback.” MSP divides patrol responsibilities across 31 posts within seven districts. Lt. Rene Gonzalez explains the new text program launched at the Lansing post that covers Eaton County and the Marshall post that covers Branch, Calhoun, and St. Joseph counties. Following the pilot period, consideration will be given on whether to purchase and deploy this technology at all MSP posts. Gonzales says the technology is provided through PowerEngage and SPDR Tech and it is automated through the dispatch system, meaning the 911 operator does not have to send the texts individually. However, texts will not be sent on certain types of calls. “Calls of a sensitive safety matter would not receive a text message. For example, a domestic violence call, we would not text back the caller because there could be a chance that they made that call secretly and the offender doesn’t know that they called the police,” explains Gonzalez. “Or maybe an armed robbery. If someone’s experiencing an armed robbery, we wouldn’t send them a text. The offender may still be on scene, so we don’t want them to know that they have made that call.” For the calls where a text would not endanger a caller, the person will receive a text notifying them that a trooper has been dispatched and providing the ETA. If the trooper’s arrival time changes because he or she had to be routed to a priority call, a text update will be sent to the caller providing the new anticipated arrival time. “It’s practical and it’s just very simple. I think it helps the person that calls 911 with the stress level of when we’re going to be there,” Gozales adds. MSP also hopes to gather feedback from 911 callers through the pilot program. Following the conclusion of the incident, cellular 911 callers in the four-county area will receive a text message within 24 hours. They will be invited to take a short satisfaction survey. According to MSP, feedback collected from the survey will be used to recognize good customer service, provide insights into areas that can be improved, and guide decision making to improve customer service. Positive feedback will be shared to encourage employees, boost morale, and recognize outstanding service. “We want to improve the service that we’re giving to the citizen, so that’s why we’re trying this. It’s another way that we can give them better service,” Gonzalez says. Text Example 1 “Your call to the Eaton County Dispatch Center has been assigned to a trooper from the Michigan State Police Lansing Post. If your situation changes and you no longer need assistance, please update dispatch at 517-543-XXXX using this reference number (CAD event number).” Text Example 2 “Your call to the Eaton County Dispatch Center has been assigned to a trooper from the Michigan State Police Lansing Post. While you wait for trooper(s) to arrive, please gather a recent photo of the missing person, compile a list of any identifying physical characteristics, when you last saw the person, and any relevant conditions that might affect how a trooper interacts with the missing individual. If your situation changes and you no longer need assistance, please update dispatch at 517-543-XXXX using this reference number (CAD event number).” SAN DIEGO TRYING TO PER- SUADE OFFICERS TO RETURN Last fiscal year, the San Diego Police Department lost 241 officers, a 51% increase from the year prior. Another 138 officers have already left this year. On April 3, a letter was reportedly sent to former San Diego police officers, asking them to “consider again being part of the team,” and to “be a part of the police department that is dedicated to serving and collaborating with our community,” NBC San Diego reports. Shortly after these letters were distributed, images of the letter were posted to a social media account used by former and current San Diego police officers. The letter states that incentives to return include a 5% pay increase in 2023 and 2024. It also states that COVID vaccines are not required and entices former officers with specialized assignments in the K-9 Unit and SWAT team. Paul Cappitelli, a retired Sheriff’s Department captain and police practices expert said, “My sense is they are not going to have a ground swell of people that are going to say ‘Great, I am going to come back for an extra 5% or 10%.” CALIF. CITY COUNCIL AP- PROVES K HIRING BONUS FOR NEW POLICE OFFICERS By Sage Alexander Times-Standard ARCATA, Calif. — As Arcata Police Department officers work overtime to cope with low staff, a ,000 hiring bonus for new officers was approved Wednesday by the city council. The council approved increased hiring bonuses, funds for department improvements, and a retention bonus unanimously at a meeting, with Mayor Sarah Schaefer absent. “For me, this is a pretty easy decision,” said council member Stacy Atkins-Salazar at the meeting. 50 The BLUES The BLUES 51