Public Safety Committee

601 W. Jefferson Street Louisville Metro Government Louisville, KY 40202 Action Summary - Final Public Safety Committee Chair Person Jessica Green (D-1) Vice Chair James Peden (R-23) Committee Member Barbara Sexton Smith (D-4) Committee Member Donna L. Purvis (D-5) Committee Member Mark H. Fox (D-13) Committee Member Anthony Piagentini (R-19) Committee Member Madonna Flood (D-24) Wednesday, December 4, 2019 3:30 PM Council Chambers Call to Order Chair Person Green called the meeting to order at 3:35 p.m. Roll Call Chair Person Green introduced the committee members and non-committee members present. A quorum was established. Present: 6- Chair Person Jessica Green (D-1), Vice Chair James Peden (R-23), Committee Member Donna L. Purvis (D-5), Committee Member Mark H. Fox (D-13), Committee Member Anthony Piagentini (R-19), and Committee Member Madonna Flood (D-24) Excused: 1- Committee Member Barbara Sexton Smith (D-4) Non-Committee Member(s) Council President David James (D-6), Council Member Kevin Kramer (R-11), and Council Member Brent Ackerson (D-26) Support Staff Sean Dennis, Jefferson County Attorney's Office Clerk(s) Connie Dearing, Assistant Clerk Sonya Harward, Assistant Clerk Louisville Metro Government Page 1 Public Safety Committee Action Summary - Final December 4, 2019 Special Discussion 1. ID 19-2022 CPR Technology - Council Member James Peden Vice Chair Peden presented video regarding new CPR technology and the benefits to the general public, including an app that allows individuals certified in CPR to be alerted via their smartphone of a nearby cardiac event. 2. ID 19-2039 Vincent James and Dr. Ursula Mullins - Update on Transition and Closure of the Youth Detention Center Attachments: 12-4-19 Presentation - YDS Closure Update.pdf Dr. Ursula Mullins discussed the end of Louisville Metro Youth Detention Services (YDS) effective December 31, 2019, after which all services shall transition to the State. Dr. Mullins spoke about the transition for currently detained youth, law enforcement, and the courts, as well as services and physical plant transitions. Chair Person Green talked about the importance of a smooth transition. Council President James asked about the transition, the number of current YDS employees, and plans for preventing breaks in service to affected employees. Dr. Mullins responded that 75 employees remain on staff, and training is in place and as well as shadowing at other facilities. In addition, YDS has been working closely with employees and Human Resources, by facilitating job fairs, transfers within Metro, and assisting with resume writing. 3. ID 19-1783 Louisville Metro Police Department Reorganization - Chief Steve Conrad, LMPD Chair Person Green invited Chief Steve Conrad, Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) to discuss the recent reorganization of the department. Chief Conrad spoke about the budgetary considerations that drove the reorganization process. Committee Member Piagentini requested for the upcoming budget cycle that the LMPD provide specifics as to where cuts in services or additional reorganizations may occur. In addition, he would like to be provided data on average pay and benefits structure to better determine whether LMPD is competitive with other police departments. Chief Conrad responded that the department will work to honor these requests. Committee Member Piagentini requested a walk through of the impact on different divisions of the reorganization efforts. Chief Conrad discussed the reallocation processes. Committee Member Piagentini asked about a new LMPD headquarters location, and Chief Conrad responded that no determination has been made. Louisville Metro Government Page 2 Public Safety Committee Action Summary - Final December 4, 2019 Chair Person Green asked about changes to the number of officers on the street or officers assigned to existing divisions. Chief Conrad replied that additional consolidation may be necessary, based on numbers of calls. Council Member Kramer asked who made the decision to reassign School Resource Officers (SRO) back to patrol. Chief Conrad said he made the decision to cover patrol positions by reassigning SROs. Council Member Kramer asked about the effect the Jefferson County Public Schools public statements regarding the SRO program on his decision and Chief Conrad responded. Council Member Kramer asked whether the shortage of officers is attributable to budget shortfall. Chief Conrad described various factors that affect the shortage of officers, including budget, retirements, and officers resigning to move to other departments in the region. Council Member Kramer asked about the most expensive part of a new recruit class. Chief Conrad responded that salaries are the most expensive portion. Council Member Kramer asked whether factoring retirements and resignations could offset the budget shortfall in order to better estimate when a new recruit class is affordable to the department. Mr. Daniel Frockt, Office of Management and Budget, discussed how the budgeting process occurs with regard to determining funding for personnel. Council Member Kramer asked about any monies returned to general funds by LMPD in the past three years. Mr. Frockt replied that he will take an action item to report these numbers in the year end ordinance. Council President James inquired into the categories of any monies have been returned by LMPD to the General Fund. Mr. Frockt replied that he anticipates a general fund appropriation away from LMPD of approximately $2.6 million. Of that amount, approximately one third is revenue from special events or incentive pay. The remainder is comprised of expenses related to the recruit class, contractual items, supplies, and training and education. Council President James asked about supplies not purchased. Major Paul Humphrey, LMPD, spoke about the reallocation of funds for ammunition and first aid supplies due to not having a June recruit class. Council President James asked about the proportion of funds reallocation that would have been personnel related. Mr. Frockt replied that this amount was approximately $460,000. Council President James asked for a comparison of statistics related to homicides or shootings in Louisville Metro between this year and last year. Chief Conrad replied that there has been an increase in both categories. Council President James asked if any of those changes are due to lack of officers. Chief Conrad replied that, while he can draw no direct correlation between officers and crimes committed, he believes having more officers leads to fewer violent crimes. Vice Chair Peden commented that the SRO progam's discontinuation is a Louisville Metro Government Page 3 Public Safety Committee Action Summary - Final December 4, 2019 result of decisions at Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS), not LMPD. Vice Chair Peden asked whether there has been an increase in calls related to activity in schools. Assistant Chief Josh Judah, LMPD, responded that there has not a considerable increase to serious incidents, but there have been administrative issues that the LMPD is working with JCPS to resolve. Vice Chair Peden talked about the retention policies regarding home fleet use. Chief Conrad talked about the criteria used to determine eligibility. Committee Member Fox asked what percentage of the financial responsiblity for traffic guards and SROs was reimbursed by JCPS. Chief Conrad replied that the traffic guards were fully funded by LMPD, and the SRO program was reimbursed approximately one third. Committee Member Fox talked about the JCPS special taxing district. Committee Member Purvis asked about the increase in homicides and shootings. Major Josh Hash, LMPD, spoke about crime statistics. Committee Member Purvis asked whether, in consideration of increased crime, the Spot Shotter program will be continued after June 2020. Chief Conrad discussed the benefits of the Spot Shotter program. Committee Member Purvis expressed her disappointment that the program will not be continued. Council President James asked how many retirees have returned to the LMPD after the 30-day wait for rehire without benefits. Major Hash replied that nine officers have been rehired in the past 2 fiscal years. Council President James how retirements have affected the number of officers assigned to various patrol divisions. Assistant Chief Judah replied that the numbers have remained stable. Council President James asked about understaffing. Assistant Chief Judah replied that understaffing is generally resolved by overtime. Adjournment Without objection, Chair Person Green adjourned the meeting at 4:35 p.m. Louisville Metro Government Page 4