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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-24-13MINUTES OF THE CITIZEN ADVISORY COUNCIL OF THE OCOEE POLICE DEPARTMENT MEETING HELD JANUARY 24, 2013 CALL TO ORDER Chairman McKey called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. in the Commission Chambers of City Hall, located at 150 N. Lakeshore Drive. Chairman McKey led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and requested a moment of silence for our men and women in uniform; the roll was called and a quorum was declared. PRESENT: Chairman McKey, Vice -Chair Laney, Treasurer Wilsen, Members Ball and Yost. Also present were Staff - Liaison Sgt. Nylander and Recording Clerk Garza. ABSENT: Members Zielinski (excused), and Santana (unexcused). Chairman McKey requested an email be sent to the City Commission to find out if Commissioner Johnson is the Liaison appointed to CACOPD. Staff - Liaison Sgt. Nylander stated he sent out an email but has not had a response yet. Approval of CACOPD Minutes for October 25, 2012 Treasurer Wilsen made a motion to accept the minutes for October 25, 2012, seconded by Vice_ Chair Laney. Motion passed unanimously. Surveillance Camera Presentation by Lt. Bryant Lt. Bryant presented an informational video provided by Wildfire Connections. Video runtime: 7:18 -7:22. Lt. Bryant stated implementation has two phases: Phase 1: Infrastructure. This is a wireless network technology where an unobstructed line of sight from tower to tower is required to ensure proper communication; however, there is a cost involved because of Ocoee's geography. Vertical real estate is needed to overcome these obstacles; therefore, tower companies, satellite companies, county towers, the water tower on Clarke Road, and the roof of Health Central have been contacted, but so far, the County Cell Tower on Story Road and the roof of Health Central have been secured. From the roof of Health Central, facing north towards the other side of Starke Lake there is an unobstructed line of sight; however, from that point on it is obstructed. The Water Tower on Clarke Road is not secured yet because it is possibly scheduled for demolition in 18 months, and the City Manager will attempt to secure it for a cost. Also, Public Works is in need of cameras to keep the gas pumps and machinery secure and the Police Department is in need of storage units. Chief Brown has made a decision to build storage units at Public Works and use these five cameras to keep the units secure as well as the gas pumps and the machinery. The initial infrastructure will be made up of the five cameras, the Tower on Story Rd and the roof of Health Central. Phase 2: Sunshine Laws. The City is required to record and hold those recordings for 30 days as per the Sunshine Laws. The cameras at the Police Department can only record up to 20 days; therefore, the equipment will need to be upgraded. Nevertheless, if the Police Department purchases the cameras from this company, it will provide the DVR system needed and, when the private sector starts buying into the system, the company will provide the needed recording capabilities. CACOPD Meeting January 24, 2013 Settings: These cameras have different settings depending on the location where used. For example, at subdivisions, the camera will focus on license plates, and for stores, on motion detection. Officers will be able to view the video on their laptops real -time and get information on the vehicle instead of having to wait to retrieve the video from the store after the fact. Difficulties: Sunshine Laws: Private businesses: the video will become public record which will be an issue, for example, at the West Oaks Mall, since it could bring bad publicity; however, outside the mall, businesses and subdivisions will likely embrace this. Vertical Real Estate: If the Police Department gets the initial infrastructure, the private sector may buy into the network at $2000 per camera. The Police Department will not monitor but rather access the video when needed. Another difficulty for the City is that some subdivisions to the north will need to get relays placed at a height that will enable communication to the Water Tower, Health Central and the Cellphone Tower. This translates into added costs. Chief Brown added that the Sunshine Laws are an issue because they will make the videos public record immediately, and this will create some reluctance from businesses. Member Yost asked if they are afraid of being watched. Chief Brown replied yes and Lt. Bryant provided an example: Chief Chitwood in Daytona used the cameras to recognize sex offenders and wanted criminals; however, not everyone was happy because people in general do not want to be caught on camera. Chief Brown added red -light cameras are only for reviewing red -light runners and accidents but nothing else. Lt. Bryant continued by stating the cameras will provide a positive feeling for the public in general about Ocoee. As far as subdivisions are concerned, there is always someone opposing; therefore, approval from the HOA's will be needed plus there are additional costs to incur in. Member Yost stated he is a member of the Forest Trails HOA and they had addressed this issue before, but it was not cost - effective at the time; however, with this program it is more cost - effective. Lt. Bryant also stated the City will have to secure the contract with the water tower that will benefit subdivisions on White Road before the private sector can buy into the infrastructure. This company is entering into an alliance with Duke Energy which is a subsidiary of Progress Energy and if this takes place, the light poles on White Road will have a direct line of sight to Health Central. This will benefit the neighboring subdivisions like Prima Vista, the Hammocks, Admiral Pointe, and Highlands of Ocoee in providing a direct -line access to Health Central. Member Yost asked how long before HOA's can get involved. Lt Bryant responded that anyone with a direct line of sight can do it immediately; however, the problem is the access for some subdivisions and how to provide them with the infrastructure. Member Yost asked if we can use other cameras or systems already in place. Chief Brown stated the problem is the vertical real estate where a line of sight is needed. Discussions ensued on the infrastructure and what is needed. Lt. Bryant stated the Police Department will provide the infrastructure and the HOA's, businesses, and the private sector will have to obtain the line of sight needed. Member Yost asked if the cameras are for reading license plates, what happens to facial recognition. Lt. Bryant explained these cameras have six different settings but the ones that would be of interest would be the license plate and motion settings. Vice -Chair Laney stated she would like one to watch the kids at bus stops and asked if this was possible. Discussions ensued regarding the settings. Member Yost asked if the Police Department would offer advice as to where to place the cameras. Lt. Bryant stated he can provide the contact information for the company as they are the ones who will be setting up and installing. Discussions ensued on this matter. Member Yost inquired if information about this plan can be printed in the newsletter for the neighborhood watch and the HOA. Lt. Bryant stated the Police 2 CACOPD Meeting January 24, 2013 Department can do that, however, it all depends on the infrastructure. Member Yost asked if there are cameras at the schools. Chief Brown responded the schools are not the Police Department's jurisdiction; however, the cameras may be allowed in a public place near the school entrance, but he believes the School Board will not allow the cameras inside the schools. Lt. Bryant added that Health Central probably would not want to either. Chief Brown added it is due to medical reasons. Chief Brown continued by saying the next step is to find a funding source, a minimum of probably $15,000, since the budget has passed already; however, there may be an opportunity with Public Works since they wanted a camera system and may have the funds to start the infrastructure. Subdivisions are looking at a $10,000 camera project and the Police Department will have to buy a $150,000 camera project that is not in the budget; however if done gradually, it may be feasible. Chief Brown adds that if the Police Department uses an existing system, the transmission of data will cost money, and in an event such as Founders' Day, due to high cellular phone usage, no video will be obtainable. Chief Brown addresses the Board by saying he will ask for their support when more information on this product is gathered to make a decision. Chief Brown will then bring this information before the Commission and at that time he will ask for the Board's support in the matter. Chairman McKey continued by saying that in 2012 after the break -ins in the Hammocks, this would be something worth pursuing. Chief Brown agreed and pointed out an article in the paper last week about the red - light cameras being instrumental in the murder investigation because of the evidence that was gathered, but before any money is spent, the Police Department will have to determine, in an agreement, what will and will not be done, and state the property is the intellectual property of the Police Department. Discussions ensued on the infrastructure. Chairman McKey stated HOA's need to be made aware, and the best thing would be to get the proper votes in place. Chief Brown provided the members with the website and contact information for Wildfire Connections. Chief Brown informed the Board three new red -light cameras have been approved: • Westbound on Colonial Drive and Maguire Road • Eastbound on Silver Star Road and Clarke Road • Eastbound on Colonial Drive and Blackwood Avenue Treasurer Wilsen stated that if the hot spots can be covered and the City has the infrastructure, the Police Department should move forward with the surveillance cameras and let Information Services work out the problems. Chief Brown stated he is working with Information Services on this issue but the decision will be made by the Public Works Department. Discussions ensued on this matter. Chairman McKey asked if the initial system would be purchased by Public Works. Chief Brown replied yes, and stated there is a tower on Story Rd. which is the communications tower for Orange County, and in the event of any public safety need, it can be used by the City. This will cover the west side of the City. Chairman McKey asked if other City departments are collaborating. Chief Brown stated Parks and Recreation is the next focus after Public Works. Lt. Bryant stated the idea is to use the cameras after the parks close for the day. Chairman McKey stated these could be used to help the adjoining neighborhoods. Treasurer Wilsen asked if the towers must be the property of Ocoee to which Lt. Bryant replied no; however, there will be a monthly rental fee for towers, radio stations, not owned by the City. Chief Brown emphasized the fact that vertical real estate is valuable. Discussions ensued on this subject. Chief Brown continued by saying the initial cost will add up to $15,000. Vice -Chair Laney stated she was very pleased with the information provided. Chief Brown added that it is taking some time to preclude mistakes. Vice -Chair Laney asked if there will be bidding. Chief Brown replied it will probably be contracted from a sole source since there is no one else offering this technology. Chairman McKey requested an update for the next meeting 3 CACOPD Meeting January 24, 2013 to be held on April 25 to which Chief Brown agreed. Discussions ensued about other providers like Motorola and the possibility of using existing equipment to implement this system. Spring Fling Discussed after Quarterly Awards. Activity Report Chief Brown stated that since the last CACOPD meeting the Police Department has implemented a 4/10 hour schedule. There are six smaller overlapping squads with one sergeant per squad. Each squad has a corporal, a secondary supervisor, who is trained like a sergeant but doesn't have the primary responsibility at the scene. Treasurer Wilsen asked Chief Brown about his experience with the Governor. Chief Brown replied he did not meet with the Governor, but the Police Department performed traffic duty. Chief Brown explained that schools in Ocoee are safe and the Police Department continues to receive information from the public, teachers, students, and acts accordingly. Discussion ensued regarding school safety. Chief Brown continued by saying there is one officer for the elementary schools, one officer at the middle school and two officers at the high school. He explained there was an incident before the Christmas break that was predicted through intelligence and the Police Department had several officers at the school that day because of a Facebook threat. The Board asked if we caught the person responsible. Lt. Bryant continued by saying that it was not a real threat and no charges were brought forward. The Board asked if we had officers at the schools prior to the Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting. Chief Brown replied yes, and during the following week, the schools were flooded until it was safe. Chief Brown stated the lines of communication with the schools are open and he believes armed security at the schools is not a good idea. Discussion ensued regarding arming teachers. Chief Brown replied he did not think it a good idea but it has been brought up. Discussions ensued regarding this topic. Vice -Chair Laney thanked them for their time and information. Volunteer Prop_ram Tabled to the next meeting. Quarterly Awards At 8:18:53 Treasurer Wilsen left the meeting. Staff - Liaison Sgt. Nylander stated the paperwork is grouped together by Officer of the Quarter, Officer of the Year, Civilian of the Year and Volunteer of the Year. Staff - Liaison Sgt. Nylander proceeded to say that there is only one (1) nomination for Volunteer of the Year. Staff - Liaison Sgt. Nylander stated there is only one (1) nomination for Civilian of the Year. A motion was made by Vice -Chair Laney to select Dennis Murray as Volunteer of the Year 2012 seconded by Member Yost. Motion passed unanimously. A motion was made by Vice -Chair Laney to select TiLa y Shafer as Civilian of the Year 2012, seconded by Member Yost. Motion passed unanimously. Staff - Liaison Sgt. Nylander stated there are three nominations for Officer of the Fourth Quarter and five nominations for Officer of the Year Award since the officer elected Officer of the Fourth Quarter will be included in the nominations for Officer of the Year Award, and there is also one other nomination. Discussions ensued on this matter. Chairman McKey stated the CACOPD Meeting January 24, 2013 Board should vote first on the Officer of the Fourth Quarter and Staff - Liaison Sgt. Nylander told the Board there are three nominations for Officer of the Fourth Quarter. Nomination #1 was submitted by Sgt. Wagner, Nomination 42 was submitted by Sgt. Satterlee, and Nomination #3 was submitted by Sgt. Nylander. Discussions ensued on the nominations for Officer of the Fourth Quarter. Staff - Liaison Sgt. Nylander proceeded to say that nomination #2 was included in an article in the West Orange Times. Chairman McKey made a motion to select the o fficer in Nomination # 3 as Officer of the Fourth Quarter 2012 seconded by Member Ball. Motion passed unanimously. Staff - Liaison Sgt. Nylander explained the nominations for Officer of the Year Award. Nomination #1 is the winner of Officer of the First Quarter 2012 and the original memo with an update is attached for the Board to review. Vice -Chair Laney stated this officer has done a lot more, even obtained the fingerprint reader. Staff - Liaison Sgt. Nylander stated Nomination #2 reads Officer of the Second Quarter Nomination, who was the winner for the Officer of the Second Quarter 2012; Nomination #3 is the winner of the Officer of the Third Quarter 2012, Nomination #4 is a different nomination for a detective; and Nomination #5 is the winner of the Officer of the Fourth Quarter 2012 the Board just now selected. Discussions ensued on the nominations for Officer of the Year. Vice -Chair Laney stated she thought Nomination #1 was impressive since the officer showed initiative. Chairman McKey asked Member Ball to elaborate on why he likes Nomination #2. Member Ball replied when his home was broken into, the officer made an arrest. Member Yost stated he thought Officer #1 went beyond the basics and went out of his way to accomplish his duties. A vote was called: Nomination # 2 — Member Ball Nomination # 1 — Member Yost, Chairman McKey and Vice -Chair Laney A motion was made by Member Yost to select the o ficer in Nomination # 1 for the Officer of the Year 2012 Award seconded by Vice -Chair Laney. Motion passed 3 -1 with Member Ball voting . for the officer in Nomination # 2. Update on Spring Fling Staff - Liaison Sgt. Nylander informed the Board that the date for Spring Fling is March 23� Chairman McKey asked if help is needed, and Staff - Liaison Sgt. Nylander replied he would send out the emails on March 1 Chairman McKey asked if the Board would be joining the Police Department at their table soliciting volunteers. Staff - Liaison Sgt. Nylander replied yes, and added he had pamphlets for the CACOPD to distribute. Discussions ensued regarding Spring Fling and Chairman McKey stated it was important to be there. Member Yost asked who is in charge, and Staff - Liaison Sgt. Nylander replied Joy Wright is. Staff - Liaison Sgt. Nylander revealed the names of the nominees and winners as follows: The winner of Officer of the Fourth Quarter 2012 is Officer Stephanie Roberts (Nomination #3), and Officer Jack Davidson (Nomination #1) is the winner of the Officer of the Year 2012 Award. The other nominations for Officer of the Fourth Quarter are: Officer Travis Clark in the Traffic Unit for the heroin case (Nomination #1), and Agent Nathan Koch with the West Orange Sleigh Ride Task Force case (Nomination #2). The other nominees for the Officer of the Year 2012 Award are Officer Joseph Rodriguez (Nomination #2) with the burglary arrest, Officer Theodore Levin (Nomination #3), and Det. Leonardo Gomez (Nomination #4). E CACOPD Meeting January 24, 2013 Update on Gun Safety Class, and S.A.F.E Tabled to the next meeting. Update on Neighborhood Restorative Justice Tabled to the next meeting. Update on Neighborhood Restorative Justice Tabled to the next meeting. Update on Anti - Bullying Campaign and Students in the Know Discussed after CACOPD Officer Elections. Update on Founder's Day and Poker Run Tabled to the next meeting. Update on Neighborhood Safety Summit Tabled to the next meeting. CACOPD Officer Elections Staff - Liaison Sgt. Nylander reminded the Board of the Officer Elections. Chairman McKey asked Member Ball if he had any ambitions on becoming Chairman or Vice -Chair to which Member Ball replied no. Vice -Chair Laney stated it is time for elections, and asked whether the Board wants to keep the same status quo with Fred Wilsen as Treasurer, Robert McKey as Chairman and her as Vice - Chair. A motion was made by Member Yost to re -elect Rob McKey as Chairman, Victoria Laney as Vice -Chair and Fred Wilsen as Treasurer, seconded by Member Ball. Motion passed unanimously. Anti - Bullying Campaign and Students in the Know Vice -Chair Laney stated this week she spoke to Mike and would have liked him to come for Spring Fling but it may be too late for this one. Member Yost asked if the program was working well at the schools. Vice -Chair Laney replied that it is and continued by saying she would give Mike his phone number to obtain a copy of the DVD and help encourage the schools to play the video. Member Yost asked if the video has been played at the schools. Vice -Chair Laney replied not in the Ocoee schools; Staff - Liaison Sgt. Nylander added that he did not have much information on why the video is not played at the schools. Chairman McKey stated because it is Orange County's jurisdiction but perhaps Pam at the Orange County Public Schools Board can be contacted regarding this matter. Vice -Chair Laney suggested the movie be played at a "Movie at the Park" event and also added Mr. Buchanan has been successful in playing the video at hospitals; therefore, maybe it can be played at Health Central or Florida Hospital. Vice - Chair Laney stated she will have Mike talk to Pam regarding this matter. Member Yost stated that perhaps the movie can be played at the charter schools. Member Ball addressed Staff - Liaison Sgt. Nylander and asked him about the high profile case mentioned by Chief Brown earlier regarding the media featuring Orlando Police Department in change of the investigation. Staff - Liaison Sgt. Nylander explained the Ocoee Police Department, along with other agencies, formed a Joint Homicide Task Force and assigned a detective to the task force headed by the 2 CACOPD Meeting January 24, 2013 Orlando Police Department Homicide Unit. Any time there is a homicide in a jurisdiction for which the task force has a member, they investigate jointly. Chief Brown decided to join in the task force because of the many resources available to the Ocoee Police Department. Since Detective Berish has been promoted to Sergeant, his position will be filled with a new detective on the task force. Member Ball also asked about the Drug Task Force. Staff - Liaison Sgt. Nylander replied the Drug Task Force is different and includes Orange County Sheriff's Office and Winter Garden Police Department; he added the Ocoee Police Department also has an officer assigned to MBI which is a higher level Drug Task Force. SET NEXT AGENDA A. Presentation by Chief Brown and Lt. Bryant on Surveillance Cameras B. Update on Spring Fling C. Update on Founders' Day and Poker Run D. Update on Gun Safety Class, and S.A.F.E. E. Update on Neighborhood Restorative Justice F. Anti - Bullying Campaign G. Update on Neighborhood Safety Summit H. Quarterly Award for Officer I. Activity Report J. Volunteer Program K. Set Next Agenda Meeting adjourned at 8:52 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Madeleine Garza, Recording Clerk Rob McKey, Chairman 7