Reaching Out TogetherReaching Out Together

A Library/Police Department A Library/Police Department PartnershipPartnership

Why did we need this partnership?Why did we need this partnership?

Customer and staff security concernsCustomer and staff security concerns Gang activity Gang activity Library staff time spent on incidents Library staff time spent on incidents

and reportingand reporting Security staff not meeting needsSecurity staff not meeting needs Desire to increase Police community Desire to increase Police community

presence and involvement presence and involvement

City of Mountain ViewCity of Mountain View

City in Santa Clara CountyCity in Santa Clara County In the heart of Silicon Valley & In the heart of Silicon Valley &

home of Googlehome of Google 74,000 residents74,000 residents 57% multi-family housing, 28% 57% multi-family housing, 28%

single family, 15% othersingle family, 15% other 55% white, 18% Hispanic, 21% 55% white, 18% Hispanic, 21%

Asian, 6% otherAsian, 6% other 9% unemployment rate as of 9% unemployment rate as of

July 2009July 2009

Mountain View Public LibraryMountain View Public Library

60,000 SF single building with two floors60,000 SF single building with two floors Underground and surface parkingUnderground and surface parking 1.6 million items circulated FY 08/091.6 million items circulated FY 08/09 2,700 people per day on average2,700 people per day on average 45 Internet computers45 Internet computers 31 FTE31 FTE Over 3,000 behavior incidents per yearOver 3,000 behavior incidents per year

Started With Hourly Guard StaffStarted With Hourly Guard Staff

High number of incidentsHigh number of incidents Library desk staff handled Library desk staff handled

incidents and filled out incidents and filled out reports reports

Guards in support roleGuards in support role Guards not in uniformGuards not in uniform Limited trainingLimited training Varying ability and skillsVarying ability and skills

Next StepNext StepPrivate Security GuardsPrivate Security Guards

High number of incidentsHigh number of incidents Library desk staff handled Library desk staff handled

incidents and filled out reports incidents and filled out reports Guards in support roleGuards in support role Guards in uniformGuards in uniform Uncertain, inadequate trainingUncertain, inadequate training Poor communication skillsPoor communication skills High turnoverHigh turnover

Library-Police PartnershipLibrary-Police PartnershipPilot Program March – June 2008Pilot Program March – June 2008

MVPL and MVPD PartnershipMVPL and MVPD PartnershipBothBoth MVPDMVPD MVPLMVPL

Create job Create job descriptiondescription

Provide uniforms Provide uniforms & radios& radios

Supervise Police Supervise Police AssistantsAssistants

Recruit & Recruit & interviewinterview

Provide Provide background background checkschecks

Pay Police Pay Police AssistantsAssistants

Provide training Provide training in procedures & in procedures & policiespolicies

Communicate Communicate with Police with Police AssistantsAssistants

How do Police Assistants Differ How do Police Assistants Differ from Police Officers?from Police Officers?

Wear different uniformsWear different uniforms Not sworn officersNot sworn officers Do not carry weaponsDo not carry weapons Cannot make arrestsCannot make arrests

What makes the program What makes the program successful?successful?

Hiring people with appropriate Hiring people with appropriate background & skillsbackground & skills

Training by Police and LibraryTraining by Police and Library Win-Win for Police and LibraryWin-Win for Police and Library

Goals and BenefitsGoals and Benefits

Better security and safety for the LibraryBetter security and safety for the Library Improved and shared training and Improved and shared training and

supervisionsupervision Shared expensesShared expenses More experienced and skilled security staffMore experienced and skilled security staff More proactive security staffMore proactive security staff More Police community presence and More Police community presence and

involvementinvolvement

Police Assistant ResponsibilitiesPolice Assistant Responsibilities

Patrol interior and exteriorPatrol interior and exterior Enforce Library policiesEnforce Library policies Communicate with Library staffCommunicate with Library staff Handle customer issuesHandle customer issues Fill out incident formsFill out incident forms Provide direct link to Police DepartmentProvide direct link to Police Department Community outreachCommunity outreach

A Day in the Life of a A Day in the Life of a Police AssistantPolice Assistant

Police Assistant SchedulePolice Assistant Schedule

Three shifts cover 37 out of the 64 hours Three shifts cover 37 out of the 64 hours the Library is openthe Library is open

MondayMonday – – ThursdayThursday 3:15 – 9:15 pm 3:15 – 9:15 pm Friday Friday 3:15 – 6:15 pm 3:15 – 6:15 pm SaturdaySaturday 12:15 – 6:15 pm 12:15 – 6:15 pm SundaySunday 1:15 - 5:15 pm 1:15 - 5:15 pm

Daily TasksDaily Tasks Check in with desk staffCheck in with desk staff Check voice mail and e-mailCheck voice mail and e-mail Read recent incident reportsRead recent incident reports Make rounds & communicate with customersMake rounds & communicate with customers Handle customer problemsHandle customer problems Call Police as neededCall Police as needed Fill out incident reportsFill out incident reports Note & report graffiti & facilities issuesNote & report graffiti & facilities issues Answer questions about Police Dept.Answer questions about Police Dept. Hand out Police brochures and stickersHand out Police brochures and stickers

What types of things do What types of things do Police Assistants handle?Police Assistants handle?

Lost childrenLost children Behavior policy issuesBehavior policy issues PornographyPornography Angry customersAngry customers Theft deterrenceTheft deterrence Reporting facilities issuesReporting facilities issues Book eatersBook eaters

Staff Satisfaction Survey Staff Satisfaction Survey June 2009 June 2009

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Very s

atisf

ied

Satisf

ied

Somew

hat sa

tisfie

d

Not satis

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Very u

nsatis

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Satisfaction with PoliceAssistants

Satisfaction with SecurityCo.

Police Assistant Activity StatisticsPolice Assistant Activity StatisticsJuly 2008 – June 2009July 2008 – June 2009

3022

2377

1524 1464

687

209 173 91 81 69 67 340

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

Behav

ior P

olicy

Issu

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Provid

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mati

on

Provid

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ibrar

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mati

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Theft

Deter

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Called

PD

# of

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Buildin

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Libra

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Inte

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Staff Opinions onStaff Opinions onWhat’s ImportantWhat’s Important

Incident assistance

Behavior policyenforcement

Staff safety

Control of theft

Internet issues

Patrolling exterior ofbuilding

Returning lost orunsupervised children totheir parents

Staff Staff QuotesQuotes

““Increased my own sense of personal Increased my own sense of personal security and lifts some of the policing security and lifts some of the policing chores from staff.”chores from staff.”

““Much calmer. Patrons listen.” Much calmer. Patrons listen.”

““All P.A.s are wonderful. The public All P.A.s are wonderful. The public seems to enjoy them as well. Their seems to enjoy them as well. Their presence alone seems to keep the presence alone seems to keep the environment in check.”environment in check.”

Staff QuotesStaff Quotes

““I’ve seen Art visit with children I’ve seen Art visit with children about being a Policeman in a very about being a Policeman in a very approachable manner. They love the approachable manner. They love the stickers he passes out.”stickers he passes out.”

““A patron was very interested in A patron was very interested in hearing more about the ride along hearing more about the ride along program.”program.”

Impact of Police AssistantsImpact of Police Assistants

Fewer incidentsFewer incidents Reduced staff workload and Reduced staff workload and

stressstress Increased engagement Increased engagement

between Police and Library between Police and Library customerscustomers

Wayne’s Saturday StoriesWayne’s Saturday Stories

One child asked, “Do you have a gun?” One child asked, “Do you have a gun?” Wayne answered, “No, I have books!”Wayne answered, “No, I have books!”

Contact InformationContact Information Karen Burnett, Library Director, Mountain View Karen Burnett, Library Director, Mountain View

Public Library, Public Library, karen.burnett@mountainview.govkaren.burnett@mountainview.gov

Laura Shea-Clark, Library Services Manager, Laura Shea-Clark, Library Services Manager, Mountain View Public Library, Mountain View Public Library, laura.shea-clark@mountainview.govlaura.shea-clark@mountainview.gov

Liz Wylie, Community Relations Officer, Liz Wylie, Community Relations Officer, Mountain View Police Department, Mountain View Police Department, elizabeth.wylie@mountainview.govelizabeth.wylie@mountainview.gov

Art Thomas, Police Assistant, Mountain View Art Thomas, Police Assistant, Mountain View Public Library, Public Library, arthur.thomas@mountainview.govarthur.thomas@mountainview.gov