HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem #68 - Discussion ItemCITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA
JAp1,%,;E:R'9(Ikb40FFICE MEMORANDUM
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ego oct �
TO . Cesar H . Od io DATE o cY 17 1990 FILE
City Manager
SUBJECT Assessment of Policy Decisions
Regarding Residency & Take
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Home Vehicles
FROM REFERENCES:
Perry L. Anderson, Jr.
Chief of Police ENCLOSURES.
As a responsible manager it is incumbent upon me to give you an
objective assessment of the impact that policy decisions might
have on the Police Department. In this case we are dealing with
two issues. The first is a policy which would require all City
employees to move into the City limits. The second is the loss
of all take home vehicles for anyone who lives outside the City
of Miami. Although both of these issues are interconnected, I
will address each of them separately.
City Residency
At the outset it must be clearly understood that the issue of
City residency is not one of simply moving from one geographic
location to another. The issue is one of the disruption of
thousands of people who may be forced to move from their homes,
their friends and their children's schools or face the loss of
their jobs.
Studies have shown that, other than the death of a family member,
the possible loss of a job or the relocation of a family are two
of the most stress producing situAtions a person faces in life.
This policy would place almost 83% of the Department's employees
in this high stress environment.
Equally important is the fact that this policy will affect every__—,
operational and administrative entity in the entire organization.
With all these employees preoccupied with family problems,
financial concerns, and high stress levels, negative effects on
the organization and its operational effectiveness will be seen.
The morale of this organization will be severely impacted.
Employees concerned about their personal problems will be less
alert on the job. This will result in more errors, reduced
efficiency, and a possible increase in line of duty injuries.
Personal problems at home will be further reflected in increases
in complaints. The stress caused by this issue is predicted to
increase the use of sick time from stress -related illness. The
general work environment will become more and more depressing;
thereby, increasing an already high level of stress. The result
is, of course, a loss in both efficiency and effectiveness. This
will ultimately have a negative financial impact on the City.
Cesar H, Odio -2-
In addition to the morale of the employees, the City
Administration must consider other consequences which might
result from a residency requirement.
1. Cost Factors - It is clear that a proposal of this nature
will be challenged in the courts. It could be fought for
many years. Even if the City prevailed there would be other
costs to the employees for which the City could incur
liability. Among these could be moving expenses, the costs
of closing on a new home, and the costs incurred by higher
interest rates on new homes.
Additionally, with the possible loss of a large number of
employees at one time, we will incur big dollar costs in the
selection, hiring and training of new personnel.
2. A Loss of Experience and Youth - Although the actual numbers
of employees that might leave cannot be determined, it is
probable that those employees most likely to leave will
either be those who have a great deal of experience and
those who have little time on the department. The loss of
either of these groups will negatively impact upon the
Police department and the entire City.
The loss of experienced supervisory and command personnel
will have a dual impact. First, we will have to replace
them with existing personnel which will further deplete the
number of police employees at the police officer level.
Second, the lack of experienced supervisors and commanders
increases the probability for inappropriate police action.
This will result in increased civil liability to the City,
and a high potential for police corruption.
The loss of our youth will have equally negative
consequences. With youth comes enthusiasm and with this
enthusiasm, when properly directed, comes productivity. The;
loss of these young people will probably translate into a
loss in productivity.
3. Qualified Candidates - Any requirement that current
employees take up residence in the City of Miami would
necessarily require that all candidates for any job must
reside within the City in order to be hired. As experienced
in the past, such requirements result in a depleted pool of
qualified candidates. This requirement has had a definite
impact on the City's ability to recruit African American
police candidates.
90-
4
Cesar EI. Odio -3-
4. Manpower Shortages - The net result of the above factors
will result in a serious manpower shortage. There will be a
significant long-term (two to three years) reduction in our
ability to provide service to this community and we will
find ourselves in a situation similar to 1980.
These are some of the results we can reasonably expect if all
employees are required to relocate. They are not exaggerated.
It is more likely that the impact will be even greater given the
unprecedented nature of such an event.
Take Hose Vehicle and Car Allowance Programs
The loss of take home vehicles will have a negative impact on
the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the Police
Department. Take home vehicles are given to individuals in
specific assignments for two basic reasons. In most cases, take
home vehicles are assigned to individuals who may be required to
respond during off -duty hours to critical incidents. In other
instances, such as the Canine cars, the vehicle is the most cost
efficient method of transporting an officer and his canine
partner. The gene-ral impact of the loss of take home and/or car
allowance vehicles will be seen in five areas.
1. The ability of the Department to perform its mission will be
impeded at all levels of the organization. Its effects will
be seen in a variety of ways.
Investigations of a critical nature may be compromised by
our inability to respond rapidly to crime scenes, police
shootings, and sensitive investigations. The very lives of
our citizens may be unnecessarily put at risk when units or
individuals such as the SWAT commander, on -call divers, or
the bomb squad are required to respond first to the station
rather than directly to the scene of an emergency incident.
A great
deal of the flexibility we
now have in
attending
meetings
during evening hours and at
sites outside
the City .
would be
lost.
In some
cases, the cost of take home vehicles
would be
offset by even greater costs such as
the kenneling
of police
dogs at
an estimated cost of $100,000
a year.
Finally,
we can expect that the taxpayers of this
City will
be further
inconvenienced because
our response
time to
certain
situations such as fatal
car accidents, police
shooting scenes, and child abuse cases will increase.
2.
With personnel responding first to the station and
then to
the incident, there will be an increase in
overtime
expenditures.
3.
It is likely that employee organizations will fight
the City
on the basis of prevailing benefits.
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4.
Personnel involved in the executive car allowance
program,
which was given in lieu of a pay raise, have
assumed
financial liabilities such as car payments. The
loss of
this money will place an unreasonable burden on
them and
their families. In addition, these employees have assumed a
liability by utilizing private insurance, as opposed to
falling under the City's self insurance program, which can
result in significant cost savings to this City.
5.
This loss will adversely impact on the morale
of the
employees effected by it.
The above represents a candid appraisal of the impact either of
these proposed policies will have on the Miami Police Department
and the City's work -force. This assessment should be shared
with the members of the Commission so that they can make a
decision based on a complete understanding of the impact that
policies of this nature could have on public safety.
In conclusion, we are all aware of the many burdens City
employees have had to share over the last few years - cuts in
starting salaries by 25% for AFSCME employees, financial
hardships of the City, bypassing of increases in line with the
cost of living for benefits, layoffs and or threats of layoffs,
the constant trauma of civil unrest, and the day -today
.uncertainty of job security. Because of all of these factors,
we have had a traumatized City and traumatized employees.
Therefore, any further hardships or unsettling changes should
not be imposed so that all employees can execute their duties
within an environment of relative tranquility and stability.
It is not in the best interest of this City, nor can it afford,
any further traumatism to its dedicated and loyal employees.
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