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REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION Department Approval: Manager Approval: Date: 412912002 Item No.: V C. Agenda Section: Reports/Recommendations Item Description: Approval for COPS MORE Universal Hiring Program To Assist Law Er►forcemeM Agencies Seeking To Add A��o�. New Career Law EnforcemeM Officers To Engage II1 Community Policing BACKGROUND The Roseville Police Department is currently budgeted for forty-eight sworn officers (three of which were added due to funds received from a previous 1997 COPS Universal Hiring Program grant). The current size of the police force does not allow the department to deploy an officer to the assignment of commercial patrol-a service long requested by the City's retail community. The department expanded the duties of the juvenile officer to include family violence prevention; thereby creating the need for yet another full-time officer to focus solely on this crucial issue to the future well-being of society as a whole. Given the need for these two critical positions within our community, the Roseville Police Department proposes that with funds from the current COPS Hiring Program, another two {��- time officers be added to the department to function in the roles of commercial patrol officer and family violence investigator. PROPOSED ACTION Familv Violence Investigator The police department is requesting the addition of a full-time family violence investigator to the department. This position would increase the departments sworn strength to forty-nine. This position is critical to our community for the following reasons: 1) There is an epidemic of violence and abuse within the home and between family members. 2) Occurences of spouse battering, forcible rape, domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse, and sexual exploitation of children are escalating. 3) Family members are tragically trapped in the cyclical pattern of abuse and violence— abused children become abusing adults. 4) Child abuse and neglect have been closely associated with juvenile delinquency. 5) Familial violence relates to violent criminality outside the home. 6) The risk of becoming a victim of a violent offense is greater in the home than outside the home. 7) The majority of family violence victims never come into contact with the criminal justice system. 8) Seven in ten murdered women are killed by male partners. 9) In 1997, more than 2,500 homicides were committed by family members. 10) Fewer than 10% of victims report serious violence to law enforcement (studies have shown that one of the reasons is lack of confidence in police intervention). In 2001, the Roseville Police Department responded to 33 violations of restraining orders; 92 domestic assaults, 160 verbal domestics, 27 child abuse cases and sixteen child sexual abuse calls for service.