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POLICY PROPOSAL
DATE FILE NUMBER SUBJECT Pilot Program - Police Officers PAGELOF-a—
12/4/84 CP-116 ,; Elementary School Program
PROPOSAL �ROPO�D BAY: CITY MANAGER'S REVIEW
ounc me ers Louis
Za ata and Ka h W he b
Background. ;
In 19823 the Fort Worth Police Department's Crime Analysis Division detected
increases in violent crimes committed by juvenile gangs. Approximately seventy
- percent of these gangs were located on the north side of Fort Worth. These
gang-related crimes have also spread into the Fort Worth Public Schools.
The most disturbing trend indicates that the majority of juvenile gang
related incidents are occurring at the middle schools. On August 1, 1983,
_ the Fort Worth Police Department formed the Juvenile Gang Activity Unit to
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respond to the problem. Their goal remains impacting and diffusing the
- influence of.juvenile gangs to prevent further growth and evolution to a
second generation. During the past year, the Coordinator of Community Cultural
Affairs,' in- conjunction with the Juvenile Gang Unit, has initiated programs
for the middle school students, ~ - -
The Police ^Department now needs tc develop a program aimed at the Elementary
schools. The children rarely see the positive and human side of a- police
officer. .It is imperative that the police officer do everything possible
to mold the character and influence the minds of our elementary school
children. -_
Policy Proposal
It is proposed to establish` a pilot program in five targeted elementary
schools that would teach students about crime prevention and would show
the positive and human side of police officers. The program would include
sending suniformed- officer and a marked patrol unit into the following
schools: Circle Park, Denver Avenue, Diamond Hill, and two additional-
schools, one of which will be in the southwest part of the city. These
schools will be selected in the near future.
( LEGAUTY ®-
`� FISCAL NOTE
CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS
POLICY PROPOSAL (cont'd) PAaE_oF
The program will be a cooperative effort between the Fort Worth Independent
School District and the Fort Worth Police Department. The School District
will provide resources, materials, and professional services such as teaching
aids or staff assistance. The objective of the program will be to positively
impact the attitudes of students and their parents toward law enforcement .. : .,
agencies and influence the parents to combat crime and dissuade juveniles
from joining gangs.
The police officer will conduct programs for each grade level, kindergarten
through the fifth grade. The programs include tours of .police facilities,
sessions with specialized officers such as K-9, mounted patrol, or helicopter
services. A classroom-tested puppet program also will be used as a teaching
aid during the sessions..
In addition, the officer will develop a mentor program where he will take
-- one child per month out of the classroom (fourth and fifth grade students).
This approach will enable the officer to work with the children individually
and let the student see how- an officer spends his day. The officer will
also develop follow-up programs that will continue into the summer and include . `
meeting the parents.
The program and the actions of the police officer assigned to the program
will be evaluated by the students, parents, teachers, and administrators
of each school. The officer will be. assigned to the Youth Division and will
be supervised by the Gang Unit supervisor. .
- Recommendation
To implement the pilot program of educating elementary school students about -
police officers and law enforcement agencies. The program would be initiated
in five targeted elementary schools in Fort Worth.
Legality
There are no known legal impediments.
Fiscal Note
The total program cost for fiscal year 1984-85, including one officer's
salary and fringe benefits, clothing allowance, supplies, and equipment
rental, and the purchase of the puppet program, will be approximately
$27,439 if the program begins on December 1. All these costs can be
absorbed in the Police Department's General Fund budget. The Special
Investigations Division currently has a vacant police officer position
that will be filled by the officer placed in the elementary schools. The
additional $1,000 in supplies can be paid from savings accumulated elsewhere
in the department. The estimated program cost for an entire fiscal year
is $31,312:
CITY OF FORT WORTH
R POLICY PROPOSAL (cont'd) PAGE 3 OF 3
City Manager's Comments
The City Manager agrees with this proposal and the accompanying recommends-
tions.
VS:eop
Coun ilman Lo is pata ' Councilwoman thy Wetherby
Dist ict 2 District 6
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-CITY OF FORT WORTH