Agenda

Back to Calendar Return

Agenda Item 22.

City Council Meeting

Meeting Date:	08/15/2023
FROM:	Bill Gallardo

Subject:

Dispatch Services – La Habra Police Department

RECOMMENDATION

Approve the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Brea and the City of La Habra to assist with dispatch services and the training of La Habra Police Dispatchers.

BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION

The La Habra Police Department (LHPD) has formally requested the assistance of the Brea Police Department (BPD) in their Dispatch Center. LHPD is currently in the midst of a staffing crisis and desperately needs assistance. The current staffing levels at La Habra have made it difficult, at best, to provide 24-hour-a-day / 7-day-a-week coverage within their Center.

LHPD’s request is two-fold. First, LHPD has asked that Brea Police Dispatchers be authorized to work overtime, voluntarily, in LHPD’s Dispatch Center. The services provided to La Habra would include a variety of Dispatch-related tasks including, but not limited to, receiving and dispatching routine and emergency calls and performance of other Dispatch associated services as requested by the La Habra Chief of Police or their designee. Second, LHPD has requested Brea PD’s assistance in training new LHPD Dispatchers in our Dispatch Center until such a time when they have sufficient staffing to train their Dispatchers.

It is important to note that Brea’s Dispatching needs will remain the priority. Any assistance given to La Habra will occur only after Brea’s staffing needs have been met. Any overtime shift worked at LHPD’s Dispatch center by a BPD Dispatcher shall be completely voluntary, and no BPD Dispatcher shall be ordered to work a LHPD Dispatch shift.

This agreement will be valid effective August 19, 2023, and end on January 1, 2024.

Since June, Chief Hawley has met and discussed this request on three separate occasions with the Brea Police Association (B.P.A.) on this matter. However, upon approval of this M.O.U., Chief Hawley and City Staff will formally meet and confer with B.P.A. and engage stakeholders in our Dispatch Center to implement these two requests.

FISCAL IMPACT/SUMMARY

There is no fiscal impact on the City of Brea. The City of Brea shall invoice the City of La Habra for any shifts worked, and the City of La Habra has agreed to reimburse the City of Brea at our rate for shifts worked.

Due to the timing of LHPD’s request and their dire staffing levels, this request was not brought to Finance Committee and instead presented directly to City Council for consideration.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

William Gallardo, City Manager
Prepared by: Philip A. Rodriguez, Captain
Concurrence: Adam C. Hawley, Chief of Police

Attachments
Brea PD Working Agreement