WeHo pursuing Community Safety Officers program

Public Safety Manager Anita Shandi provided an extensive update to City Council on Monday night on the public safety equipment and technology items that were previously approved by the council. She began by discussing the Community Safety Officer program, which the city’s Community Safety Department is working on in partnership with the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station.

The program aims to enhance public safety by supplementing sworn law enforcement services with non-sworn, unarmed Community Safety Officers. These officers will support and enhance the services provided by sworn law enforcement officers, thereby increasing the safety and well-being of the communities they serve

“Community Safety Officers can respond to non-emergency calls and complete reports on their own without the need for a sworn law enforcement response,” Shandi said. “Community Safety Officers can also be trained in fingerprinting and DNA collection, which aids in investigation and efficient apprehension of suspects that have committed crimes. This collaborative approach has proven to enhance faster service to the community as it allows sworn law enforcement officers the ability to be more proactive and respond more quickly to emergency calls.”

The review of the proposed Community Safety Officer program will be presented to the City Council for discussion and approval within the third quarter of this calendar year.

Shandi provided details on the recent purchase of a Polaris utility task vehicle. On December 4, 2023, the city placed an order for this vehicle at a cost of $5,185, which exceeded the originally approved amount. However, the increase was fully covered by the Community Safety Department’s existing budget without the need for additional funds. The Polaris utility task vehicle will be utilized by Community Safety staff during major events such as Pride, Halloween and CicLAvia. It will facilitate mobility in large crowds and during street closures when traffic is significantly impacted. This vehicle will provide a safe and efficient means for staff to attend various meetings, assess and respond to complaints, and patrol to identify any issues or unpermitted activities.

City Council had approved the implementation of several safety enhancements, including the installation of level three ballistic protection at certain city facilities in specific areas, based on recommendations from law enforcement partners. Another enhancement is the implementation of proactive security monitoring at city facilities. The city has made significant progress towards enhancing security measures, with the impending installation of ballistic protection and proactive security monitoring systems. Following extensive research and consultations with vendors, the city will begin these crucial upgrades within the current fiscal year. The staff is currently working on a request for proposal to secure a vendor for the ballistic protection installation, which is expected to begin and possibly be completed within this year. The selection of a vendor for proactive security monitoring at city facilities is anticipated by the end of next month.