Attachment A - PSJ Subcommittee Mins 10.12.22 Draft.pdf

Phoenix City Council 
Public Safety and Justice (PSJ) Subcommittee 
Summary Minutes 
Wednesday, October 11, 2022 
City Council Chambers 
200 W. Jefferson St. 
Phoenix, Ariz. 
Subcommittee Members Present                    Subcommittee Members Absent         
Councilwoman Ann O’Brien, Chair 
Councilman Jim Waring 
Councilwoman Yassamin Ansari 
Councilmember Carlos Garcia*  
 
CALL TO ORDER 
Chairwoman O’Brien called the Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee to order at 9:32 
a.m. with Councilman Jim Waring and Councilwoman Yassamin Ansari present. 
 
CALL TO THE PUBLIC 
None. 
MINUTES OF MEETINGS 
1. Minutes of the Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee Meeting 
Councilmember Waring made a motion to approve the minutes of the Sept. 14, 2022, 
Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee meeting. Councilwoman Ansari seconded the 
motion which passed unanimously, 3-0. 
INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION (ITEMS 3-4)  
2. Phoenix Fire Department Call Volume, Response Times, and Staffing 
Chairwoman O’Brien introduced Phoenix Fire Chief Mike Duran, Assistant Fire Chief 
Tim Kreis, and Assistant Fire Chief Tim Gammage to present on the item. 
Chief Kreis discussed fire station locations and activity level managed response times 
and provided statistics demonstrating high call activity, total annual absences, and other 
factors contributing to nine-minute response times. He highlighted a couple of the new 
stations proposed in the General Obligation (GO) Bond Program and discussed the 
evolution of the service delivery model including community college partnerships, the 
Community Assistance Program, and telehealth. 
*Councilmember Garcia joined the meeting at 9:43 a.m. 
Attachment A

Councilman Waring asked if there were not enough firefighters or not enough stations. 
Chief Kreis said it was both because firefighters from one station were running too many 
calls and other stations had to cover a simultaneous call, which increased response 
times. Chief Kreis also shared that property was identified to rebuild stations with limited 
space and temporary stations could be an option in the meantime.  
Councilman Waring asked how many stations should be built in fast-growing districts 
with open areas. 
Chief Kriess answered there was a prioritization plan to address response times for the 
development of new fire stations. 
Councilman Waring expressed his preference for the GO Bond package to include fire 
stations capable of handling future growth. 
Chief Duran stated the Fire Department sought a balanced evolution for service delivery 
and had a 20-year fire station strategic plan to reach growing areas that includes an 
operational resources prioritization for the high activity areas. 
Councilman Waring asked if a fire station could be built, on average, in a year-and-a-
half. 
Chief Duran explained supply chain issues delayed new fire stations opening, but 
design phases could move forward quickly. 
Councilman Waring asked about the functions of the various fire emergency vehicles 
necessary to respond to calls and if those would change in the future. 
Chief Duran responded an all-hazards call required a minimum of two paramedics and 
two emergency medical technicians (EMT). 
Councilman Waring expressed his belief that the community should be given an 
explanation of how Fire Department resources were deployed. 
Councilmember Garcia asked if the infrastructure needs proposed in the GO Bond 
Program was enough for the Fire Department. 
Chief Duran replied the proposed projects were based on current capabilities to build 
fire stations and the City had a plan with future recurring GO Bond Programs that could 
address future needs. 
Councilmember Garcia expressed his hope for staff to find ways of addressing the 
identified needs of the Fire Department. 
Chairwoman O’Brien asked what staff-to-truck ratio would be required to meet the 
national response time standard and when the staff ratio standard was established.

Chief Kreis replied one relief firefighter was needed for every four staff assigned to a 
station. He explained the ratio was examined through the COVID-19 pandemic 
approximately two to three years ago.  
Chairwoman O’Brien stressed the importance of staff re-examining the sufficiency of the 
staff ratio to ensure it sufficiently meets the high activity and population growth. 
Councilwoman Ansari asked about a plan for additional emergency vehicles and how to 
expedite building fire stations. 
Chief Kries stated a fire station should not take more than 3,000 calls per year and 
response times would reduce by adding supplemental fire units available in an area. 
Councilwoman Ansari asked for the definition of a unit. 
Chief Kries said a unit was a fire truck for all hazards and said additional ambulances 
were needed to improve transport times. 
Councilwoman Ansari asked for a list of the Fire Department’s needs that must be 
addressed sooner than the implementation of the GO Bond Program. 
Chairwoman O’Brien asked if staff believed they were on target to achieve their five-
year goal for 410 paramedics by 2025. 
Chief Kries stated the department was on target to meet paramedic staffing needs as a 
result of the paramedic training plan, partnerships, and hiring incentives helped meet 
the paramedic staffing needs. He believed the department was on target. 
Councilman Waring asked if technology helped reduce response time. 
Chief Duran responded with a few examples of technology advancements such as the 
data gathered from electronic patient tracking, better training, and GIS for placement of 
resources. 
Councilman Waring expressed the value in the deployment of to improvement services 
provided by the Fire Department. 
Chairwoman O’Brien also expressed interest in a technology use report. 
Chief Gammage presented on current staff levels, demographic comparisons, planned 
hiring schedule, and Recruitment Captain efforts. He said total staffing was 1,728 
authorized sworn positions, with 35 fire recruits in the academy and 37 in paramedic 
training. 
Councilmember Garcia asked about competitive salaries for position retention.

Chief Gammage stated the City was ranked in the top two for salaries among other 
cities. 
Councilman Waring asked if staff was concerned by the lack of new hires and future 
hiring problems were anticipated. 
Chief Gammage replied the department was on schedule to fill the vacancies. 
Ms. Bays added that vacancies were part of the academy training process and the Fire 
Department had received many applications. 
Councilman Waring asked what could be addressed before the GO Bond Program. 
Ms. Bays replied staff explored the cost of adding positions and supplement existing 
stations with personnel or equipment to meet intermediate needs. 
Councilman Waring expressed his preference for City Council and staff to have a 
greater focus on adding public safety positions rather than spend money on new 
positions for other departments, because fire response directly impacts lives. 
Chairwoman O’Brien asked for a future update about immediate actions taken on 
requirements that would allow the Fire Department to meet the national standards. 
3. Phoenix Police Department Hiring, Recruitment and Attrition Monthly 
Assistant Chief Bryan Chapman presented on current staff levels, retirements and 
resignations, testing, recruit tracking, and attrition and hiring. He said total staffing was 
2,593 sworn filled positions, with 69 police recruits in the academy and 992 officers 
working in patrol as of Oct. 3. 
Chairwoman O’Brien asked for the definition of attrition used in the presentation. 
Chief Chapman replied retirements and resignations totaled the attrition number. 
Chairwoman O’Brien asked if this would be the first year the City hired beyond the 
attrition rate. 
Chief Chapman replied the month of September was the first time in two years that staff 
hired outnumbered attrition. 
Councilman Waring asked for more information on the chart showing 10 fewer sworn 
officers than last month given that more hiring occurred. 
Chief Chapman said attrition was measured every 30 days and hiring was updated 
every six weeks, so the numbers fluctuated. 
Councilman Waring asked if officers were immediately resigning unplanned.

Chief Chapman replied a resignation was counted as leaving the job for any type of 
reason, other than a planned retirement.  
Councilman Waring asked how many former staff said they could not endure the job 
any longer, as opposed to leaving for family reasons, in their exit interview. 
Chief Chapman responded officers left for a variety of reasons, including time served 
and money, but more officers resigned while new to the job serving less than five years. 
Councilman Waring understood some people decided the job was not a good fit for 
them, but said resignations were concerning. 
4. Gun Violence Prevention Efforts 
Assistant Police Chief Anthony Vasquez and Police Commander Warren Brewer 
presented on the item. 
Chief Vasquez described two high profile incidents that occurred over the summer, 
defined the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), and said the 
Crime Gun Intelligence Unit (CGIU) shifted focus to identifying factors of the crime gun. 
Commander Brewer provided more background information on Phoenix’s CGIU and 
said the unit was a model locally and nationally. He stated NIBIN was used to find 
ballistic matches and created leads on who pulled the trigger. 
Chief Vasquez stated 10 detectives participated in the summer crime gun pilot program 
and focused on five precincts. He spoke about increased engagement and information-
sharing and provided statistics on impounded guns. Chief Vasquez said staff hoped to 
extend the program, transition to centralized non-fatal shooting teams like other major 
cities and continue building a relationship with offices that prosecute the suspects. 
Councilwoman Ansari appreciated the work done to reduce the public health epidemic 
of gun crime and asked if the current plan included goals to reduce the homicide rate. 
Chief Vasquez predicted that crime suppression efforts would lower the data trend in all 
categories of violent crime. 
Councilwoman Ansari expressed interest in seeing more gun violence crime data and 
expressed support for a gun violence prevention policy. 
Councilman Waring asked for a graph comparing the number of police officers per 
capita and homicide or other crime rates dating back to the 1980s. 
Councilwoman Ansari encouraged staff to examine the number of guns in the 
community. 
Councilman Waring asked if gun laws for the City were determined by the State.

Chief Vasquez indicated there were current State gun laws and said staff needed to 
leverage technology and have proactive enforcement while growing the police force. 
Councilman Waring expressed his belief that the increase in homicide rates was due to 
a decrease in police officers. 
Councilmember Garcia inquired about the gunshot tracker and how it related to the Gun 
Violence Program. 
Commander Brewer explained the layered technology system alerts detectives to a 
precise location when shots were fired and cameras capture details surrounding the 
crime, which could improve homicide clearance rates. 
Councilmember Garcia asked if a gun could be altered before a person committed 
another crime with it. 
Chief Vasquez responded multiple characteristics contribute to a gun’s digital 
fingerprint. 
Councilmember Garcia asked about tracking gun purchases. 
Chief Vasquez answered the partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms 
and Explosives allowed officers to identify who purchased the gun. 
Councilmember Garcia asked what the subcommittee could do to support the work of 
the Police Department related to gun policy and law. 
Chief Vasquez replied he would gather more data on cities with stricter gun laws and 
ones that do not. 
Chairwoman O’Brien asked what helped Las Vegas be successful in homicide 
clearances. 
Commander Brewer explained the technology and a system of personnel to follow up 
on the camera images surrounding the violent crime was critical and that the City lacked 
crime analysts to assist detectives. 
Chairwoman O’Brien reiterated the need to hire more officers and have technology to 
solve cases. 
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION (ITEMS 5-6) 
5. ASU Calls for Service Study Update and Recommendations 
Assistant City Manager Lori Bays and Assistant Police Chief Sean Connolly presented 
on the item.

Chief Connolly discussed the collaboration between the Phoenix Police Department and 
Arizona State University to complete an assessment on police calls for service. He said 
there were eight call types evaluated and shared recommendations for immediate 
action on found property, abandoned vehicles, parking complaints, and minor damages.  
Chief Connolly requested the subcommittee approve a recommendation to the full City 
Council for eight new Police Assistant positions. 
Councilmember Garcia asked where the funds for the new positions would come from. 
Ms. Bays replied the new positions would be added to the Police Department budget. 
Councilmember Garcia asked if funds from vacant positions could be used. 
Ms. Bays answered the Police Department did not have the capacity to cover the cost of 
new positions in the current fiscal year. 
Councilmember Garcia believed the Community Assistance Program would also 
provide relief and ensure the right type of staff would respond to the call. He 
encouraged staff to train police assistants in specialized needs. 
Councilmember Waring expressed support to move the recommendation forward. 
Chairwoman O’Brien asked for the total annual budgetary impact. 
Ms. Bays responded the positions cost $650,000 and an undetermined cost for 
equipment. 
Councilman Waring said officers should have more time to deal with serious public 
safety concerns and asked how the community could identify dangerous found property 
if the item was common, such as a backpack. 
Chief Connolly replied staff would update the found property procedures for the 
community and officers but continue to emphasize public safety. 
Councilman Waring said he appreciated proceeding with caution in dealing with with 
found items. He expressed support for the new positions to free up time for police 
officers. 
Chairwoman O’Brien expressed support for the new positions and asked the changes to 
be implemented expeditiously. 
Ms. Bays replied it would be on the agenda for the Oct. 26th City Council Formal 
Meeting. 
Councilman Waring made a motion to approve the item. Councilwoman Ansari 
seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 4-0.

6. Block Watch Guidelines 
Police Commander Charmane Osborn and Neighborhood Block Watch Grant Program 
(NBWGP) Oversight Committee Chair Carmen Arias presented on the item. 
Commander Osborn provided an overview of the NWBGP Oversight Committee 
established by Proposition 301 to provide resources to reduce crime in the community, 
with members appointed by City Council and the Mayor. She outlined the most 
impactful grant guideline changes, including the grant dollar award amount from 
$12,000 to $15,000 and how applicant groups could use those funds. 
Councilmember Garcia thanked the committee for the expansion and changes. 
Councilwoman Ansari thanked Commander Osborn and the committee for making the 
process easier, increasing the grant amount and supporting more resident 
neighborhood groups to qualify. 
Chairwoman O’Brien said the scores given by the grant application reviewers varied 
and asked the committee to evaluate and define what it meant to receive a partial or full 
score in the rubric. 
Ms. Arias noted there was annual training for applicants and defining crime prevention 
would be emphasized by the staff trainers. 
Chairwoman O’Brien stated evaluators should share those definitions with communities 
and thanked the committee for their time reviewing applications. 
Councilman Waring made a motion to approve the item. Councilwoman Ansari 
seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 4-0. 
 
CALL TO THE PUBLIC  
None. 
 
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 
Councilman Waring requested a presentation from the Police Department on dispatch 
implications and possible solutions for North Phoenix. 
 
ADJOURNMENT 
Chairwoman O’Brien adjourned the meeting at 11:46 a.m. 
 
Respectfully submitted, 
 
Nina Fader 
Management Intern