HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02131996 - D3 D.3
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
DATE: February 13, 1996 MATTER OF RECORD
SUBJECT: Public Comment
The following persons addressed the Board of Supervisors:
Henry Clarke, Local One, spoke in support of retaining Public Service
Officers for certain County facilities. Mr. Clarke presented a
petition urging the retention of current security staff.
Jim Hicks, AFSCME Local 2700, requested the Board to waive the
relinquishment of leave accruals resulting from a payroll
computation error. The Chair requested the County
Administrator to review this matter and schedule it for
consideration in Closed Session on February 27,. 1996.
Mike Lawson, Administrator, Brookside Hospital, requested the Board
to renegotiate the Contra Costa Health Plan (CCHP) Basic Adult
Care Contract to reflect cost of care, consider sharing the cost in
the OB joint venture to maintain successful access to Brookside
Hospital, and consider the formation of a joint powers agreement
between the County, Brookside and other providers to coordinate
and plan for healthcare services in West County. The County
Administrator was requested to list this matter on the February
27, 1996, Agenda.
THIS IS A MATTER FOR RECORD PURPOSES ONLY
NO BOARD ACTION TAKEN
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
PUBLIC SERVICE OFFICERS
PROFFESSIONAL STANDARDS COMMITTEE
January 29, 1996
Henry L. Clarke, General Manager
Local One Public Employees Union
P.O. Box 222
Martinez, CA 94553
Dear Mr. Clarke;
The document enclosed regarding the qualifications and experience level of the
Public Service Officers for Contra Costa County is for your review.
Respectfully submitted by:
The PSO Professional Standards Committee
cc: Frank Puglisi Jr. Executive Director Merrithew Hospital
Robert Pierce, Facilities Manager Merrithew Hospital
John Cullen, Director of Social Services
Robert Huf nann, Deputy Director of Social Services
Jim Rogers, Supervisor District 1
Jeff Smith, Supervisor District 2
Gayle Bishop, Supervisor District 3
Mark Saulnier, Supervisor District 4
Tom Torlakson, Supervisor District 5
Dave Dornaus, Chief of Public Service
William Godfrey, Deputy Chief of Public Service
PUBLIC SERVICE OFFICERS
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS COMMITTEE
On January 10, 1996 Contra Costa County(CCC)Public Service Officers(P.S.O.'s)were
informed by Facilities Manager, Robert Pierce, that their positions were in jeopardy of
being eliminated. He stated that Health Service Administration would be making a
recommendation to Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors to contract out services
currently provided by Public Service Officers. Mr. Pierce told officers that if the Board
voted in favor of this action, Public Service Officers positions will be available for bids to
private security firms.
A recommendation which will result in the termination of PSO's has placed officers under
undue stress. What was most disturbing is the irresponsible manner in which this
information was conveyed. For example, the intent to eliminate all Public Service Officer
positions was expressed. However, a plan which described how Security Guards, (a less
skilled job classification), would fulfill the existing role and responsibilities of Public
Service Officers was not discussed. Nor was there any information shared by Mr. Pierce
regarding personnel procedures for terminating the existing officers(benefits, severance
pay, etc.). Officers feel that their professional integrity was disregarded and that they
should have not been treated with such disdain. The Public Service Officers' of CCC take
great pride in the services they provide. These services ultimately assure for the safety of
county employees, patients and clientele.
PSO's provide a number of vital services. Health Service Administration does not seem to
realize the scope of our role as evidenced by their plan to replace Public Service Officers
with contract Security Guards. This plan implies that contract Security Guards and Public
Service Officers are one in the same. The Professional Standards Committee take issue
with this continued lack of regard. We find this practice to be deliberate, deceptive, and
misleading. The Professional_Standards Committee find this plan appalling! A plan that
essentially reduces the level of skills, training and expertise in such a crucial position, only
increases the risk of injury and/or liability for all individuals on CCC property.
In light of this recent proposal regarding the feasibility of hiring contract security guards,
the Public Service Officers Professional Standards Committee feels it incumbent upon us
to clarify our role, responsibilities, training and expertise to the Contra Costa County
Administrators, Board of Supervisors and all other interested parties. This is not done
merely to protect our positions, but to illustrate the continued need for properly trained
and experienced personnel. Our primary concern is to provide a consistent level of service
that assures the safety of all Contra Costa County employees, patients and clientele that
we serve.
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APPENDIX I
PUBLIC SERVICE OFFICERS
EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE
CATION.AD NG PERCENTAGES.
Attended College 90%+
Acquired College Degrees 40%
Basic Police Academy/Reserve Academy 100%
Disaster Drills, Earth Quake Preparedness, 30%+
and Light Rescue
Management of Behavior Emergencies 70%+
First Aide/Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation 100%
EPLt3i'1v �TT EXPETENCE LEVELS
Prior Law Enforcement Experience: 49%
Including Investigation,Supervision(Sergeant or
higher),Training Officers,and State/Fed.Certified
Instructors.
Related Experience 54%
The facts listed above are based on 31 (thirty-one)Public Service Officers currently
employed by Contra Costa County. This chart clearly illustrates Contra Costa County
Public Service Officers education, training, and employment experience. Employees
whom have attended colleges range from Accredited Community Colleges to Universities.
Among the 90% of employees who attended colleges and/or universities
40% acquired college degrees ranging from Associate in Arts/Science to Masters Degrees.
The Basic Police Academy/Reserve Academy is certified by the California Commission on
Peace Officer Standards and Training(P.O.S.T.). Management of Behavior Emergencies
is a required course.for CCC PSO's who are working with the mentally ill. First Aide and
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation training is required for all CCC PSO'S during their
course of employment.
Employees with prior employment experience in law-enforcement have received training
that is comparable to skills required for Public Service Officers. Contra Costa County
Public Service Officers/Related experience include, but is not limited to dealing with a
diverse group of individuals. Officers interact with Contra Costa County clientele ranging
from: the low-income and disenfranchised, acute and chronically mentally ill, severe
dysfunctional families; many of whom are clientele to Children's Protective Services due
to alleged child abuse,juvenile delinquent including youth gang members, the criminally
insane, and individuals recently paroled or on probation from either state prison or county
jail.
2
APPENDIX-2
HIRING STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS
Hiring Standards
The hiring standards for Public Service Officers currently Parallel that of a person applying
for a peace officers or reserve officer position within the state of California. This is in
sharp contras to a person applying for a security guard position.
Hiring Requirements
EAMOFFICER PUBLIC SERVICE SECURITY GUARD
FICER
.. OF
_. . .... .......... ... . .. ... ......
ffigh School Graduate/GED Same Not Required
Successful completion of Same; however may be Guard Card
Basic Peace Officer substituted for Reserve
Academy Officers Academy
Basic P.O.S.T. Certification P.O.S. T. Certificate P.C. Not Required
Section 832, Modules A&B
Successful completion of a Same Not Required
physical agility test
Pass an oral board; a panel Same, Conducted by a Not Required
consisting of ranking law Qualifications Appraisal
enforcement professionals Board
Pass Chief s oral interview Same, except additional Employee interview
panel consisting of senior
Public Service Officers
Successful completion of a Same Not Required
psychological examination
and interview
Successful completion of a Same(limited) Not Required
background investigation
Full physical examination Same Not Required
Compliance with laws Same, Compliance with Not Required
Governing Confidentiality laws of Confidentiality
Successful completion of a Same, successful completion Not Required
one year to eighteen month of a one year
probationary period probationary period
FIRST AID/CPR Same Not Reg uired
Not Required Management of Behavior Not Required
Emergencies
The Basic Police Officers Academy length is 22 weeks, 880hr. A Reserve Academy is 12
weeks 144+hours. A Security Guard is given a 2-4 hour course and then tested. If he/she
passes, a guard card is issued. A Guard can be uniformed and working within 8hours.
3
APPENDIX-3
COMPARISON IN RELATED JOB FUNCTION
The job description for a Public Service Officer require the ability to act quickly, and
decisively in hazardous situations. This includes, but is not limited to physical
intervention in situations which place a patient, client, or staff member in danger while at a
County Facility.
In looking at a comparison of duties between Peace Officers , Public Service Officers, and
Security Guards, it is obvious that Public Service Officers duties closely parallel those of
law-enforcement personnel, not those of a security guard.
DACE OFFICER,. P JBLIC SERVICE SECURITY Gi3ARD
OFFICER
Respond to civil and Same Observe and report
criminal matters
Investigation of criminal Same, limited to County Observe and report
matters Facilities
Crisis Intervention Same, however more Not required
extensive; Emergency Room
Violence AB-508
Respond to situations Same, Except; Officers are Not required
involving the Mentally Ill assigned to psychiatric
wards where constant
intervention with violent
patients is re uired
Assigned patrol duties I Limited Observe and report
Body Armor Provided I Same Not required
This information is given to illustrate as simply as possible the major differences in
responsibilities between Peace Officer, Public Service Officer and Security Guards.
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APPENDIX-4
AREAS OF CONCERN
During the course of a typical work week, PSO's are faced with various types of
situations. Some are more hazardous than others. However, it is the unknown
encounters which PSO's are expected to handle, that places officers in greater danger.
To illustrate more clearly, listed below are actual examples of the various types of
incidents PSOs are expected to handle.
Common Types of Incidents Unusual Types of Incidents
1. Stopping disturbances, both verbal 1. Kidnapping
and physical 2. Hostage situations
2. Restraining violent mental patients 3. Brandishing a weapon
3. Search and seizure 4. Youth gang activity
4. Investigating thefts 5. Weapon taken from
5. Child endangerment law-enforcement officers
6. Combative individuals 6. Bomb threats
7. Assaults on employees 7. Rape
8. Trespassing 8. Sexual assault
9. Intoxicated subjects 9. Disaster response
10. Confronting armed individuals
11. Patient extraction; removing violent
psych patients from seclusion rooms
12. Assisting local law-enforcement with
subjects who have been arrested
13. Making contact with suspicious persons
14. Physical altercation, during arrest
15. Confronting known felons
16. Confronting known drug dealers
IT Conducting building searches
18. Auto theft
19. Forged medical prescriptions
20. Irate patients, clients, and individual
21. Parking/traffic violations
5
APPENDIX-5
ROUTINE ENCOUNTERS
During an officers normal shift at any location, confronting individuals in the following
categories is not uncommon. These high risk encounters are a major concern for officer
safety.
1. Individuals recently paroled or on probation from either
State prison or the County jail
2. Juveniles awaiting court appearances at juvenile court,
(social service location)
3. Known drug addicts with a history of violence
4. Homeless individuals seeking a place to sleep
5. High escape risk prisoners under felony arrest, who are admitted
to the hospital
6. Persons infected with various communicable diseases
7. Individuals who are under felony arrest, that are brought to the
County hospital for medical treatment, prior to being taken to jail
8. Victims of violent crimes
9. Youth gang members
10. Violent mental patients
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APPENDIX-6
DOCUMENTED INCIDENTS INVOLVING
PUBLIC SERVICE OFFICERS INTERVENTION
Public Service Officers respond to situations during their normal working hours, where an
offense has been committed or is in progress. The examples listed below are incidents that
have occurred at Merrithew Memorial Hospital and Social Service Facilities. This
information was taken from the Public Service Departments actual case files.
1. Merrithew Memorial Hospital: A psych patient attempted suicide by hanging. The
subject was fully suspended when the PSO arrived. The Officer hoisted the patient
upward,relieving him from strangulation during this potentially fatal incident.
2. Rielmond Social Service: Officers removed a meat cleaver from an irate client, who
was threatening staff.
3. Merrithew Memorial Hospital: A nurse was battered by a psych patient and a PSO
intervened. His actions as a liaison with local police resulted in the subject serving a
five month jail sentence.
4. Pittsburg Health Clinic: A patient brandished a handgun at one of the pharmacist.
5. Merrithew Memorial Hospital: A registration clerk was approached by a subject
holding a knife in a threatening manner. Officers disarmed the subject and made the
arrest with-out injury
6. Merrithew Memorial Hospital: Officers removed a loaded handgun from a mental
patient, being treated in ER.
7. Antioch Social Service: During visitation of a child in custody of Children Protective
Services(CPS ), the parent attempted to remove the child from their custody.
Officers intervened and secured the child.
8. Merrithew Memorial Hospital: Officers assisted in detaining a rape and kidnap
suspect.
9. Webber Building, Richmond Social Service: Officer confronted and stopped an
auto theft suspect in the employees parking lot.
10. Antioch Social Service: While escorting an irate male subject off property, a
physical altercation ensued. The subject was restrained and removed from property.
11. Merrithew Memorial Hospital: Officers disarmed a violent intoxicated visitor, who
was on parole. The subject was carrying a concealed weapon.
APPENDIX-7
PUBLIC SERVICE OFFICERS DUTIES
AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Maintain law and order within County Facilities, where assigned.
2. Protect employees, patients, clients, and visitors while
on County Property.
3. Surveillance of County buildings, property and equipment.
4. Investigation of suspicious persons and circumstances.
5. Communication with local law-enforcement agencies
6. Testify in court during criminal and civil proceedings
7. Search mental patients, prior to entering restricted psych/wards
8. Assist medical staff in restraining violent mental patients
9. Apprehension of mental patients attempting to escape
10. Protection of minors in the custody of Child Protective Service
11. Crisis intervention to patients and visitors regarding such matters as,
assault and battery, domestic disputes etc.
12. Extensive report writing; written reports of unusual occurrences,
criminal activity, and safety issues
13. Physical apprehension of criminal offenders
14. Investigation of possible criminal activity
15. Physical intervention, to protect staff, patients, visitors, and clients
s