DEPARTMENT BUDGET SUMMARY

MISSION STATEMENT: To reduce the incidence of crime and to improve the quality of life in Arlington County by making it a place where all people can live safely and without fear.

FY 2006 PRIORITIES: The Police Department's FY 2006 priority is to enhance both our general readiness and inherent capacity to respond to emergencies. Specifically, our priorities are provided below:

• To maximize staffing in the Department in order to meet increasing demand for police presence in public areas, events, and potential terrorist sites.

• To expand public safety communications by enhancing communications with other agencies, the public, and among personnel within the department.

• To maximize the planning, research, and investigative capabilities of the Department so that the most effective deployment of personnel and equipment can be made.

• To increase training and awareness so that potential threats and/or suspicious patterns can be more readily recognized and addressed.

PRINCIPAL PROGRAMS:

• Executive Administration & Systems Management Program

• Community Policing Program

• Criminal Investigations Program

SIGNIFICANT BUDGET CHANGES: The FY 2006 proposed budget for the Police Department is $41,865,714, a two percent increase from FY 2005.

• Personnel expenditures increased by $461,111 due to normal step increases.

• Non-personnel expenditures reflect an increase in telephone and communication costs resulting from the adjustment of intra-county charges to Departments ($88,814), fuel costs for new vehicles ($25,481), and funding for replacement and maintenance costs for fleet vehicles ($169,335).

• A variety of fee revenues have been increased ($101,452) based on actual collections.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES:

• Part 1 Offenses include Murder, Rape, Aggravated Assault, Breaking and Entering, Larcenies, and Motor Vehicle Theft. Part 2 Offenses include Non-Aggravated Assault, Arson, Forgery and Counterfeiting, Fraud, Embezzlement, Stolen Property, Weapons Offenses, Prostitution, Sex Offenses, Drug Abuse Violations (Sale/Manufacturing and Possession), Gambling, and other minor offenses.

• The Police Department did not conduct a separate community survey for FY 2003 because it was assessing the methodology of the survey and the value of the measurement tool. A Countywide survey, conducted as part of the County's "Arlington Counts" initiative, was completed in the spring of 2004. The results of that survey are shown above.

• It is anticipated that continued successful community policing, educational programs and the ongoing growth of partnerships between neighborhood residents and local police will help realize the goal of fewer incidents of crime and fewer emergency calls for police services.

• The County adopted a new Special Events policy which incorporates a higher threshold amount for the waiver of fees than in years past ($4,000). It is anticipated that there may be an increase in the number of events handled by the Special Operations Section as well as a decrease in "Work for Others" reimbursements.

• Dignitary protection details remain relatively constant based on the current state of affairs in the DC Metropolitan Area.

• The Special Operations Section has implemented a central database system maintained by one person to better track community traffic complaints. Additionally, the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Committee has been effective in reducing the number of chronic complaints via innovative methods of traffic control.

• The number of vehicles marked for abandoned and then moved voluntarily has increased.

• The FY 2004 calls for patrol service cannot be accurately determined due to the conversion of the Department's mainframe computer system in February 2004.

• The number of accident reports filed is the number of accident reports responded to by Police Officers. It does not include hit-and-run reports filed directly to the Records Unit by citizens.

FUTURE BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS: The following could impact the Department's budget in the future.

• Periodic replacement and upgrade of computer hardware and software.

• Periodic replacement and upgrade of Mobile Data Terminals and radio systems.

• Contribution to new firearms range and driving range for regional academy.

• Acquiring an off-site/remote storage space in order to increase evidence and property storage capacity. The evidence room is currently at 98% capacity.