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Desert Hot Springs police report full staffing, new youth program and facility plans
Summary
At the Nov. 13 Public Safety Commission meeting the police chief told commissioners the department is at its budgeted strength of 33 sworn officers, outlined academy and field-training timelines, announced an incoming deputy chief and described the new police annex and community programs including a police-explorer academy.
The Desert Hot Springs Police Chief told the Public Safety Commission on Nov. 13 that the department is at its authorized strength of 33 sworn officers and is working through academy and field-training steps to make those hires operational.
The chief said three officers are currently in the police academy (two set to graduate Dec. 4) and seven are in field training; field training lasts a minimum of 16 weeks. The city has authorization to overhire to 36 officers and the chief said the department is processing additional lateral hires while facing delays in academy slots at Riverside; the department is evaluating San Bernardino County's academy as an alternative to reduce wait times. “Weare currently at full staffing at the police department right now for our officers,” the chief said.
The chief also described internal promotions and leadership changes: a deputy chief has been selected and is expected to start in December; promotion testing for sergeants and lieutenants will occur later this winter, creating internal vacancies that may open detective and CRT (community response team) spots. The chief said filling those roles should improve retention and allow the department to place an officer back on the county PAC (probation compliance) team in January.
On crime trends, the chief said overall crime is down about 8% year over year but assaults have increased slightly; narcotics-related arrests are up because of proactive CRT enforcement and outreach tied to the unhoused population. The department said its first priority is offering treatment and services and that enforcement follows when people refuse help.
Facility and program updates included an update on a police annex building under construction (anticipated completion in March) and an ongoing plan to relocate detectives out of an aging modular once demolition begins. The chief reported community events and outreach successes: a resource-fair/National Night Out event drew roughly 300 attendees, and a police-explorer program launched with a six-week academy of 10 youth scheduled to graduate Dec. 6 and participate in the Dec. 13 holiday parade.
Commissioners raised traffic-safety concerns at SR-62 and Pearson Drive and asked staff to arrange a detailed briefing with Deputy City Manager Danny Porras on timelines and options to accelerate intersection work; staff agreed to agendize that briefing for the January meeting. The chief also reminded the commission of upcoming recognition events, including the county Peace Officer and Public Safety Awards on Nov. 19 at Agua Caliente Rancho Mirage.
The commission did not take any formal action on the police items at this meeting; the next steps are the announced personnel promotions and the January briefings on traffic and Caltrans coordination.
