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27 <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said that a work session is probably needed to discuss the issues. Mr. <br />Cox said that the results of the efforts of the Police department are pretty impressive. He <br />said he is concerned that incarceration is increasing and people are not necessarily being <br />helped but are only being detained, and asked if effective treatment is being offered at the <br />jail, especially for drug abuse. <br /> <br /> Chief Rittenhouse said it is his understanding that the jail will start its own <br />Therapeutic Community Program. <br /> <br />Mr. O'Corme!l said that funding for this program is included in the jail's budget. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati asked about recidivism rates as a proportion ofarrests~ and Chief <br />Rittenhouse said he is alarmed by the number of repeat arrests, and said he feels the <br />courts need to help with this issue. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said he would like to hear a report from the courts, and irt future Police <br />reports would like to have the charges in arrests included. Mr. Cox expressed concern <br />that only 17 police officers reside in the City and questioned how effective community <br />policing can ever be because of this. Mr. Cox said incentives need to be created to entice <br />officers to live in the City, including salary and retirement benefits. <br /> <br />Chief Rittenhouse said he tl-tiraks it will be difficult to L~rease the residency <br />unless it is made a mandatory requirement. ChiefRittenhouse said that allowing officers <br /> to take home their cruisers could be used as an incentive if they live in the City. <br /> <br /> Ids. Richarrts said she feels a strong case has been made for continuation of <br />funding for the criminal justice planner which she said adds vision and planning. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati asked about the difficulty of hiring new officers and how soon they <br />are on the street and also asked about minority recruiting efforts. <br /> <br /> Chief R'_~tenhouse replied that the results of the recent pay ~ady indicate that the <br />entry level pay for police officers is competitive. He said that money and time is Saved <br />when certified officers are hired. He said he is concerned about the diversity in the <br />Police Department and feels it should be .reflective of the community. ChiefRittenhouse <br />said the Police Department b~s been partnering with the Department of Human Resources <br />in their minority recruitment efforts and have been going to job fairs and colleges and <br />military bases as well as working locally to encourage local students to apply for jobs, but <br />to date they have not been very successful in attracting African-Americans. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said that applicants would be hard pressed to choose Charlottesville over <br />other places because of the entry level salary of $29,000 and the absence of any African <br />American supervisors in the Department. Mr. Cox said until that landscape is remedied, <br />he does not think the City will be successful in their recruiting efforts. Mr. Cox said he <br />hopes fhe C~y Manager will address the pay scale issue as he does not think it is <br />competitive outside of the area. Mr. Cox said a long-term salary plan is needed and <br />suggested that someone in the community could help by looking at the City's recruitment <br />strategy. <br /> <br /> Chief Rittemhouse said that the diversity issue is a problem throughout the state <br />and nation and is not unique to Charlottesville. <br /> <br /> Mr. O'Connell said he feels the retirement changes proposed to be presented to <br />Council in May will help in recruiting. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards noted that 50% of the population is female and she would wager <br />that the Police workforce does not reflect that. Ms. Richards said she has been hearing <br />from neighborhoods who are experiencing problems that they are glad that the City is <br />listening and responding to them. Ms. Richards said she thinks it is important that the <br />Police Department is Ymking with other departments and services and involving <br />neighborhoods in solving crimes. <br /> <br /> <br />