Allison R. Sullivan

Correction: meeting adjourned at 11:30. There was an afternoon session that continued until 2:30.

Meeting concludes at 11:30. Thanks for following along!

Chairperson Ervin asks for 3-5% reductions before October. What is the impact to the City with that reduction in OPSA? Ms Patterson says it's probably technology procurement and vacancies. Will bring details in October.

Ald Taylor asks about filling vacancies. Ms Patterson describes challenges in finding candidates. OPSA HR Director elaborates on some limitations. Currently 44 vacancies. OPSA having community event/hiring fair on Sep 17

Ald Taylor (remote) asks about electronic timekeeping. Ms Patterson notes that start up costs for technology are high but long term gains can be substantial.

Chairperson Ervin has questions about gun shot detectors. Ms Patterson hopes to have an update in the fall. Negotiating technical contracts takes significant time. May not see new system until 2027. Note that there's an implementation phase after contract signed. Mr Ervin is sad.

Ald Vasquez asks about Shotspotter alternatives. Any updates? Ms Patterson gives an update that OPSA is "toward the end of" finalizing a contract with a new vendor. Can't share specifics on process. Ald Vasquez notes concerns about privacy.

Ald Vasquez asks about license plate readers. What is the process for getting a reader in a ward? OPSA works with CPD to prioritize.

Ald. Vasquez asks about 3rd party contracts. How does OPSA decide what positions are in house and what are contracted? Specifics unclear.

PD officers did not have phones. Working on a record system to use phones to submit reports instead of paper reports. System will make in car laptops redundant as well, reducing vehicle installation costs by $3k.

Ald. Manaa-Hoppenworth asks about tech and infrastructure savings. Did CPD not have cell phones before?

Question about how other cities do policy timekeeping, which is paper based and manual. Cook County has an electronic system.

Question about hiring freeze and OPSA open positions. OPSA had positions in the pipeline before the freeze in Aug. Freeze didn't affect in progress openings.

No significant overages on equipment as yet. Current spending is under last year at this time.

Discussion of two distinct Ernst & Young audits: 1. overall operations 2. standalone audit of medical division

Timekeeper vacancies will be filled by full time civilian staff rather than sworn police officers eventually. Cost savings are hard to calculate.

OPSA police officers are funded by CPD, not OPSA. OPSA staff has been reduced by 7%. Civilian timekeepers for police dept *are* on OPSA budget.

Question from Nicole Lee about what we will do without all the federal grant money. "move around existing money" for this year. Next year City will be in "bad position". Maintenance, equipment, and training are funded with this money.

Police gets $ from DOJ. Many grants haven't opened yet, unclear whether they will now.

This year, Chicago will get $20 million (state, county, others get some $$) from UAS grant.

Question about UAS (Urban area security) grant from federal government. Ms Patterson noted that the City's grant amount dropped significantly. Natalie Gutierrez explained it's a Homeland Security grant. Chicago typically gets a large amount. Chicago dropped 45% from $67 million typical grant.

Question about care teams (mental health crisis teams). Is fire being deployed with care teams? Ms Patterson defers to fire department for specifics. OPSA's role with care teams is clarified by Dan Casey: we provide technical devices (e.g., radios).

Question about ratio of managers to frontline staff. Ms Patterson will need to investigate.

What is recourse when vendor doesn't deliver? City hasn't paid new CAD vendor for past 2 years.

CAD: 911 system. CAD connects dispatcher to the police and/or fire departments to send resource(s) to location where help is needed.

Old CAD system is $6million/year to maintain. New contract is for $75million, including hardware, software, implementation.

Ms Patterson outlines new CAD system, which is not up and running as yet. Dan from OPSA notes it was supposed to be live in 2023. Unclear what the current anticipated delivery date is. "Not back on track". Current deadline from the City is September 30th. Future unclear.

A question about the new vendor for the CAD (dispatch) software

Ms Patterson clarifies OPSA's role versus the departments' roles in determining eligibility.

Standards for limited and full duty were set via arbitration between the police department and the city. Firefighting standards are different; set by the department not OPSA.