Staff recommends City Council adoption of the Center for Public Safety Management Police Operational and Data Analysis by resolution.

During the FY21 budget process City Council an analysis of the Fire, EMS and Police Services. The Center for Public Safety Management, LLC (CPSM) was commissioned to review the operations of the Billings Police Department. The analysis covered all aspects of the department’s operations, particular areas of focus of this study included identifying appropriate staffing of the department given the workload, community demographics, and crime levels; the effectiveness of the organizational structure; and efficiency and effectiveness of division/unit processes.An analysis of the department's workload using operations research methodology and compared that workload to staffing and deployment levels.  Performance indicators were reviewed that enabled a better understand of the implications of service demand on current staffing. The study involved data collection, interviews with key operational and administrative personnel, focus groups with line-level department personnel, on-site observations of the job environment, data analysis, comparative analysis, and the development of alternatives and recommendations.

Based upon CPSM’s detailed assessment of the Billings Police Department, the BPD overall, provides quality law enforcement services. The staff is professional and dedicated to the mission of the department. Three common themes speak to operational challenges facing the department: (1) Facilities, or lack thereof, (2) insufficient staffing at both mid-level supervisory and line levels, and (3) organizational structure. Each of these has a significant and adverse impact on operational efficiency and effectiveness, and ultimately, the quality of life for the business community, residents, and visitors of the City of Billings.

City Council may:

• Approve the Center for Public Safety Management Police Operational and Data Analysis as the guiding document
• Modify the analysis, or;
• Disapprove the analysis and provide staff with additional direction

Immediate fiscal effects of analysis implementation was presented to City Council on June 14, 2021. The estimated cost for immediate analysis recommendation implementation is $1.65M.