C I T Y O F F O R T P I E R C E
POLICE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Regular Meeting - Thursday, April 14, 2022 - 4:30 p.m.MINUTES
Fort Pierce City Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 100 N US Highway 1, Fort Pierce, FL
- Present:
- Melvin Jones, Sr.; Charles Hayek; Dr. Pinkie Hendley
- Absent:
- Derrick Gibbons; Quincy Barr
- Staff Present:
-
- Chief of Police Diane Hobley-Burney
- Lieutenant Jason Braun
1.
CALL TO ORDER
4:37 pm
2.
OPENING PRAYER
Member Hendley prayed.
3.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
4.
ROLL CALL
Motion was made by Melvin Jones, Sr., seconded by Dr. Pinkie Hendley to excuse Quincy Barr and Derrick Gibbons.
- AYE:
- Charles Hayek, Melvin Jones, Sr., Dr. Pinkie Hendley
Passed
5.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A.
Approval of Minutes from the March 10, 2022 Police Community Advisory Committee Meeting.
Motion was made by Dr. Pinkie Hendley, seconded by Melvin Jones, Sr. to approve the minutes of the March 10, 2022 meeting.
- AYE:
- Charles Hayek, Melvin Jones, Sr., Dr. Pinkie Hendley
Passed
6.
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Any person who wishes to comment on any subject on this Agenda or other concerns may be heard at this time. Please sign the sign-up sheet in order to speak. Please limit your comments to no more than three (3) minutes, as this section of the Agenda is limited to thirty minutes. The Police Community Advisory Board will not be able to take any official action under “Comments from the Public” section.
Any person who wishes to comment on any subject on this Agenda or other concerns may be heard at this time. Please sign the sign-up sheet in order to speak. Please limit your comments to no more than three (3) minutes, as this section of the Agenda is limited to thirty minutes. The Police Community Advisory Board will not be able to take any official action under “Comments from the Public” section.
None.
7.
OLD BUSINESS
A.
None.
8.
NEW BUSINESS
A.
Project Safe Neighborhood.
Carmen Lineberger and Chris Hudock, representatives of Project Safe Neighborhood briefed the Committee about the federal law enforcement program for the Lincoln Park Area. The Task Force’s first meeting included representatives from the Fort Pierce Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security and Saint Lucie County Sheriff’s Office.
Ms. Lineberger said that the initiative needs community support for it to be successful. She shared how residents can participate so that the Project can meet its goal of making the community much safer for all. Residents are encouraged to share information so that the Task Force can target those individuals who are of interest. Member Hendley shared her concern about residents’ fear of reprisal for sharing information. Ms. Lineberger outlined how information will be managed, and members were informed that Chris Hudock was the Project’s point of contact. Another meeting is planned for Friday, April 15, 2022 to go through project goals, prosecution strategies, and sentencing options.
Member Hayek inquired if the Project had a job assistance element to it. Ms. Lineberger said no because the funding was for improving law enforcement efforts. Member Hendley shared how the group “Faith in Florida” was assisting the community to address some areas of concern. Member Jones said it would be good for the Task Force to have a dedicated Tip line.
Ms. Lineberger said that the initiative needs community support for it to be successful. She shared how residents can participate so that the Project can meet its goal of making the community much safer for all. Residents are encouraged to share information so that the Task Force can target those individuals who are of interest. Member Hendley shared her concern about residents’ fear of reprisal for sharing information. Ms. Lineberger outlined how information will be managed, and members were informed that Chris Hudock was the Project’s point of contact. Another meeting is planned for Friday, April 15, 2022 to go through project goals, prosecution strategies, and sentencing options.
Member Hayek inquired if the Project had a job assistance element to it. Ms. Lineberger said no because the funding was for improving law enforcement efforts. Member Hendley shared how the group “Faith in Florida” was assisting the community to address some areas of concern. Member Jones said it would be good for the Task Force to have a dedicated Tip line.
B.
Department Update.
Staff Hobley-Burney shared with members that the department has been working assiduously to locate a service provider to better cater to the mental health needs of officers. She said the city’s Employee Assistance Program (EPA) was not equipped to deal with some concerns of the officers. She outlined that the department was exploring other avenues to support officers to deal with post-traumatic stress. One of the options being presented would have an app that officers can use wherever they are located with 24/7 support. Member Hendley asked if the app could be installed on the officer’s personal phone and if Committee members can see how the app works. Staff Hobley-Burney said yes. Member Hendley also wanted to know if the officers’ family members will be allowed to provide information to the service provider. Members were advised that they would.
Member Jones inquired if the police department would allow pastors to go on assignments with officers. Staff Hobley-Burney said no because it would be too much liability for the department to have civilians on duty with officers.
Members were informed that the department was still trying to finalize the officers’ wage contract. Staff Hobley-Burney shared that the contract was always a year behind. Meetings were held with all the Commissioners, and they agreed for the officers to be placed in their correct steps with retroactive pay. The city has offered a 4% to 5% increase to the officers because putting them in their right steps with retroactive payments would be too costly. A 4 % or 5% increase would not be competitive with other agencies. If the officers received 8% increase, the department would be competitive with Port Saint Lucie. Staff Hobley-Burney stated that the department has been doing well to retain officers and would like for officers to be placed in their proper steps so that the department can move to the next level.
Member Jones inquired if the police department would allow pastors to go on assignments with officers. Staff Hobley-Burney said no because it would be too much liability for the department to have civilians on duty with officers.
Members were informed that the department was still trying to finalize the officers’ wage contract. Staff Hobley-Burney shared that the contract was always a year behind. Meetings were held with all the Commissioners, and they agreed for the officers to be placed in their correct steps with retroactive pay. The city has offered a 4% to 5% increase to the officers because putting them in their right steps with retroactive payments would be too costly. A 4 % or 5% increase would not be competitive with other agencies. If the officers received 8% increase, the department would be competitive with Port Saint Lucie. Staff Hobley-Burney stated that the department has been doing well to retain officers and would like for officers to be placed in their proper steps so that the department can move to the next level.
C.
Upcoming Events.
Members were informed of the upcoming Cop on the Roof Top event in support of Special Olympics to be held at Dunkin Donuts on Friday, April 15, 2022.
The Dunn’s Kids Foundation donated Easter baskets for to the police department which were distributed to families in the city. The family of the seven-year-old who was killed in the hit-and-run accident benefited from this donation.
The Dunn’s Kids Foundation donated Easter baskets for to the police department which were distributed to families in the city. The family of the seven-year-old who was killed in the hit-and-run accident benefited from this donation.
9.
STAFF COMMENTS
None.
10.
COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS
Member Hendley informed the meeting that plans were in place for the upcoming Juneteenth celebration.
11.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by Melvin Jones, Sr., seconded by Dr. Pinkie Hendley to adjourn the meeting at 6:27 P.M.
- AYE:
- Charles Hayek, Melvin Jones, Sr., Dr. Pinkie Hendley
Passed