Proactive Environmental CrimeProactive Environmental CrimeEnforcement in the Central EastEnforcement in the Central East

Area CommandArea Command

Final Project for the APD Leadership AcademyFinal Project for the APD Leadership Academy

What is Environmental Crime?What is Environmental Crime?

•Texas Transportation CodeTexas Transportation CodeTitle 7Title 7 Vehicles and Traffic Vehicles and Traffic

•Texas Health and Safety CodeTexas Health and Safety CodeTitle 5Title 5 Sanitation & Environmental Sanitation & Environmental QualityQuality

• City of Austin OrdinancesCity of Austin Ordinances

Abandoned/Junk CarsAbandoned/Junk Cars

Illegal DumpsitesIllegal Dumpsites

Unlawful Storage/Discharge of Oil & Unlawful Storage/Discharge of Oil & Waste FluidsWaste Fluids

Storage/Dumping of TiresStorage/Dumping of Tires

Storage/Dumping of BatteriesStorage/Dumping of Batteries

Dilapidated/Substandard StructuresDilapidated/Substandard Structures

Investigative ResponsibilityInvestigative Responsibility

• Solid Waste ServicesSolid Waste Services

• Watershed Protection Watershed Protection • Neighborhood Planning and ZoningNeighborhood Planning and Zoning

• Health and Human ServicesHealth and Human Services

• TNRCC TNRCC

Sources of IneffectivenessSources of Ineffectiveness

• Lack of coordination & communication Lack of coordination & communication • Conflicting policies, procedures, prioritiesConflicting policies, procedures, priorities

• Cumbersome, lengthy legal processesCumbersome, lengthy legal processes

• Limited staff, large areas of responsibilityLimited staff, large areas of responsibility

• Totally reactive Totally reactive

How can APD fill in the gaps?How can APD fill in the gaps?

• Accustomed to responding quickly to problemsAccustomed to responding quickly to problems and possess resources to do so.and possess resources to do so.

• As most visible and active representatives of As most visible and active representatives of City, often we are the first to learn of problems.City, often we are the first to learn of problems.

• Area Command system is designed to address Area Command system is designed to address specific problems in specific areas. specific problems in specific areas.

Why should we take on this job?Why should we take on this job?

1. 1. Environmental issues, the so-call “quality of life” issues, are a majorEnvironmental issues, the so-call “quality of life” issues, are a major source of complaints to the Police; many District Representativessource of complaints to the Police; many District Representatives already spend the majority of their time dealing with these types of already spend the majority of their time dealing with these types of complaints.complaints.

2. 2. Signs of neighborhood neglect serve as magnets for criminal activitySigns of neighborhood neglect serve as magnets for criminal activity because of the perception that residents “don’t care” because of the perception that residents “don’t care” (the “broken windows” theory). (the “broken windows” theory).

3. 3. Environmental crime enforcement offers the Police an avenue for Environmental crime enforcement offers the Police an avenue for addressing chronic problem spots, such as crack houses, that have addressing chronic problem spots, such as crack houses, that have

defied resolution through the use of traditional Police enforcement defied resolution through the use of traditional Police enforcement measures. measures.

The Central East StoryThe Central East Story

• William Traylor assigned to CEWilliam Traylor assigned to CE• Traylor and 2 DRs receive trainingTraylor and 2 DRs receive training• Actively pursue environmental issues Actively pursue environmental issues • Success in cleaning up chronic hot spotsSuccess in cleaning up chronic hot spots• Presentations to community groupsPresentations to community groups• Developed “ROAR” programDeveloped “ROAR” program• Positive feedback from public and 5th floorPositive feedback from public and 5th floor• “ “Keep Austin Beautiful” award Keep Austin Beautiful” award

What went wrong?What went wrong?

• Complaints from citizens/business ownersComplaints from citizens/business owners• Complaints from Watershed ProtectionComplaints from Watershed Protection• Conflict between APD & Watershed ProtectionConflict between APD & Watershed Protection• Internal conflictInternal conflict• Conflict with SAFE unitConflict with SAFE unit• Problems with ROAR programProblems with ROAR program• Supervisory issues w/William Traylor & DRsSupervisory issues w/William Traylor & DRs

Response to ProblemsResponse to Problems

• Public presentations stoppedPublic presentations stopped

• ROAR program discontinuedROAR program discontinued

• Environmental complaints referred to SAFEEnvironmental complaints referred to SAFE and/or other responsible agenciesand/or other responsible agencies

• William Traylor placed under NPZDWilliam Traylor placed under NPZD

The Current State of AffairsThe Current State of Affairs

• No proactive environmental crime efforts in CENo proactive environmental crime efforts in CE• No public outreach or educationNo public outreach or education• William Traylor restricted to Building Code William Traylor restricted to Building Code violations, not allowed to respond to citizenviolations, not allowed to respond to citizen complaintscomplaints• Traylor is underutilized, ineffective, demoralizedTraylor is underutilized, ineffective, demoralized• Overall complaints to the SAFE unit have declinedOverall complaints to the SAFE unit have declined

Areas of InterestAreas of Interest• This is work we should be doing This is work we should be doing • We are currently not doing itWe are currently not doing it• Overall environmental complaints have decreasedOverall environmental complaints have decreased• With training, officers can be successful in correctingWith training, officers can be successful in correcting environmental problemsenvironmental problems• It is possible to affect long-standing criminal problemsIt is possible to affect long-standing criminal problems through code enforcement through code enforcement • Past efforts were positively received by public & 5th floorPast efforts were positively received by public & 5th floor• Code enforcement can be highly motivating for officersCode enforcement can be highly motivating for officers• Previously, there was a lack of supervision and directionPreviously, there was a lack of supervision and direction• Turf battles resultedTurf battles resulted• Type A employee is underutilized and demoralized Type A employee is underutilized and demoralized

MissionMission

Fix the problemsFix the problemsand make it work.and make it work.

AnalyzeAnalyze

• Attribution - WPD/APD - bias on both sidesAttribution - WPD/APD - bias on both sides

• Equity - William Traylor Equity - William Traylor » VDL - “Out Group” VDL - “Out Group” Other DRs Other DRs

• Job RedesignJob Redesign

• SocializationSocialization

Analyze (Cont.)Analyze (Cont.)• Conflict - WPD/APDConflict - WPD/APD

» Physical SeparationPhysical Separation» Infrequent InteractionInfrequent Interaction» Ambiguous Work AssignmentsAmbiguous Work Assignments» Competition over Scarce ResourcesCompetition over Scarce Resources

• Conflict - CE DRs/SAFE unitConflict - CE DRs/SAFE unit

• Expert Power - WPDExpert Power - WPD

Analyze (Cont.)Analyze (Cont.)

• Managing the EnvironmentManaging the Environment» WPD - High Threat - Low CooperationWPD - High Threat - Low Cooperation

RespondRespond

• Manage the Environment - Define the ArenaManage the Environment - Define the Arena» Develop protocol delineating:Develop protocol delineating:

- Which problems APD can work, Which problems APD can work, which ones should be referredwhich ones should be referred- Who to refer problem toWho to refer problem to- General enforcement guidelines General enforcement guidelines

• Initiate Problem Solving ProcessInitiate Problem Solving Process

Respond (Cont.)Respond (Cont.)• Increase ValenceIncrease Valence

» Emphasize BenefitsEmphasize Benefits- More problems workedMore problems worked- APD can reduce their workloadAPD can reduce their workload

• Reduce Future ConflictReduce Future Conflict» Liaison GroupLiaison Group

- Reduce physical separation, Reduce physical separation, infrequent interaction issuesinfrequent interaction issues

» Superordinate GoalSuperordinate Goal

Respond (Cont.)Respond (Cont.)• Introduce Cultural ChangeIntroduce Cultural Change

» A new way of “doing business”A new way of “doing business”• Job Redesign - Vertical LoadingJob Redesign - Vertical Loading

» All DRs attend Code EnforcementTrainingAll DRs attend Code EnforcementTraining- Increase ExpectancyIncrease Expectancy

• Increase ValenceIncrease Valence• Reduce Resistance to ChangeReduce Resistance to Change

» Emphasize Need for ChangeEmphasize Need for Change» Emphasize Positive BenefitsEmphasize Positive Benefits

Respond (Cont.)Respond (Cont.) • Job Redesign - Vertical LoadingJob Redesign - Vertical Loading

» Support Lt./DR Sgt. Attend CodeSupport Lt./DR Sgt. Attend Code Enforcement TrainingEnforcement Training

• Develop Written SOP Develop Written SOP » Increase ExpectancyIncrease Expectancy» SocializeSocialize

- Establish Goals & PrioritiesEstablish Goals & Priorities- Clarify Norms & ExpectationsClarify Norms & Expectations

» Reinforcing Mechanism for change Reinforcing Mechanism for change

Respond (Cont.)Respond (Cont.)• SOP developed w/input from:SOP developed w/input from:

» Other code enforcement agenciesOther code enforcement agencies» Other law enforcement agenciesOther law enforcement agencies» Muni. Court, Cty. Attorney, D.A.’s officeMuni. Court, Cty. Attorney, D.A.’s office

• Restructure William Traylor’s jobRestructure William Traylor’s job» Back under DR Sgt.Back under DR Sgt.» High Growth NeedsHigh Growth Needs» Autonomy, added responsibilityAutonomy, added responsibility» Frequent contact following transitionFrequent contact following transition

Respond (Cont.)Respond (Cont.)• With assistance of WPD, revise public With assistance of WPD, revise public education presentationeducation presentation

• Work with SAFE unit to work out complaintWork with SAFE unit to work out complaint intake processintake process

» Superordinate GoalSuperordinate Goal» Regular meetingsRegular meetings

ImplementationImplementation• Lt/Sgt. Trained - 9/1/02Lt/Sgt. Trained - 9/1/02• Flow process worked out with SAFE - 9/1/02Flow process worked out with SAFE - 9/1/02• William Traylor’s job restructured - 10/1/02William Traylor’s job restructured - 10/1/02• SOP completed - 12/1/02SOP completed - 12/1/02• Protocol completed - 12/1/02Protocol completed - 12/1/02• Public Education program revised - 12/1/02Public Education program revised - 12/1/02• All DRs trained - 12/31/02All DRs trained - 12/31/02• Full Implementation - 1/1/03 Full Implementation - 1/1/03

AssessAssess• Public surveys - upon implementation & everyPublic surveys - upon implementation & every 6 months afterward6 months afterward

• Monthly stats on # of complaints received,Monthly stats on # of complaints received, investigated, and their dispositioninvestigated, and their disposition

• # of man hours spent on environmental crime# of man hours spent on environmental crime

• Other code enforcement agencies, SAFE, Other code enforcement agencies, SAFE, and Patrol informally polled regularly and Patrol informally polled regularly

3 Final Thoughts3 Final Thoughts

• Can’t lose focus on our Technical CoreCan’t lose focus on our Technical Core

• Involving citizens in the identification andInvolving citizens in the identification and correction of unsightly and dangerous correction of unsightly and dangerous neighborhood problems is an excellentneighborhood problems is an excellent means of Building Social Capital means of Building Social Capital

• Environmental problems are not confinedEnvironmental problems are not confined to the Central East Areato the Central East Area

3900 Harold Ct. (before)3900 Harold Ct. (before)

3900 Harold Ct. (after)3900 Harold Ct. (after)

You may now applaudYou may now applaud