VILLAGE ~WESTERN.,,, SPRINGS 740 HILLGROVE AVENUE I WESTERN SPRINGS. IL 60558-14781 www.wsprings.com PRESIDENT A llee G a llagher TR USTEES S hetla H an sen E dw ar d Tym ick B erry Al le n H eid i R udolp h TO: FROM: SUBJECT: DATE: MEMORANDUM PUBLIC HEAL TH & SAFETY COMMITTEE BRIAN J. BUDDS, CHIEF OF POLICE ~6'7 OLES -2017 COMMUNITY SURVEY SUMMARY MARCH 7, 2018 Wi lham S iff erm an n Jam es Tyr re ll CLERK B rid g e t F itz gera ld On an annual basis, our agency conducts a comprehensive summary of the feedback derived from our random community surveys. I've attached the summary memorandum prepared by our Accreditation Manager, Cindy Gonzalez. I would be remiss ifl didn't give credit to Manager Gonzalez for tabulating and summarizing the 2017 results as she always does a wonderful job with this very important task. MANAGER Ingrid Velkme DIRECTORS Tracy Alden Grace Tun Pat Schramm The summary says it all and it comes as no surprise to me as the Police Chief - I have an outstanding staff who provide superior services to our residents and businesses. The report also reaffirms that we have the pleasure of serving a community who is extremely supportive and proud of their Police Department. We will continue to foster our strong partnership with our community through all available resources, including but not limited to, our traditional community surveys. Marun Seen Matthew Supert Patrick Kenny Brian Budds Ellen Baer Attachment - Summary report POLICE Tel 708.246.8540 Fax 708.246.3609 I FIRE Tel 708.246.1182 Code Fax 708.246.4871 VILLAGE SERVICES Tel 708.246.1800 Fax 708.246.0284 I RECREATION Tel 708.246.9070 Fax 708.246.1309
ACCREDITATION MAN AGER CYNTHIA GONZALEZ WESTERN SPRINGS POLICE DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM Date: February 12, 2018 To: Chief Brian Budds RE: Community Survey Summary for 2017 METHODOLOGY As a matter ofreview, each month fifteen surveys were mailed to Western Springs residents who had contacted the police department. I selected citizens at random with the following criteria: 1) The incident had to involve a resident of Western Springs or a business inside the Village limits 2) Incident reports, including crashes, could be used 3) Traffic stop contacts were not selected 4) Agency members were represented as evenly as possible in the survey mailings, to attempt to get an overall view of the agency as a unit, not the performance of employees Each month all incidents were searched for the previous month shortly after the beginning of the next month. Calls were randomly selected based on the above criteria. Surveys were mailed to the complainants (callers). When results were returned, they were tabulated each month in the following tables. A total of 180 surveys were mailed in 2017. Fifty-four completed surveys were returned, for a return rate of 30%. The history of annual return rates for this survey is: 2016-30.5% 2015-27.2% 2014-29.4% 2013-29.4% 2012-32.0% The community service officer and all sworn members except the police chief and deputy police chief were included in this survey. The chief and deputy chief were not included because their duties normally do not include responding to citizen calls for service. 1
Telecommunicators, who were no longer agency employees as of March 2017, were not included in the 2017 survey. As the surveys were returned, responses were recorded and tabulated in the following tables. 2017 RESPONSES Question 1: What was the nature of your recent contact with the Western Springs Police Department? Reported a Problem 16 Witnessed a 1 crime/incident Involved in/witnessed a 0 motor vehicle accident Crime Prevention 0 Program Contacted about a 5 problem Requested information 2 Victim of a crime 41 Visited police station 2 Other Found personal property on my lawn Lost debit card, someone brought it in Report stolen bike Police collection? File an identity theft report Kids-3am Victim of identity theft ID theft Reported stolen credit card My car was vandalized (keyed) Consumer fraud Reported fraudulent charges on credit card Garage fire-911 call Online crime-someone tried to apply for my ss retirement benefits In the category 'Other,' these were reasons that the respondents gave rather than checking one of the options provided. Most, if not all, of those reasons listed as 'Other' could fit into another category, but, since the survey purpose is to look at perceptions of the callers, their responses were recorded without editing. The most reported reason was 50.6% stating that their contact was 'Victim of a crime.' Nineteen percent (19.8%) of those responding indicated they were reporting a problem. These two top responses were also the most common responses in all previous survey years. 2
The total of the responses in Question 1 equals 81, yet only 54 completed survey responses were received. These numbers are not equal because some surveys were returned with multiple responses in this category and some surveys were returned with no response in this category. The table only reflects responses received from those surveyed. Question 2: Please check the Western Springs Police employee with whom you had contact. Type of Assignment Number of contacts % of total contacts" Police Officer 48 73.8% Disoatcher/Records 10 15.4% Auxiliarv Officer 0 0 Community Service Officer 1 1.5% Crime Prevention/School Resource Officer 0 0 Supervisor 1 1.5% Investigator 5 7.7% Hiah School Liaison Officer 0 0 *Percent of total contacts column does not equal 100% due to rounding. Question 2 has more responses than the total of the survey returns because respondents, sometimes listed more than one contact person at the police department. Question 3: How would you rate the person in the following categories? Excellent Good Fair Poor N/A Concern 48 3 2 0 0 Courtesy 49 2 1 0 0 Comoetence 49 2 1 0 0 Aooearance 49 3 0 0 1 Knowledge 49 3 1 0 0 Puttina you at ease 49 3 0 1 1 Solving the problem 42 3 0 0 6 Helpfulness 49 2 0 0 2 Fairness 51 3 1 0 0 Professional conduct 50 4 0 0 0 Cultural sensitivity 43 3 0 0 7 Attitude 50 3 0 0 0 Ratings in the Excellent and Good categories far exceed ratings in the other categories. Fair and Poor responses in 2017 surveys were largely from only one survey. The second "Fair" response recorded was on a survey that otherwise gave "Excellent" and "Good" ratings. While it is impossible to ascertain precisely the reasons that the responses were not in the Excellent or Good categories as were most of the remaining surveys, it is notable that, with the exception of one individual survey, all responses to this question were consistently in the "Excellent' and "Good" categories. 3
It seems fair to conclude that the persons surveyed were very satisfied with the response and interaction with the employee(s) with whom they had contact. Question 4: Rank the top 3 most important police services with 1 being most important, 2 being second most important, up to 3. Most 2nd Most 3rd Most Total for Important Important Important Service DUI Patrol 1 3 2 6 Speeding/parking/Traffic Enforcement 3 3 6 12 Crime Prevention/Communitv Education 9 3 7 19 Druc/qano related crimes 1 0 6 7 Crimes against person 12 10 5 27 Property crimes 5 14 12 31 Neiahborhood patrol and visibility 8 9 8 25 Youth related problems 0 2 1 3 School based safetv education orograms 1 4 1 6 In 2017, property crimes ranked first in total responses for each listed service. In 2016, neighborhood patrol and visibility ranked first in responses and crimes against persons was second in the most important category and second in overall responses. Perhaps the most significant numbers in the responses are the totals for services. They seem to show that property crimes, crimes against persons, and neighborhood patrol and visibility far exceed other listed potential concerns. Whether the citizen felt they were most important, second most important, or third most important may be less valuable information than the fact that they felt the issue was enough to rank in their top three areas of concern among the listed options. These three top concerns are more relatable to each other than some of the other options that we listed for this question. This response cluster suggests that the respondents feel the police department should continue to focus on crimes against persons and property. While neighborhood patrol and visibility has ranked first in this category overall for the previous five years the survey has been conducted, crimes against persons, crime prevention and community education, and property crimes have normally been the categories that comprised the top four most important police services, with just minor differences in the tallies over time. In 2017, the same four categories again were the most selected by our respondents. This survey question also included an option for the respondent to note any other important service and describe that service. In 2017, only one respondent offered another reply. This commentary was in addition to ranking top three important services. The following is what was written on the survey: "* I wish there was a more effective way to curb texting and of phone use while people are driving. People blatantly defy the law while operating a vehicle. Unfortunately, I believe women are most 4
at fault. Why have the law if it's not going to be "enforced. " Better patrol is really needed to stem the abuse. Lives will be saved... " Question 5: Please check the appropriate box to rate the performance of the Western Springs Police Department. Excellent Good Fair Poor NIA Response to community's overall 38 11 3 0 0 policing needs Response to traffic concerns (speeding, 32 15 0 1 5 accidents, etc.) Response to community's drug activity 23 14 1 0 11 concerns Crime prevention efforts 30 19 2 1 0 Treatment of people with courtesy and 40 11 1 1 0 respect Response to quality of life issues in the 30 13 1 1 5 community (neighborhood disputes, loud noise complaints, parking issues, etc.) Feelings of safety and security in your 35 15 3 0 0 own neighborhood Feelings of safety and security in 35 15 3 0 0 Western Springs as a whole Overall competence of the Western 36 14 2 0 0 Springs Police Department employees Responses were overwhelmingly in the Excellent and Good categories. Fair and poor ratings were scattered among seven returned surveys. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS At the end of the survey, citizens are invited to provide additional comments. Some comments were: We recently had a very difficult family situation. The officers were kind, professional, and courteous. We are very grateful! Would be interested to know in VWS-PD is willing/able to patrol private drive behind our homes on 1300 blk of Walnut. Thank you for being there for the community! I appreciate the swiftness of the call. Thanks for the quick response (3 cars). FYI-I left garage open, officer left note. (7/24-2am) Thanks 5
I have always been pleased with any contact I have had with the WS Police-Code Enforcement has not been so positive. Officers exhibited a high degree of compassion, concern and good judgement. Thank you Great job! Thank you, problem solved. CHIEF'S RESPONSES TO RETURNED SURVEYS The survey provides for a respondent to request contact with the agency to address any concerns. Chief Budds advised that he did not need to follow-up on any survey responses in 2017. SUMMARY AND COMPARISON WITH 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 SURVEY RESPONSES Responses returned were 54 in 2017, 55 in 2016, 49 in 2015, 53 in 2014, 53 in 2013, and 57 in 2012. The rate of returned surveys is stable over the years the survey has been conducted, and this year is 30 %. A response rate of 30% or higher on a random citizen survey regarding police performance seems to indicate that the citizens of the community remain interested in the activities of the police department and feel that their input is valued. Additionally, since responses are overwhelmingly positive, I feel it indicates that the community is interested in providing input to the police department and feels that their opinions matter with the agency. Generally, people don't seem to speak up unless they are unhappy about their encounter, but very few surveys expressed any type of negative feedback to the agency. Overall responses pertaining to how citizens rate employee in certain categories and how citizens feel about the performance of the Western Springs Police Department (Questions 3 and 5) remained consistently in the Excellent and Good range during all years surveyed. Opinions about most important police services (Question 4) remained relatively stable among respondents with crimes against persons, crimes against property, neighborhood patrol and visibility and crime prevention/community education garnering the highest total for service responses. With six years of data now available, it seems that the response rate and replies are remarkably consistent from year to year, and these responses indicate consistent levels of service delivery by members of the Western Springs Police Department and consistent levels of interest in the service population to provide feedback to the agency. 6