In the FY20 budget, UPPS is currently allocated $89,046 for goods and services, of which $29,600 is available for basic equipment replacement, uniforms, training, memberships, certifications and academy fees for officers. Eliminating purchases of uniforms and basic equipment leaves approximately $9,900. for officers’ training, memberships, certifications and travel. The department does not have a vehicle replacement fund. In addition to operational challenges, the limited budget presents a challenge when recruiting officers for open positions. Optimal Staffing Levels The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has studied the criteria for optimal staffing numbers. A 2013 Community-Oriented Policing Services (COPS) study found that 1.6 to 3 officers per 1,000 students was optimal. As can be seen in the table below, the officer ratio per 1,000 students for CWU, EWU, and WWU is at the lower spectrum for optimal staffing, but generally consistent in the State of Washington.
Table 2: Police officer ratio per 1,000 students
Fall 2018 Total Enrollment
Officer per 1,000 Students
Institution
Total # of Officers
CWU EWU WWU
14,972 12,663 16,121
14 16 15
0.94 1.26 0.93
CWU UPPS is exploring alternatives to traditional police staffing in order to support community policing even during times of high demand. For example, CWU could hire non-commissioned officers or even students to perform community engagement activities and to coordinate outreach events. Scheduling and Coverage CWU police officers generally work four 10-hour days with three days off in between. The minimum staffing level per 10-hour shift is one officer. Call volume is lower between 2:00 – 8:00 am and the bulk of minimum staffing is during that timeframe. When single coverage happens during high call volume, additional officers are added for coverage, resulting in overtime. This issue usually arises when sick leave, vacation leave, or training makes officers unavailable. When large events—e.g. commencement, football games—require greater staffing, the Chief of Police is responsible for determining the number of officers required, per CWUP 2-40-170 Security for Public and Special Events. While these events are generally voluntary, they do place an overtime burden on the participating officer(s). UPPS relies heavily on community policing to build strong relationships with the students and employees staff we serve. However, an increase both in single-coverage days and in 911 calls for service have had a negative impact on CWU’s community policing. Specifically, the department has had to cancel and reschedule numerous community policing engagements due to on-duty staff covering calls. Mutual Aid UPPS enjoys strong relationships with local law enforcement, and holds mutual aid agreements with the Ellensburg Police, the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office, the Kittitas Police Department, and the Cle Elum Police Department. These agreements are essential to each partner, as no one department is able to fully address major events when then happen. CWU relies on mutual aid agreements during periods of
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