Public Safety Reports

Police Operations and Data Analysis Report, Morgan Hill, California

CPSM reviewed several options in an effort to identify possible alternatives to address this issue.

CPSM staff discussed this issue with Board of State and Community Corrections Field

Representative Michael Bush. Mr. Bush indicated MHPD’s facility is a fully rated temporary holding

facility which can hold prisoners up to 24 hours by meeting minimal additional standards if

prisoners are incarcerated beyond 12 hours. The current six hour threshold is a self-imposed policy

requirement. MHPD staff indicate cost, liability, and efficiency as issues for establishment of the six-

hour policy.

CPSM checked with local agencies and found that the Gilroy Police Department maintains a Type I

jail facility that can hold prisoners for 96 hours. However, today Gilroy holds prisoners on a more

restrictive hourly basis, also based on internal policy. San Martin Sheriff’s Station does not have a

holding facility, so prisoners are transported and booked directly at Santa Clara County Jail.

Another avenue is contracting with a private prisoner transportation company for transport

services. CPSM contacted representatives of the SVT Gruppe, a subsidiary of Black Talon Security

Solutions, who indicated their company has recently negotiated a contract with a South Bay agency

to resolve the same issue that concerns MHPD. The contract is awaiting council approval so the

specific city was not made available to CPSM. California Extradition Services also indicated it would

provide local agency prisoner transport services in the South Bay area. CPSM offers these two

companies as an example of alternatives, but provides no endorsement of any company.

Recommendations:



MHPD has a number of prisoner transport alternatives worthy of exploration, including

policy modification, regional jailing cooperatives, and employing a private transport service.

CPSM recommends MHPD assess these options for the solution that addresses its concerns

and provides the most benefit to the organization.



MHPD staff must continue its diligence to maintain compliance with prisoner safety checks.

Performance Evaluation

The annual evaluation of employees is a tremendous opportunity to help guide their development,

enhance their opportunity for a successful career, and increase their value to the organization. In

many organizations, supervisors fail to take advantage of this opportunity to the detriment of both

the employee and the organization. While the performance evaluation instrument in and of itself

will not ensure the annual review takes full advantage of this opportunity, it does contribute to the

process. As well, senior management review of the evaluations provides insight as to which

supervisors are putting forth worthwhile effort in reviewing and developing their personnel.

By policy, the Morgan Hill Police Department uses performance evaluations to measure

performance and as a factor in making personnel decisions related to merit increases, promotion,

reassignment, discipline, demotion, and termination. A supervisor/employee interview is utilized

as part of the evaluation process to give both an opportunity to discuss the evaluation in detail. The

supervisor provides the employee career counseling and highlights department opportunities. The