With concerns in Beverly Hills over property crime, police addressed the City Council last week about the department’s budgetary needs as the 2018-19 fiscal year approaches.

“We have been aggressively hiring all positions in the department, but specifically police officers,” Chief Sandra Spagnoli told council members during their most recent study session. “When we’re hiring at this rate, right now, even though we had 136 [officers] and now with retirements we’re down to about 134, we are not realizing all the benefits of full staffing.”

She said there are currently almost 10 officers in the field training program.

“I’m confident that when we have 143 officers, we put people in positions in the right places to effectively keep this city safe,” Spagnoli said. “I’m confident you’re going to see significant impact, particularly as it relates to burglary and other nuisance crimes that we’re seeing. And this budget of 143 officers provides us adequate resources to really get what we need to get done.”

The police department’s proposed 2018-19 budget is $80.3 million, compared to its adopted 2017-18 budget of $74.7 million. The department’s proposed number of full-time positions for the next fiscal year is 241, compared to 235 over the past year.

Some of the notable changes the department is facing, according to Spagnoli, is increased operational expenses for increased staffing, hiring, contractual services and supplies; four part-time parking assistants that were transferred from Public Works to police in the middle of the 2017-18 fiscal year; and additional civilian staffing for programs and services.

The department is looking to add positions including a senior records specialist to process Public Records Act requests, and a sergeant to serve as the point of contact for special events related to filming and traffic control officers. Other enhancements it wants to add include a DNA program, contracting jail transportation services to the county sheriff and personnel training costs.

Earlier this year, the city launched a pilot program of closed circuit television and automated vehicle license plate recognition systems focusing on residential areas to bolster law enforcement. Council members said they hope to expand the program citywide. Cameras were placed at the intersections of Elevado Avenue and Rexford Drive, Carmelita Avenue and Rexford Drive, Robertson and Charleville boulevards, Arnaz Drive and Charleville Boulevard, and Hamel Drive and Charleville Boulevard.

Spagnoli said the department is working with the city over the next few weeks to evaluate the school resource officer program currently in place for potential enhancements. The school shooting in Parkland, Florida, in February that left 17 dead has increased nationwide scrutiny of school security.

During a special meeting on May 1, The Beverly Hills Unified School District’s Board of Education approved a contract with Nastec International to provide security at all five of its schools through the end of the school year. Armed security guards provided by Nastec have been in place since May 7, in addition to district security guards and school resource officers from the police department that have been in place.

“It is critical to have a comprehensive plan with multiple prevention strategies that begin at the perimeter of our schools and follow our students and staff inside our classrooms, as well as to have the resources and qualified personnel to carry out this plan each day students are in session,” Superintendent Michael Bregy said in a statement.