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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPD Police Justice Assisance Grant (JAG) - Computer Equipment and Digital CamerasCITY OF PALM DESERT Office of the Assistant City Manager Community Services Division Staff Report REQUEST: Consideration of Palm DesertPolice Department Request for Approval of Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Funding Proposal for Computer Equipment and Digital Cameras SUBMITTED BY: Sheila R. Gilligan, ACM/Community Services DATE: July 14, 2005 CONTENTS 1. Memorandum from Lt. Steve Thetford dated June 30, 2005 Recommendation: By Minute Motion, concur with the Palm Desert Police Department's proposal to accept approximately $18,248 in Edward Byrne Memorial - Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Funds for 2005 to fund the purchase of the listed computer and camera. Discussion: The Palm Desert Police Department is seeking approval of Edward Byrne Memorial - Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funds in the amount of $18,248 for the purchase of computer equipment and digital cameras. Ordinarily, this would go to the Public Safety Commission for recommendation; however, scheduling conflicts have canceled the July and August, 2005, meetings of the Commission. I am, therefore, presenting this directly to the City Council for approval, which needs to be made now so that the grant application can finish the approval process. Attached is a memorandum from Lt. Steve Thetford outlining the grant and how it will be used. Staff recommends that the City Council approve this request. PSHEILaA R. �GI/LLIGAN ACM/Community Services Approval: r"�PSG CARLOS L. OMGA PAUL .I`A IBSO City Manager Financ& Director/City Treasurer PALM DESERT POLICE DEPARTMENT Served by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department Bob Doyle, Sheriff - Coroner W--V Bob Doyte, Sheriff- Coroner June 30, 2005 TO: City of Palm Desert, City Council FROM: Lieutenant Steve Thetford SUBJECT: JAG funding proposal for Computer Equipment and Digital Cameras Recommendation: By Minute Motion, recommend that the Palm Desert City Council concur with the Police Department's proposal to accept approximately $18,248 in Edward Byrne Memorial - Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Funds for 2005 to fund the purchase of the listed computer and camera. Executive Summarv: The Office of Justice Planning (OJP), U.S. Department of Justice, has offered a streamlined justice funding and grant opportunity identified as the Edward Byrne Memorial — Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program. This program allows states, tribes and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their local needs and conditions. JAG Funds can be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and informational systems for criminal justice and for any one or more of the following purpose areas; • Law Enforcement Programs • Prosecution and court programs • Prevention and education programs • Corrections and community corrections programs • Drug treatment programs • Planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs The City of Palm Desert is eligible for $18,248 in Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funds for 2005. The grant instructions indicate that these funds may be used for Law Enforcement Programs for Technical Assistance, Training, Personnel, Equipment, Supplies, Contractual Support, and Information Systems for Criminal Justice. The Palm Desert Police Department would like to use these funds to purchase equipment to support the following Law Enforcement programs; Palm Desert Special Enforcement Team (Target Team) — Special Enforcement Programs The Palm Desert Special Enforcement Team is a dedicated "street enforcement" team used to support and enhance the efforts of our regular patrol division. The Special Enforcement Team consists of one sergeant and four team members and is responsible for a wide range of duties such as focused patrol and enforcement for specific problem areas within the City. The Team often works in a plain clothes assignment with a flex schedule to provide aggressive enforcement regarding drug and theft related problems. This Team is also responsible for uniformed bicycle patrol during large scale City events. A portion of these JAG funds will be used to purchase new computer equipment for the Special Enforcement team members. The team's current computer systems are outdated and the operations systems will not support our current programs software. These systems are all beginning to fail which is requiring our team members to go without computer systems while their systems are being repaired. Our Special Teams need upgraded computer systems to support our current software to allow them to write reports, to track criminal information data, and to write search warrants in an efficient and timely manner. Therefore we propose to use a portion of the grant fund to purchase (5) new complete desk top computer systems as a cost of approximately $1,487 each for a total of $7,435. Palm Desert Traffic Team — Traffic Enforcement Programs The Palm Desert Traffic Enforcement Team is primarily dedicated to traffic enforcement and collision investigation within the City of Palm Desert. The Traffic Enforcement Team consists of 2 sergeants, 8 traffic enforcement officers, and 4 motorcycle traffic enforcement officers. This team conducts several focused traffic enforcement programs each month based on collision data obtained from our internal "Crossroads" traffic software. A portion of these JAG funds will be used to purchase new computer equipment for the Traffic Enforcement team members. The team's current computer systems are outdated and the operations systems will not support our current programs software. These systems are all beginning to fail which is requiring our team members to go without computer systems while their systems are being repaired. Our Traffic Enforcement team members need upgraded computer systems to support our current software to allow them to write reports, to track collision statistical data, and to write focused operational programs in an efficient and timely manner. Therefore we propose to use a portion of the grant fund to purchase (5) new complete desk top computer systems as a cost of approximately $1,487 each for a total of $7,435. In addition to the Traffic Enforcement Teams computer upgrade we will also propose that we purchase one (1) laptop computer system with a docking station for our Traffic Team sergeants. This system will be used to track Collision Data, maintain control of all focused traffic programs, and to prepare statistical analysis reports for team and administrative review. The additional cost of this system is approximately $2,782. 2 Patrol Operations Programs The Palm Desert Police contract currently has 70 sworn officers assigned to the City (to include administrative support). Part of the patrol operations duty assignment conduct detailed crime scene investigation, part of which includes photo documentation of the scene for future reference and prosecution. There is currently a lack of available digital cameras available to process our scenes. This lack of equipment has resulted in delayed investigation and possible deterioration of scene detail. The remainder of these JAG funds will be used to purchase new digital cameras to be used by field personnel to document crime scenes. These Cameras may also be used for, but not be limited to, field interview subject documentation, documentation of structures for search warrants and for tactical site survey detail for potential high profile terrorist target locations. The approximate cost of each of these cameras is $298 for a total of $596. NEW EOUIPMENT TO BE PURCHASED Item OTY Est.Price/Item Extended Total 1) Special Enforcement Teams Gateway Desktop Computer Systems (5) $1,487 $7,435 2) Traffic Enforcement Teams Gateway Desktop Computer Systems (5) $1,487 $7,435 3) Traffic Team Sergeant Gateway Laptop Computer Systems (1) $2,782 $2,782 4) Patrol Operations Digital Camera Systems (2) $298 $596 Grand Total $ 18.248 Cost Analvsis: The City of Palm Desert has applied for $18,248 in the Justice Assistant Grant (JAG) funds 2005. If received the JAG Funds will be used to purchase the above listed equipment as per the grant guidelines. The total cost of this proposal would be $18,248.