Title
RESOLUTION NO. 5148 NEW SERIES
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GLENDALE, MARICOPA COUNTY, ARIZONA, AUTHORIZING THE ENTERING INTO AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE FY 2016 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM AWARD (AWARD NO. 2016-DJ-BX-1008) FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS, IN THE APPROXIMATE AMOUNT OF $86,509 ON BEHALF OF THE GLENDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Staff Contact: Rick St. John, Interim Police Chief
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Purpose and Recommended Action
Recommendation
This is a request for City Council to waive reading beyond the title and adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to accept a Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program award, number 2016-DJ-BX-1008, on behalf of the Glendale Police Department in the approximate amount of $86,509 from the United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, and enter into a grant award agreement.
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Background
The Glendale Police Department has accepted funding from the Edward Byrne Memorial JAG Program annually since 2005. In honor of the New York police officer who died in the line of duty, the Edward Byrne Memorial JAG Program is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. The JAG Program provides states and units of local government with critical funding necessary to support a range of program areas including law enforcement, prosecution and court programs, prevention and education programs, corrections and community corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, crime victim and witness initiatives, and planning, evaluation and technology improvement programs.
JAG funds may be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, strategic planning, research and evaluation (including forensics), data collection, training, personnel, equipment, forensic laboratories, supplies, contractual support, and criminal justice information systems that will improve or enhance such areas. The grant funding is available to a unit of local government identified as a town, township, village, parish, city, county, borough, or other general purpose political subdivision of a state; or, it may also be a federally recognized Indian Tribe that performs law enforcement functions. The amount awarded to each city is based on the population and crime statistics of the community.
Analysis
The Glendale Police Department has seen an increase in the number of firearms submitted to the property and evidence unit for each of the last three years, and the current year continues the upward trend. In 2014, the average was 57 firearms processed each month, and in 2015 the average was 74 firearms per month. Suspects arrested for gun violence crimes routinely have weapons with them, other than firearms, which has resulted in the Glendale Police Department also processing another 54 non-firearm weapons on a monthly basis. If Council approves the requested action, the funds from the grant will be utilized to hire a contract employee to work in the evidence room to provide primary support for the processing and tracking of weapons.
The grant funds will be used to pay the contract employee’s wages and associated benefits for a two year period. The contract employee’s duties will include handling weapons and related evidence in accordance with evidentiary processing procedures, ensuring that the weapons are properly transported for all required analysis, and making sure the information associated with the analysis is passed to the Investigations Unit. Staff is recommending Council adopt the proposed resolution authorizing the City Manager to accept the FY 2016 Edward Byrne Memorial JAG program award from the United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, and enter into an agreement.
Previous Related Council Action
On October 13, 2015, Council adopted a resolution (No. 5030 New Series) authorizing the City Manager to accept the FY 2015 Edward Byrne Memorial JAG Program award in the approximate amount of $85,149 from the United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, and enter into an agreement.
Budget and Financial Impacts
There is no financial match required for this grant. A specific account will be established in Fund 1840, the city’s grant fund, once the agreement is fully executed.