Title
Ordinance in the Amount of $204,515 Amending the State, Federal, and Other Grants Fund Budget for the Appropriation of Federal Grant Funds for Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program Allotment FY 2016
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Department: Police
Council District: All
Public Hearing: NA
Advertising Date/By: NA
Contact 1 and Phone: Chief Wayne Scott, 373-2085
Contact 2 and Phone: Stephanie Moore, 373-2352
PURPOSE:
Collectively, the City of Greensboro, City of High Point and Guilford County have been awarded Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program FY 2016 funding totaling $204,515. This is a disparate allocation and will be assigned as follows: the City of Greensboro $111,519; City of High Point $41,454; and Guilford County $51,542. The Greensboro Police Department will serve as the lead/fiscal agency for the FY 16 JAG for the award period of October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2019.
The grant will be approved by the Budget and Evaluation Director and City Manager in accordance with the City Grants Policy. In accordance with current City fiscal procedures to accept this grant, approval of a budget ordinance is also required by City Council.
BACKGROUND:
Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program awards are authorized by 42 U.S.C. § 3751(a). They are formula-based, non-competitive federal criminal justice funds which do not require a match. JAG allocations are based on violent crime and population and the local unit of government award allocations are based on their proportion of the state’s 3-year violent crime average.
The Greensboro Police Department (GPD) will use the apportioned FY 16 JAG funds for a patrol vehicle and a Special Response Team (SRT) Robot. Part of the GPD’s implementation of Neighborhood Oriented Policing (NOP) included redrawing the police districts and realignment of personnel, thus creating the need for patrol vehicles. The SRT falls under the GPD’s Special Operations Division. The team is mobilized for special duty on a call-up basis. This technology provides officers with greater capabilities & real time information for dynamic building entry.
The High Point Police Department (HPPD) will use the apportioned FY 16 JAG funds for 8 in-car cameras. The HPPD is presently working to equip all police patrol vehicles with in-car cameras and replacing cameras that are broken, aging and out-of-date. Currently the HPPD lacks cameras in 15 patrol vehicles. The cameras enhance officer safety, improve accountability, reduces liability, simplifies incident review, enhances officer training, improves community perception, strengthens police leadership, advances prosecution and case resolution, enhances officer performance and professionalism.
The Guilford County Sheriff’s Department (GCSD) will use the apportioned FY 16 JAG funds for 64 backseat cameras for patrol cars, 35 Micro body cameras for the Emergency Response Team and 2 Tablets (computers) with all hardware/software/accident protection/docking station/charger & protective sleeve. Backseat cameras will allow officers driving to observe the arrestee in order to monitor for medical emergencies and create a safer environment during transports. Micro body cameras enable the GCSD to create a more professional and transparent law enforcement presence. This is especially critical for this specialized response team. The tablets will allow for a more mobile response within the law enforcement center-allowing for greater access to real time information.
BUDGET IMPACT:
This is a reimbursable grant; no match required. The funds will be housed in grant account #220-3572-01. Any expenses exceeding the JAG funding will be absorbed by each agency’s budget. Expense reimbursement requests will be processed quarterly and dispersed to the partnering agencies upon receipt of funds by the City of Greensboro from the Office of Justice Programs.
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
The Greensboro Chief of Police requests City Council’s consideration to adopt the associated budget ordinance for the Appropriation of Federal Grant Funds for Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program Allotment FY 2016 in the amount of $204,515, the total grant amount to be distributed to the three law enforcement agencies on a reimbursement basis.