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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2b: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act JAG Grant and Authorization of Police Department ExpendituresDATE: February 2, 2010 TO: SUMMARY DISCUSSION Mayor and Members of the City Council STAFF REPORT Police Department FROM: Robert P. Sanderson, Chief of Police By: Nancy Chik, Senior Management Analyst. SUBJECT: Acceptance — $64,197 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Justice Assistance Grant and $16,309 from the Justice Assistance Grant 2009 Recommendation: Accept and authorize the expenditure of funds for the Police Department to purchase various equipment. As part of the Federal Recovery Act, the majority of cities in Southern California have been selected by the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance to receive grant funding. The City of Arcadia's allocation through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) is $64,197 and $16,309 from the JAG 2009. Staff recommends that the City Council approve acceptance of the grants and authorize police staff to make the specified expenditures, and this report will provide an overview of the projects as outlined in the Federal grants. The Recovery Act grant allocations were determined by the Bureau of Justice Statistics through a statutory formula based on the City's share of total violent crimes reported within the State. The City of Arcadia's allocations were originally estimated at $71,330 for the ARRA JAG and $17,311 for the JAG 2009. However, the City of Los Angeles was designated as the fiscal agent for the grants and they are taking 10% of the grant award to administer the ARRA JAG and 7% to administer the JAG 2009. The allocations may also change as some cities have declined to accept the grant awards. These four -year grant awards will be distributed up front instead of on a reimbursement basis, giving recipients immediate control over the funds. The projects for the grant awards have been established and an outline of the projects is as follows. ARRA JAG Two projects will be funded under the ARRA JAG award; purchase of a firearms simulation system for approximately $50,204 and purchase of surveillance equipment for approximately $13,993. A. Firearms Simulation System The courts have consistently ruled that police firearm training programs are inadequate should they fail to include "shoot/don't shoot" judgment training. The courts have also ruled that police departments need realistic firearm training in order for their programs to be considered valid. That being said, Laser Shot is a leader in the field of live-fire judgment training simulation systems. Laser Shot is primarily a live -fire system where a video is projected onto a synthetic screen, and the officer reacts to the video scenario. The officer fires live ammunition, using his /her own gun, and makes holes in the screen. The system maps the hits by tracking the heat signature of live ammunition, via Thermal Shot technology, and matching the impact of the shots to the video on the synthetic screen. When the scenario is played back for review, it freezes when the shots were fired, and allows the officer (and the trainer) to see the reactive areas of the screen in relation to the images and scenarios played. Accuracy and judgment can then be assessed by the trainer. The synthetic screen closes over the impact areas during initial contact by the bullets, and is ready for the next training scenario as soon as the previous training session is complete. Inclusion of the Laser Shot system in the Arcadia Police Department firearm training program will not only meet, but far exceed the courts expectations by providing our officers with "shoot/don't shoot" judgment training; using their own duty guns and ammunition, and validating our firearm training program by enhancing the realism of the training. The simulation program will also incorporate stress, decision making, attitude, knowledge, skill, shoot/don't shoot judgment, moving targets, officer being required to move, low or adverse lighting conditions, in- service training, and patrol rifle training. Laser Shot live -fire judgment training reduces agency liability while increasing officer safety. With the aid of the simulation training, our officers will be better prepared to handle stressful real life use of force situations in the field. B. Surveillance Equipment The Arcadia Police Department is seeking ways to increase efficiency within the Detective Bureau. In addition to increasing the efficiency and safety in the initial investigation, surveillance equipment will allow detectives to file a more thorough and complete case with the District Attorney's office. Surveillance equipment will allow the Detective Bureau to monitor suspect's activities from a distance without jeopardizing their safety. The equipment will provide detectives with the ability to both visually and audibly monitor suspects and their criminal activities. In addition to monitoring the suspect, the equipment will allow detectives to track, through global positioning, any vehicle associated with a crime or a suspect. In addition to the surveillance equipment a CelleBrite phone extraction system will be purchased. This system provides trained personnel with almost instant ability to download vital information from cellular phones. Information such as phone numbers, text messages, and deleted items could be retrieved from a suspect's phone within a matter of minutes. During investigations, information from a suspect's phone could make the difference in apprehending other suspects or having them escape. JAG 2009 For the JAG 2009, the Department will expend $16,309 to purchase optical sights and accessories to be added onto the M16 rifles. Currently, the patrol vehicles and motorcycles are outfitted with M16 rifles and the addition of optical sights would greatly enhance public and officer safety during life threatening situations. Optical sights allow for speedy target acquisition and can be used in inclement weather and under any light condition, from dark to full sunlight. The optical sights also improve the accuracy level for all officers and significantly reduce the likelihood of errant rounds or unintended targets. Police and military forces around the world have used Aimpoint sights for more than 20 years and they are combat proven. An Aimpoint red dot sight speeds up target accuracy by over 40 %+ under combat conditions and puts the bullets in the same location no matter who is looking through the sight. The optical sights are user friendly and allow officers to operate under varying positions, i.e., while wearing helmets, gas masks, etc. The Aimpoint sights are easily affixed to the M16 rifles, practically no maintenance, and use lithium batteries with a battery life of 50,000 hours. The installation of the Aimpoint optical sights to the rifles will reduce agency liability and increase public and officer safety. FISCAL IMPACT The Federal Recovery Act grants will fund all the projects listed and there is no expenditure incurred by the City. RECOMM ENDATION Staff recommends that the City Council accept $64,197 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Justice Assistance Grant and $16,309 from the Justice Assistance Grant 2009 and authorize the expenditure of funds for the Police Department to purchase various equipment. Approved: Don Penman, City Manager