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Date |
February 20, 2006 |
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Agenda Item No. 35 Roll Call No. 06- Communication No. 06-079
Department: Police |
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AGENDA HEADING:
Justice Assistance Grant Award
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommend approval of the Justice Assistance Grant and the Memorandum of Understanding with Polk County identifying the City of Des Moines as the official applicant and fiscal agent.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The grant is 100% federally funded. There is no local match and no cost to the City or Polk County.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The City of Des Moines and Polk County have been awarded $124,248 from the Justice Assistance Grant. A requirement in receiving these funds is that the City and County sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that states that the City is the official applicant and fiscal agent for this grant. The City will receive approximately $101,323 and the County will receive approximately $22,925 to be spent on various law enforcement equipment and technology.
The Office of Justice Programs has deemed that our grant award is contingent on the City and Polk County having a Memorandum of Understanding in how these funds will be split and spent. The City of Des Moines has fulfilled the grant application requirements regarding Program Narrative, Budget Narrative and Review Narrative. The Memorandum of Understanding is on the February 21, 2006 agenda for the Polk County Board of Supervisors.
The grant period is from October 1, 2005 to September 30, 2009.
See attached Program Narrative for equipment and technology that may be funded with this grant.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION(S):
Date: 03/28/2005
Roll Call Number: 05-742
Action: Approved
BOARD/COMMISSION ACTION(S):
Date:
Roll Call No.:
Action:
ANTICIPATED ACTIONS AND FUTURE COMMITTMENTS:
FY 2006 PROGRAM NARRATIVE
February 02, 2006
Edward Byrne Memorial
Justice Assistance Grant
AGENCIES
CITY OF DES MOINES, IOWA $101,323
POLK COUNTY, IOWA $22,925
The Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funding will greatly enhance and improve law enforcement functions to both the Des Moines Police Department and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
The JAG funds will provide our Crime Scene/Identification Section with new evidence processing equipment to enhance their future capability to maintain high-quality crime scene investigation, to provide better support for the Department and to safeguard the laboratory technicians and the general public from exposure to potentially dangerous chemicals.
Replacement of a 20-year old chemical fuming hood is the first priority. Replacing the fuming hood ensures the laboratory will meet OSHA/NIOSH standards and will safeguard laboratory employees’ exposure to highly poisonous chemicals. The chemicals used by laboratory personnel are highly poisonous ranging from chemical irritants to highly carcinogenic compounds.
Additional forensic evidence drying cabinets are necessary to keep up with increasing case work and further guarantee the ability to safeguard DNA evidence by timely processing. It is common to exceed the capacity of our drying cabinet with one incident.
Supplementary digital cameras would provide crime scene technicians adequate coverage during times of concurrent multiple investigations and specialized-use situations. The new camera systems would provide much higher resolution imagery which is considered optimum in forensic investigations. Replacing the old, fragile light sources will provide high intensity illumination suitable for detecting blood, body fluids and fibers at a location. The light source will also provide maximum freedom of movement when photographing the crime scene.
The evidence and collection equipment Global Positioning System (GPS) Total Station will allow processing of an outdoor crime scene as well as the reconstruction of the crime scene at a future date and will be shared by the Detective, Homeland Security and Patrol Services Bureaus.
Computer technology equipment for two police officers newly assigned to the School Resource Officer program will allow them to communicate and gather data on school related incidents.
The City of Des Moines and the Des Moines Public School District recently signed an agreement to assign two officers to respond to calls from Des Moines’ ten middle schools. The Des Moines High Schools have seven police officers who are funded by FY03 Cops in Schools grant.
The GPS Tracking System will be used to enhance our crime suppression role. This system will allow us in real time, to track a suspect vehicle and to keep a record of where the suspect vehicle is over an extended period of time.
The vehicle tool drawers will be used in the Bomb Squad quick-response vehicle allowing the initial responder to quickly assess the scene prior to the arrival of the fully equipped team. Once installed, the drawers will provide easy access to tools from the rear of the response vehicle while allowing heavy equipment to be stored on top. This storage system will also provide more security for the equipment against theft. The purchase of a projector will provide the Metro STAR (Special Tactics and Response) the format to project pictures of suspects, vehicles, overhead aerial images and maps in briefings related to Homeland Security. The projector will also be used by the Bomb Squad to provide on-the-scene briefings or to project digital X-rays on a laptop to allow technicians the ability to quickly and accurately evaluate potential devices. The laser range finder will be used by the Bomb Squad to accurately determine distances during explosive ordinance operations. Safety of the public as well as bomb squad personnel will be available with the ability to determine accurate evacuation distances during hazardous materials releases related to weapons of mass destruction.
The Polk County Sheriff grant funds will assist in defraying costs of upgrading their Mobile Data Computers (MDC) hardware and software.
FY 2006 BUDGET NARRATIVE
February 02, 2006
Edward Byrne Memorial
Justice Assistance Grant
AGENCIES
CITY OF DES MOINES, IOWA $101,323
POLK COUNTY, IOWA $22,925
Purpose Area 1 Des Moines, Iowa
LAW ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS
Investigative and Evidence Collection Improvements
- Chemical Fuming Hood $17,908
The current primary chemical fuming hood has been in continuous use for 20 years. The chemical fume containment level cannot be monitored; exhaust air volume is not sufficient for completely segregating fumes from the laboratory and does not provide for high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration of exhausted contaminants to outside air.
- Biohazard Drying Cabinets $22,000
The department currently has one forensic evidence drying cabinet. It is common to exceed the capacity of our drying cabinet with one incident. Additional drying cabinets are necessary to keep up with increasing case work and further guarantee the ability to safeguard DNA evidence by timely processing.
- High Quality Digital Cameras $18,500
Currently, our department has seven high-quality digital camera systems that are shared between twelve employees. An additional five cameras would provide adequate coverage during times of concurrent multiple investigations and specialized-use situations.
- Alternate Light Source Kits $10,400
The alternate light sources kits would replace current kits that are fragile to the point they can not be taken out of the lab. The light sources would allow Identification Technicians the ability to always have one on the street and one in the lab.
- GPS for Total Station for Traffic and Homicide investigations $11,250
GPS for Total Station will allow investigators ability to process outdoor crime scenes. Reference points will be obtained and investigators will be able to record this information for future use. Additional accessories for the Total Station will allow equipment to be used in cold or inclement weather as well as allow crime scene technicians to view the overall scene.
- Laptop computers, docking stations, monitors & network compatible printer $3,465
Computer equipment for two School Resource Officers newly assigned to Des Moines’ ten middle schools.
- GPS Tracking System $14,500
The GPS Tracking System will be used to enhance our crime suppression role. This system will allow us in real time, to track a suspect vehicle and to keep a record of where the suspect vehicle is over an extended period of time.
- Vehicle Tool Drawers $1,200
This space-saving tool drawer will be used by our Bomb Squad to store photographic and HAZMAT protective equipment as well as protect fragile Nuclear, Biological and Chemical monitoring equipment. This system will be used in the “quick response” vehicle to allow initial responder to conduct a preliminary assessment prior to the fully equipped team arriving.
- Projector $1,500
The projector will be used in by all segments of the Homeland Security Bureau. As most of the Federal and State training materials received are CD-ROM based that need to be projected to large groups, the projector will be available to facilitate the training needs of our Metro STAR (Special Tactics and Response Team) and bomb squad.
10. Laser Range Finder $600
The laser range finder will be used to accurately determine distances during explosive ordinance operations. The range finder is necessary to provide first responders with quality information directly related to public safety during an incident and providing verifiable courtroom evidence in civil and criminal proceedings.
Purpose Area 2 Polk County, Iowa
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS
1. MDC Hardware and Software $22,925
Assist in defraying the costs of upgrading MDC hardware and software.