STATEMENT OF ISSUE
The Police Department requests approval to accept and expend two grants awarded to support police operations. First, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) awarded the City of Tallahassee a $14,190 grant through the Project Safe Neighborhood Anti-Firearm Program. This grant will allow the Police Department, in partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, to expand its efforts in taking guns off the streets of Tallahassee. A second grant was awarded through the U.S. Department of Justice to assist with purchase of bulletproof vests. The Justice Department's Bulletproof Vest Partnership awarded the City of Tallahassee a $3, 886 grant. These funds will be used to purchase and replace seven bulletproof vests that have expired. In addition, the department requests approval to accept reimbursement from Leon County for Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training. Leon County’s Mental Health Advisory Council was awarded a three-year grant from the Florida Department of Children and Families with the goal of improving how mentally ill defendants are handled by the criminal justice system.

RECOMMENDED ACTION
Approve Option 1: Approve acceptance and expenditure of the $14,190 FDLE’s Project Safe Neighborhood grant and the $3,886 bulletproof vest grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice. Also approve acceptance of up to $37,767 from Leon County for reimbursement of department operating expenses for CIT training.

FISCAL IMPACT
The time period for each of the awarded grants is one year. Neither grant program requires local matching funds. Based on the terms of the memorandum of agreement with Leon County, expenses related to CIT training will be reimbursed up to a maximum of $37,767. The Office of Budget and Policy has reviewed this request and it meets budgetary guidelines.

Dennis M. Jones, Chief of Police

Anita Favors Thompson, City Manager

For information, please contact: Greg Frost, 891-4411

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL/ISSUE ANALYSIS
HISTORY/FACTS & ISSUES
Over the last two years the City of Tallahassee has seen a slight increase in violent crime. The intent of the Project Safe Neighborhoods grant is to establish a new program that will assist in taking firearms off the streets and decrease gun violence. The Disarming Violent Offender Task Force will consist of two TPD investigators along with investigators from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Funding from the awarded grant will provide laptops and associated software for the two TPD investigators assigned to the task force. In addition, a computerized “Smart Board" will be purchased and installed at TPD to support major case investigation operations.

As part of the department's effort to reduce operating costs, a Department of Justice grant was applied for to purchase bulletproof vests. The Bulletproof Vest Program awarded the City of Tallahassee a grant that will fund the replacement of seven bulletproof vests.

The recently established Leon County Mental Health Advisory Council received a grant from the Florida Department of Children and Families to implement a mental health court. Associated with this new program was funding to enhance training for law enforcement officers on ways to effectively deal with mentally ill residents. The Tallahassee Police Department started our community’s initial Crisis Intervention Team, and the grant received by the Mental Health Advisory Council will reimburse the department to train communications officers as well as additional police officers in crisis intervention techniques. Based on the terms of the interagency agreement with Leon County, the City is entitled to be reimbursed over the three-year grant period up to $37,767 for training related expenses.

CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS
Not applicable to this agenda item.

OPTIONS
1. Approve acceptance and expenditure of the $14,190 FDLE’s Project Safe Neighborhood grant and the $3,886 bulletproof vest grant awarded by the US Department of Justice. Also approve acceptance of up to $37,767 from Leon County for reimbursement of department operating expenses for CIT training.

2. Disapprove acceptance of awarded grants and reimbursement.

3. Provide additional direction.

ATTACHMENTS/REFERENCES
None