HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.C. 07 ASSET FORFEI 06-15-92CONSENT CALENDAR NO. 7
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WILLIAM A. HUSTON
POLICE DEPARTMENT
ASSET FORFEITURE FUND
RECOMMENDATION
That City Council authorize the Police Department to expend $135,000
from the Asset Forfeiture Fund for the purchase of equipment listed
below.
BACKGROUND
The utilization of Asset Forfeiture Funds are dictated by federal law.
Asset Forfeiture Funds go to law enforcement by order of our state and
federal court system as a result of confiscation of money and property
as a result of narcotics investigations. These monies are to be utilized
by law enforcement agencies to purchase equipment that will provide for
more efficient and/or effective operations within police agencies.
Governmental agencies cannot utilize Asset Forfeiture Funds to augment
the general funds of the municipalities. As a result, police agencies
utilize these funds to purchase equipment that is not budgeted for in the
general funds yet will improve the effectiveness and/or efficiency of the
police departments.
Space -Saving Evidence Shelving ($50,000)
The City's current secure evidence storage facilities are not sufficient to
properly store evidence in such a manner that will provide for a proficient
chain of custody and permit the optimum evidentiary control procedures
within the police agency. The new facility, while providing a little more
total square footage, still will not provide the absolute secured evidence
storage facility needed for the Department at the present time or for
growth. By utilizing state-of-the-art space -saving storage facilities, the
Police Department can increase its storage capacity by approximately 40
percent over and above the standard fixed shelving currently being
utilized by the Police Department.
Mr. Huston
June 8, 1992
Page 2
Equipment Storage Lockers ($11,000)
While the police facility is currently scheduled to receive new lockers for
police personnel, these lockers are located on the second floor. A police
officer currently carries approximately 40 to 60 pounds of field
equipment to and from his/her vehicle on each day of assignment.
Equally, as one views the physical layout of the new facility, one can
readily see the major passageway from the secured parking facility does
not permit a reasonable amount of room to appropriately carry the
equipment up the passageway and then up to the second floor of the
facility. To provide a more efficient storage capacity for the officers, it
appears feasible to provide for them equipment storage lockers adjacent
to the parking facility. This will permit officers to keep their uniforms in
an uncluttered locker on the second floor as well as provide for adequate
storage of the necessary equipment on the ground floor. In essence, this
will simply be more efficient for the police officers to store their
equipment while eliminating the need to haul 40 to 60 pounds of
equipment up and down the stairs on a daily basis.
Physical Fitness Equipment ( $15,000)
The Police Department has reached a tentative agreement in philosophy
with the Police Officers Association regarding a comprehensive physical
fitness program for our police officers. In order to provide them with the
essential equipment necessary for not only the officers but all police
employees to maintain a reasonable degree of physical fitness, it appears
appropriate that the Police Department purchase aerobic and non -aerobic
exercise equipment that will be available to all police employees.
Two Marked Patrol Units ($44,000)
In theory, the Police Department does have enough marked patrol units
to man a maximum staffing at peak times (12 to 14 officers on some
shifts). We far too often find ourselves short of vehicles due to down
time caused by automobile accidents, routine service, or vehicles that fail
to run for unknown reasons. Equally, due to our antiquated radio
system, it is often necessary to take cars out of service in order to have
the radios repaired. As a result, we oftentimes find ourselves in a
position of placing two officers in one radio car, which is not cost-
effective or efficient for routine policing within the City of Tustin. It is
Mr. Huston
June 8, 1992
Page 3
our feeling that two additional vehicles will provide enough vehicles to
ensure there always sufficient vehicles to place one officer in one vehicle
for routine patrol assignments.
Replacement Copy Machine ($15,000)
Our current copy machine currently placed in the Investigations Section
was purchased in 1986 to serve a relatively small Detective Division to
serve a capacity of approximately 5,000 copies per month. During the
past several years, the Investigations Section has expanded, work load
has increased, and overall copy machine requirements have exceeded
expectations throughout the balance of the Department. As a result, we
find the copy machine originally purchased solely for the Investigations
Section is now being used Department wide requiring a capacity of
20,000 per month. Due to the design of our new facility, we find the
Investigations Section will be placed upstairs, which will automatically
increase the usage due to the number of personnel within the proximity
of the machine.
Respectfully submitted,
W. DOUGLAS FRANKS
Chief of Police
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