HomeMy WebLinkAbout01 SLESF GRANT 09-05-06AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: SEPTEMBER 5, 2006
TO: WILLIAM HUSTON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: SCOTT M. JORDAN, CHIEF OF POLICE
SUBJECT: SUPPLMENTAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES FUND (SLESF)
SUMMARY
In 1996, AS 3229 established the Citizen's Option for Public Safety (COPS) grant
program. Proceeds from the program can only be used for front line law enforcement
services that may include the purchase of new equipment, hiring of additional personnel
and increasing the opportunity for training of safety personnel. This year, we have been
notified that the Police Department is to receive no less than $102,000 and no more
than $110,000 in SlESF funding. This year, the allocation for SLESF/COPS grant funds
for all law enforcement agencies is being coordinated through the Orange County
Sheriff's Department and all agencies have been directed to move forward with
expenditure authorization while waiting for the final grant amounts to be determined.
We are proposing that this year's entire allocation be used to create a new position of
Crime Analyst and equip this position with related hardware and software. This bill
requires both a public hearing and a special fund established for these monies.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Open and close a Public Hearing.
2. Authorize usage of the funds as recommended by the Police Department.
FISCAL IMPACT
Between $102,000 and $110,000 in Grant Fund expenditures. The entire account
balance will be expended.
BACKGROUND
Since the inception, SLESF/COPS grant program funding has been used to partially
fund our Gang Unit, provide for anti-crime prevention programs, and to purchase new
technology for general law enforcement purposes.
As we begin to employ the concepts of Community Governance toward a more efficient
and effective way of utilizing police resources, the five-year strategic plan identified the
position of Crime Analyst to be an important faction of the Area Command System.
Under this program, incidents are analyzed for commonality of underlying causation,
alternatives are developed and solutions identified. The end result is a more
permanent, substantive resolution to problems as opposed to merely reacting to
symptoms or responding to calls for service.
The addition of a Crime Analyst position to the Tustin Police Department to collect,
analyze and map crime data will allow for this proactive response to community
problems. Tactical and strategic analysis provides the greatest opportunity to improve
agency effectiveness. Analysis-driven enforcement is an effective crime-fighting tool
which will enable the Tustin Police Department to coordinate information with adjacent
neighboring police agencies already deploying formalized crime analysis as an integral
part of their tactical crime-fighting. Crime trends and series crimes, which routinely
cross city borders, are highly solvable when analysis is employed. The Tustin Police
Department anticipates an increased ability to proactively resolve community concern
regarding crime by employing a Crime Analyst.
SCOTT M. JORDAN
Chief of Police