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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/17/2007, C9 - 2007 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATION council ' 7/17/07 j acenaa Repoat 4- C C I T Y OF S AN LU IS O B I S P O FROM: Deborah Linden, Chief of Police Prepared By: Melissa Ellsworth, Senior Analyst SUBJECT: 2007 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATION CAO RECOMMENDATION 1. Confirm the Chief of Police's application on behalf of the City, for a 2007 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant in the amount of $17,453 for "TASER" Electronic Control Devices. 2. If awarded the grant, authorize the CAO to execute necessary grant documents. DISCUSSION Background On June 22, 2007, the Police Chief received email notification announcing the application period for the 2007 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program(JAG), administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance. The JAG program provides federal funds to local law enforcement agencies for equipment and programs. The funding allocation is based on population and crime rate of the local jurisdiction. The amount allocated to our City is $17,453. The federal grant funds must be used to supplement existing funds for program activities and cannot replace, or supplant, City funds that have been allocated for the same purpose. The grant application was due by July 2,2007. Timing for Application The grant requires an online application, review of the application by the City Council, and an opportunity for public comment regarding the application. Normally, Council would review and approve the application prior to submission. However, because grant notification was not made until late June, just prior to the July 2, 2007 due date, staff was not able to bring this item to Council prior to the grant application deadline. Therefore, staff obtained verbal approval from the CAO to submit the application prior to Council review. This agenda report therefore requests Council's confirmation of this grant application. Use of Grant Funds After reviewing the grant requirements and the needs of the Police Department, staff is recommending the grant funds be used to purchase additional TASER brand Electronic Control C Council Agenda Report — Application Submittal for 2007 Edward Byrne. Memorial Justice Grant Program Page 2 Devices (lasers) for police officers. In 2004, the Police Department began issuing Tasers to patrol officers and they have been very effective. The purpose of the Taser is to provide a non-lethal alternative to subdue individuals who are violent, combative, or pose a risk to public safety or the officer. The Taser uses a technology called Neuro-Muscular Incapacitation (NMI) which uses electricity to temporarily incapacitate someone with minimal risk of serious injury. Other non-lethal weapons such as the baton or chemical spray function by causing temporary pain to a person in order to gain compliance. However, their application is limited and their effectiveness vanes depending on the level of drugs or alcohol intoxication, pain tolerance, or intent to flee or attack. Rather than relying on pain to temporarily incapacitate someone, the Taser uses electrical stimuli to interfere with the signals sent by the nervous system, which temporarily impairs motor control, allowing officers to take the person into custody safely and without the need for greater levels of force. Once the electrical stimulus is stopped,the person quickly recovers. Since the Police Department began carrying Tasers, officers have experienced several situations in which the use of the Taser has clearly prevented the need for greater levels of force, including deadly force. For example, in July 2005, officers responded to a report of an agitated man downtown armed with two 12" kitchen knives. The man was believed to be under the influence of drugs. A downtown bicycle officer quickly located the man, who had both knives raised above his head and was yelling at the employees at a downtown bar. The area was crowded with patrons and bystanders. The man repeatedly refused officers' orders to drop the knives and because of the significant risk the man posed, an officer used the Taser. The man was taken into custody without injury to anyone involved or to the bystanders. The use of the Tasers has resulted in some minor injuries to suspects, mostly small puncture wounds from the penetration of the barb or minor abrasions from falling to the ground. No serious injuries have resulted from the use of the Tasers. Currently the Police Department has five Tasers which is not enough to equip all the officers who may be working at the same time. Staff is requesting approval to apply for grant funds to purchase an additional ten Tasers and belt holders for all officers, so that all on-duty officers will be equipped with a Taser for their shift. An added option for the new Tasers is a camera system with video and audio recording capability that is integrated with the detachable battery.. This camera records pre-event activity through its memory card and is automatically activated when the Taser is used. This feature helps to protect the officer and City from liability and aids in the prosecution of the criminal case.. Staff is requesting approval to apply for JAG grant funds to purchase 15 Taser cameras/batteries: Ten for the new Tasers and five to retrofit the existing five Tasers currently owned by the City. FISCAL IMPACT City matching funds are not required by this particular grant. The grant of$17,453 will cover the cost of the new Tasers,batteries/cameras,belt holders and related accessories. ALTERNATIVES c 9-�- Council Agenda Report — Application Submittal for 2007 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Grant Program Page 3 Deny the CAO Recommendation. Council could direct staff to withdraw the application for JAG grant funds. This recommendation is not recommended. The funds are available for local law enforcement purposes on an annual basis and unallocated funds are not available to agencies. Withdrawal of the application would result in the City forfeiting the opportunity to receive this funding allocation. The JAG funds provide an opportunity to purchase additional Tasers for officers at no cost to the City. ATTACI EWENT 2007 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Application (submitted electronically on June 29,2007). G:\BusinessOflice\Grants\2007 Edward Byrne Mem JAG Program\2007 JAG Council Agenda Report Application.DOC ATTAcN MST 1 Page 1 of 2 4;;v-EW'r f kPP UGv10r A I. APPLICATION FOR 2. DATE SUBMITTED Applicant Identifier FEDERAL ASSISTANCE 1. TYPE OF SUBMISSION 3. DATE RECEIVED BY State Application Identifier STATE Application Non-Construction 4. DATE RECEIVED BY Federal Identifier FEDERAL AGENCY 5.APPLICANT INFORMATION Legal Name Organizational Unit City of San Luis Obispo Police Department Address Name and telephone number of the person to be contacted on 990 Palm Street matters involving this San Luis Obispo, California application 93401-3236 Linden, Deborah (805) 781-7019 6. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(EIN) 7. TYPE OF APPLICANT 95-6000820 Municipal 8. TYPE OF APPLICATION 9. NAME OF FEDERAL AGENCY New Bureau of Justice Assistance 10. CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE 11. DESCRIPTIVE TITLE OF APPLICANT'S PROJECT NUMBER: 16.738 CFDA EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE Alternative weapon equipment TITLE: ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM project (TASERS). 12. AREAS AFFECTED BY PROJECT City of San Luis Obispo 13. PROPOSED PROJECT 14. CONGRESSIONAL Start Date: October 01, 2007 DISTRICTS OF End Date: September 30, 2010 a. Applicant b. Project CA23 15. ESTIMATED FUNDING 16. IS APPLICATION Federal $17,453 SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY STATE EXECUTIVE ORDER Applicant $0 12372 PROCESS? State $0 Program has not been selected $0 Local by state for review https://grants.ojp.usdoj.gov/gmsextemal/applicationReview.do?print=yes 06/29/2007 �TTACI- MENfage 2 of 2 Other $0 Program Income $0 17. IS THE APPLICANT DELINQUENT ON ANY FEDERAL DEBT? TOTAL $17,453 N 18. TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF, ALL DATA IN THIS APPLICATION PREAPPLICATION ARE TRUE AND CORRECT, THE DOCUMENT HAS BEEN DULY AUTHORIZED BY GOVERNING BODY OF THE APPLICANT AND THE APPLICANT WILL COMPLY WITH THE ATTACHED ASSURANCES IF THE ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED. Close Window https://grants.ojp.usdoj'.gov/gmsextemal/applicationReview.do?printryes 06/29/2007 Al oAC;HMENT BUDGET NARRATIVE Submitted By City of San Luis Obispo The $17,453 in the 2007 Justice Assistance Grant(JAG) Program will be used for the acquisition of ten(10)Tasers equipped with"Taser Cams", belt holders and replacement cartridges. Belt holders will be issued to all sworn uniform personnel. The cartridges will be used for both duty and training. These purchases would be used to enhance and improve current programs. C q=� i I ATTACHMENT PROGRAM NARRATIVE Submitted By City of San Luis Obispo In 2004,the San Luis Obispo Police Department began issuing TASER brand Electronic Control Devices (Tasers)to patrol officers. The purpose of the Taser is to provide a non- lethal alternative to subdue individuals who are violent, combative, or pose a risk to public safety or the officer. The Taser uses a technology called Neuro-Muscular Incapacitation (NMI)which uses electricity to temporarily incapacitate someone with minimal risk of serious injury. Other non-lethal weapons such as the baton or chemical spray function by causing temporary pain to a person in order to gain compliance. However, their application is limited and their effectiveness varies depending on the level of drugs or alcohol intoxication, pain tolerance, or intent to flee or attack. Rather than relying on pain to temporarily incapacitate someone,the Taser uses electrical stimuli to interfere with the signals sent by the nervous system, which temporarily impairs motor control, allowing officers to take the person into custody safely and without the need for greater levels of force. Once the electrical stimulus is.stopped, the person quickly recovers. Since the Police Department began carrying Tasers, officers have experienced several situations in which the use of the Taser has clearly prevented the need for greater levels of force, including deadly force. For example, in July 2005, officers responded to a report of an agitated man downtown armed with two 12"kitchen knives. The man was believed to be under the influence of drugs. A downtown bicycle officer quickly located the man, who had both knives raised above his head and was yelling at the employees at a downtown bar. The area was crowded with patrons and bystanders. The man repeatedly refused officers' orders to drop the knives and because of the significant risk the man posed, an officer used the Taser. The man was taken into custody without injury to anyone involved or to the bystanders. Currently the Police Department has five Tasers which is not enough to equip all the officers who may be working at the same time. The Police Department is requesting approval to purchase an additional ten Tasers, and belt holders for all officers, so that all on-duty officers will be equipped with a Taser for their shift. An added option of the new Tasers is a build in camera with video and audio recording ability. This camera records pre-event activity through its memory card and is automatically activated when the Taser is used. This feature helps to protect the officer and City from civil liability and aids in the prosecution of the criminal case. e, 9- 7 - ATTACHMENT REVIEW NARRATIVE Submitted By City of San Luis Obispo The grant application will be provided to the San Luis Obispo City Council (governing body) for review on July 17, 2007, an opportunity to comment on the JAG application will also be provided to the public, including citizens and neighborhood and community organizations within applicable law and established procedures. G 9-�