TITLE
The Mayor and City Council shall discuss and possibly take action to provide consent to submit a grant application to the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, COPS Hiring Program (CHP) in an amount not to exceed $375,000 for the hiring of three Community Action Officers. Consent to submit an application includes completion of all necessary paperwork for the application process and designates the City Manager to sign all documents. There is a 25% matching requirement for each year of the grant and a maximum federal contribution of $125,000 per position over the three-year grant period. If awarded, the Maricopa Police Department request General Fund contingency funding in FY14-15. Additional matching, beyond FY14-15, will be requested through the budget process. Discussion and Action.
AGENDA ITEM DESCRIPTION
Community policing is a philosophy that promotes organizational strategies, which support the systematic use of partnership and problem-solving techniques, to proactively address the immediate conditions that give rise to public safety issues such as crime, social disorder, and fear of crime. Rather than simply responding to crimes once they have been committed, community policing concentrates on preventing crime and eliminating the atmosphere of fear it creates. Earning the trust of the community and make those individual stakeholders in their own safety enables law enforcement to be understand and address both the needs of the community and the factors that contribute to crime.
The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) announced the application period for the 2014 COPS Hiring Program. The funding allows agencies to increase their community policing capacity, problem solving and crime prevention efforts through the hiring and re-hiring of full-time sworn law enforcement officers.
2014 CHP grants will cover up to 75 percent of the approved entry level salary and benefits for three years for newly hired full-time sworn officer positions. A minimum of 25 percent local cash match is required with a maximum federal contribution of $125,000 per position over the three year grant period. In addition, if the grant is awarded, each officer position must be maintained for a minimum period of 12 months following the conclusion of the three year grant period. This means additional officer positions should be added to your agency's law enforcement with state and/or local funds over and above the number of locally funded officer positions that would have existed in absence of the grant. While hiring military veterans is not a grant requirement under 2014 CHP, applicants who commit to taking active steps to recruit, hire, and deploy at least one military veteran will receive additional consideration for funding.
Per Officer Total Cost for 3 Officers
|
Grant |
Match |
Grant |
Match |
Year 1 |
58,668.34 |
19,556.11 |
176,005.02 |
58,668.34 |
Year 2 |
61,913.27 |
20,637.76 |
185,739.81 |
61,913.27 |
Year 3 |
4,418.39 |
82,714.37 |
13,255.18 |
248,143.12 |
Totals |
125,000.00 |
122,908.24 |
375,000.00 |
368,724.72 |
The grant is awarded for a three year period. In Years 1 and 2, the grant match is 25% of the cost of three Community Action Officers or $58,668 and $61,913, respectively. In Year 3, the grant match is estimated to be 89% of the cost of three Community Action Officers based on the $125,000 per officer maximum or $248,143, as listed above. Beyond year 3, the City would pay 100% of the cost of the three Community Action Officers. If awarded 2014 CHP funding, staff will request contingency funding for the City match in year 1 in the amount of $58,668. In year 2, and beyond, funding for the grant match will be requested through the regular budget process.
The Maricopa Police Department will use the Community Action Officers to infuse the principles of community oriented policing, crime fighting, and SARA (Scanning, Analysis, Response and Assessment) model. These goals will be met by establishing neighborhood meetings/action groups with local neighborhoods as well as working with the crime analysis unit in abatement techniques. The 3 CAOs will be spread out through the city but with focus on neighborhoods requiring immediate assistance. A particular area of interest for MPD to enhance community oriented policing is the Heritage district.
This item will be presented by Steve Stahl, Police Chief and Mary Witkofski, Community Programs Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Mayor and City Council provide consent to submit to submit a grant application to the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, COPS Hiring Program (CHP) in an amount not to exceed $375,000 for the hiring of three Community Action Officers. Consent to submit an application includes completion of all necessary paperwork for the application process and designates the City Manager to sign all documents. There is a 25% matching requirement for each year of the grant and a maximum federal contribution of $125,000 per position over the three-year grant period. If awarded, the Maricopa Police Department request General Fund contingency funding in FY14-15. match. Additional matching, beyond FY14-15, will be requested through the budget process