#06 Police Dept Justice Assistance Grant
POLICE DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM
June 4, 2009
TO: City Council
FROM: David Moore, Chief of Police
SUBJECT: Motion to Authorize the Police Department to apply for the 2009
Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program
Executive Summary
The police department is eligible to apply for the 2009 Edward Byrne Memorial
Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program.
Staff Recommendation
The Police Chief recommends applying for the JAG grant for the below listed
equipment. The grant will reduce future financial burden to the City’s tax levy.
City Manager Recommendation
I concur with the Police Chief’s recommendation.
Background
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) is a formula grant
based upon population and crime statistics. The department is able to use grant
funds to purchase law enforcement equipment. The department must apply for
the JAG grant jointly with the Rock County Sheriff’s Department and the Beloit
Police Department. The Sheriff’s Department will be the administering agency
who will apply for the grant and will submit all required reports. The three
agencies need to agree on the individual allocations. The total grant available for
the three agencies is $71,988. Janesville’s agreed upon allocation is $26,900.
The deadline to apply for the JAG grant is July 9, 2009.
Analysis
The police department has received JAG grant funding in previous years. The
current requirements are the same as in previous years. The grants have been
used to purchase police bicycles, less lethal weapons, SWAT rifles, squad
equipment, digital recorders, and interview room recording equipment. The
department received $20,000 in 2005, $12,000 in 2006, and $24,000 in 2007.
The department was not eligible for funds in 2008. Earlier this year the
department applied for a Recovery Act JAG grant, the application is still pending.
There is no cash match for the JAG grant program.
The department has identified the following objectives for equipment to purchase
with the 2009 JAG grant funds:
1
1. Purchase 85 handheld digital audio recorders. Officers of the Janesville
Police Department dictate incident reports in the field onto digital
recorders for later transcription. This system has been in place for many
years, however with changes in technology the digital recorders currently
in use have become obsolete. Changes in software for newer recorders
have caused the loss of some digital files. The remedy is to equip all field
officers with the newer model digital recorders so that all operate with the
same transcription software to avoid the need for file conversion and the
potential loss of digital files.
2. Purchase one desktop computer. Each patrol shift at the Janesville Police
Department has a work station to accommodate the four supervisors
working that shift. Currently there are two desktop computers provided for
the three patrol shifts. The addition of the third computer will allow for
maximum efficiency and productivity for all patrol supervision.
3. Purchase two Tasers. The Janesville Police Department equips its field
personnel with electronic control devices designed to restrain violent or
potentially violent individuals. The agency has found them to be an
effective tool for increasing officer safety and reducing injuries to resistive
subjects. The current inventory of Tasers has reached warranty limits.
This means that as units fail they will need to be replaced. These funds
will provide for starting an incremental replacement of the Taser inventory.
The following is a detail list of the equipment to be purchased with the 2009 JAG
Grant:
ItemComputationCost
1. Digital Recorders (85)85 @ $280 each$ 23,800.00
2. Tasers (2)2 @ $805$ 1,610.00
3. Desktop Computer (1)1 @ $2,270$ 2,270.00
TOTAL$ 27,680.00
cc: Eric Levitt, City Manager
Jacob J. Winzenz, Director of Administrative Services
2