Police COPS Grant Drug Control
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MEMORANDUM
April 12,2004
TO:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Federal COPS Grant Opportunity - Govemor's Office of Drug Control
Policy
Chief of Police Kim Wadding recommends City Council approval to participate with the
Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy regarding the establishment of an eighteen
county Methamphetamine Clandestine Laboratory Drug Task Force (Eastern Iowa Clan
Lab Task Force). The grant fully funds salary, benefits and vehicle costs for full-time
officers for an initial two years. There is no salary or benefits match requirement or
obligation to continue the program once grant funding expires. Chief of Police Kim
Wadding recommends City Council approval to add one full time Dubuque police officer
to the Eastern Iowa Clan Lab Task Force, thereby increasing the number of full-time
police officers from 92 to 93.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
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Michael C. Van Milligen
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Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Kim B. Wadding, Chief of Police
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MEMORANDA
Date: April 6, 2004
To: Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
From: Kim B. Wadding~
Police Chief
Re:
Federal COPS Grant Opportunity - Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy
INTRODUCTION:
The purpose of this memorandum is to seek approval to participate with the Governor's
Office of Drug Control Policy regarding the establishment of an eighteen county
Methamphetamine Clandestine Laboratory Drug Task Force (Eastern Iowa Clan Lab
Task Force). The grant fully funds salary, benefits, and vehicle costs for full-time
officers for an initial two years. There is no salary or benefits match requirement or
-obligation to continue the program once grant funding expires. Our request adds one
full-time Dubuque police officer to the Eastern Iowa Clan Lab Task Force.
BACKGROUND:
The Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy received a federal grant from the Bureau
of Justice COPS office. The grant establishes an eighteen county Eastern Iowa Clan
Lab Task Force for the eastern portion of Iowa. The eighteen county region covers
most of the eastern border of Iowa. The grant opportunity supports a local staff of six
full-time and eight part-time local positions with the Iowa Department of Narcotic
Enforcement serving as operations coordinator.
Currently a similar task force exists in Central Iowa and is entering its third year of
operation. The Eastern Iowa Clan Lab Drug Task Force works in concert with state,
county, and local agencies to add expertise and staffing for investigating suspected
methamphetamine labs.
DISCUSSION:
The newly created Eastern Iowa Clan Lab Task Force offers a unique opportunity to
increase our ability to fight the growing number of methamphetamine drug labs
operating in our area with increase staffing and equipment. According to the Governor's
Office of Drug Control Policy, the eighteen county area comprises approximately 20% of
the illegal manufacturing of methamphetamine in Iowa. The Eastern Iowa Clan Lab
Task Force works in cooperation with the Byrne Drug Task Forces (Dubuque County
Drug Task Force) concentrating solely on the illegal distribution and manufacturing of
methamphetamine.
Local jurisdiction membership includes six full-time and eight part-time positions. Full
time participating agencies include: City of Waterloo, Scott County, Muscatine County,
Des Moines County and Johnson County. Part-time agencies include: Buchanan
County, City of Dewitt, City of Keokuk, City of Fairfield, Jefferson County, City of
Manchester, City of Tipton, and Iowa City.
Unique to this grant funding is the payment of salary, benefits, and overtime ($6,760)
with no match requirement for an experienced officer. Past grant funding normally
funds the replacement officer, not the experienced officer assigned to the grant function.
Additionally, the grant supplies all clan lab training, equipment and vehicle costs
(vehicle expenditures include a $650 monthly lease allocation and maintenance costs).
The costs not covered include radio equipment, cell phone and office space.
If approved, the Eastern Iowa Clan Lab Task Force Officer would be located with the
Dubuque County Drug Task Office. Radio equipment will be supplied through current
stock leaving the cell phone to be funded. As partnership with the Dubuque County
Drug Task Force, I would request cell phone funding through the Dubuque County
Control Board for the initial two-year period.
Because we would hire a new replacement at entry-level costs and receive full payment
for an experienced officer, a savings would be realized. Below is an accounting of a new
officer beginning wage and the programmed step increases. Based upon these
calculations, a two-year savings of $5,431 is anticipated.
Wa es
Educational Bonus
Police Retirement
Life AD&D
Holida Pa
Health Insurance
Medicare
Uniform Allowance
'Sa/ary Projections - Averaged through Step Increases (i.e.
$65,220).
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Because the Eastern Iowa Clan Lab Task Force Officers are spread throughout the
eighteen county area, each full-time officer would have primary home jurisdiction
responsibility for a two-county area. Having a full-time Eastern Iowa Clan Lab Task
Force supplementing current task force operations, we boost our investigative abilities
improving our performance and ability to respond to these volatile and hazardous
situations.
Additionally, as a full-time participating member of the Eastern Iowa Clan Lab Task
Force we have the ability to supplement our resources with the additional resources of
the Eastern Iowa Clan Lab Task Force should the need arise. When not responding to
active clan labs, the investigators work locally to develop clan lab cases and work with
other investigators on investigative leads.
As with the Central Iowa Clan Lab Task Force, it is anticipated ongoing federal support
for the position will continue beyond the initial two-year program. To participate in the
Eastern Iowa Clan Lab Task Force, we would add one Dubuque Police Officer to our
current authorized strength of 92 for a total of 93. With our current certified list
exhausted, we would not hire this position until July 1, 2004. Our initial two-year
funding would begin then.
The grant opportunity has been discussed with Sheriff Kennedy and the Dubuque Drug
Task Force Control Board. Due to the recent increase in jail staffing, Sheriff Kennedy
prefers this position to be with the City allowing equal staffing for the city and county in
task force operations.
RECOMMENDATION:
The illegal manufacturing and distribution of methamphetamine continues to be a major
concern to our community. This unique opportunity increases our resources and
strengthens our fight against the distribution and manufacturing of methamphetamine.
For these reasons, I recommend we participate full-time with the Governor's Office Of
Drug Policy by supplying a Dubuque Police Officer to the Eastern Iowa Clan Lab Task
Force.
ACTION REQUESTED:
Action requested is to seek City Council approval to increase the police department
authorized sworn strength from 92 to 93 and to participate full-time in the Eastern Iowa
Clan Lab Drug Task Force.
Cc:
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Randy Peck, Personnel Manager
Dawn Lang, Budget Manager
Jeanne Schneider, City Clerk
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