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Community Oriented Policing Services Grant Application_Outreach CorporalMasterpiece on the Mississippi TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT: COPS Grant Application DATE: May 29, 2011 Dubuque hitri All Amedcacity f 2007 Acting Chief of Police Terry Tobin recommends City Council approval to submit a Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Grant in the amount of $224,729 for the purpose of obtaining grant funding for one Community Policing Outreach Corporal. Currently the Police Department is in the fourth year of a five -year sworn officer hiring plan. The plan includes the hiring of 15 additional police officers. Of the 15 officers, 14 of the 15 position have received designated City funding. The last position from the plan is included with the Fiscal Year 2012 budget. Due to the availability of the COPS Hiring Program Funding, coupled with the City's Multicultural Center project, Acting Chief of Police Terry Tobin proposes consideration for a 16 officer to be added through the grant funding for a Community Policing Outreach Corporal. The Community Policing Outreach Corporal would be staffed by a Police Corporal assigned to the Community Policing Unit, with an office located in the City's Multicultural Family Center. Because the COPS Hiring Program only funds entry level salary and benefits, the cost difference between an entry level officer and a new corporal is $28,868 for the three - year grant period. The first year costs of $10,207 would come from savings with current openings in the Police Department. concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval. / Michael C. Van MCVM:jh Attachment cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager Terry Tobin, Acting Chief of Police M illigen THE CITY OF DUB Masterpiece on the Mississippi TO: Michael C. Van Milligen City Manger FR: Terry Tobin1 Acting Chief of Police RE: COPS Grant Application INTRODUCTION The purpose of this memorandum is to seek City Council consideration to submit a Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Grant for the purpose of obtaining grant funding for one police officer position. BACKGROUND MEMORANDUM May 31, 2011 The COPS Hiring Program provides funding directly to law enforcement agencies to hire and /or rehire career law enforcement officers in an effort to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. The COPS Hiring Program (CHP) grant provides funding to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies and other public and private entities to hire and train community policing professionals, acquire and deploy cutting -edge crime - fighting technologies, and develop and test innovative policing strategies. CHP grants cover 100 percent of the approved entry-level salary and benefits of each newly hired and /or rehired, full -time sworn career law enforcement officer over three years. There is no local match or cap on the amount of funding that can be requested, but CHP grant funding will be based upon the agency's current entry-level salary and fringe benefits for full -time sworn officers. Any additional costs higher than entry-level salaries and fringe benefits will be the responsibility of the agency. CHP grantees are required to retain all full -time officer positions awarded for at least 12 months from the time the 36 months of grant funding for each CHP position expires. 2 Patrol 1 Patrol 1 Patrol 1 Patrol 5 1 Patrol /Annex 1 Patrol /Annex 2 Patrol /Annex 1 Patrol /Annex 1 SRO 5 1 Traffic/ COP Unit 2 Traffic/ COP Unit 3 1 Section 8 Invest. /Housing 2 5 4 3' 2 1 15 DISCUSSION Currently, the police department is in the fourth year of a five -year sworn officer hiring plan. The plan includes the hiring of 15 additional police officers. Of the 15 officers, 14 of the 15 positions have received designated funding. The last position from the plan is included with the FY2012 budget, as shown by the following table. FY2008 FY2009 FY2010 FY2011 FY2012 TOTAL Due to the availability of the CHRP funding coupled with the City's Multicultural Center project, we would propose consideration for a 16 officer to be added through the grant funding for a Community Policing Outreach Corporal. The Community Policing Outreach Corporal is staffed by a Police Corporal assigned to the Community Policing Unit, with an office located in the City's Multicultural Center. The Community Policing Outreach Corporal will assist the minority population with communication and resources; also act as an information resource for minority population crime victims and their families; including but not limited to, working with families in cases of homicides, fatalities or domestic violence, and /or as a victim advocate working with the Police Department providing support and explanation of court and legal proceedings. The addition of this position allows the city to provide direct citizen services and assistance to victims of violent crimes, and assist diverse populations within the city. This position would establish an outreach program with area colleges and provide intervention and prevention services with emphasis toward minority students. Additionally, this position would work closely with city personnel and the Police Department in the retention and recruitment of new police officers focusing primarily toward diverse students. Because CHP only funds entry level salary and benefits, the cost difference between an entry level officer and a new corporal for the first year is $10,207, second year $9,920 and third year $8,741 for a total over the three year grant period of $28,868. If approved, it is our intent to fund the first year with current openings in the department that will be filled as part of the FY2012 budget. The second and third years will be included as part of our annual budget process. With the Dubuque Community Multicultural Center as a centerpiece to community outreach, the partnership with the police department enables full relational development of educational, social, and network capabilities and proactive outreach to the community. Preliminary registration is required by 05/25/11. After the initial registration and application is filed, CHRP will require completion and submission of the grant application in June, 2011. RECOMMENDATION Through the availability of the COPS Hiring Recovery Program (CHRP) grant, we recommend the submission of the 2011 COPS Hiring Recovery grant in the amount of $224,729 in support of one Community Policing Outreach Corporal. ACTION REQUESTED Action requested is for City Council consideration to submit the COPS Hiring Recovery Program (CHRP) grant in June, 2011 providing for the hiring of one Community Policing Outreach Corporal.