LEGISLATIVE ACTION ITEM
SPONSOR: Grover C. Robinson, IV, Mayor
SUBJECT:
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SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET RESOLUTION NO. 2022-003 - FY21 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT (JAG) PROGRAM: STATE
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RECOMMENDATION:
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That City Council adopt Supplemental Budget Resolution No. 2022-003
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AND MAKING REVISIONS AND APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2021; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE
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HEARING REQUIRED: No Hearing Required
SUMMARY:
The Pensacola Police Department (PPD) will be submitting a grant application to the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Formula (State) to support efforts with purchasing 130 load bearing vests.
The Pensacola Police Department recognizes that every officer must be properly equipped and feels strongly there is a need for Load Bearing Vests (LBV) to ensure each officer will be prepared to handle challenging situations. These vests are ideal for officers during equipment-carrying assignments, they provide ready access to equipment and supplies during Law Enforcement operations.
Nationally, more and more municipal Police agencies, county Sheriff departments, and Federal agencies are transitioning to the LBV. Sworn officers carry approximately fifteen (15) to eighteen (18) pounds of required police equipment on their duty belts. The LBV will benefit each Pensacola Police Department Officer/Sergeant in a variety of ways. The medical research overwhelmingly supports the LBV. These vests distribute the police equipment more evenly and relying on shoulder and upper back support versus the hips and lower back. Police officers age-out of street patrol work faster with hip(s) and lower back injuries. These issues then require long-term pain management solutions such as medication or consistent physical therapy on the employers Workers Compensation.
The two leading research reports from the Mayo Clinic Health System and the University of Wisconsin agree that the average patrol officer will add more years of service to their agency by removing the weight from their hips and lower back to the center mass of the body. Ergonomically, it will benefit the patrol officer in on-duty high impact athletic activity and for the sitting position in the patrol vehicle.
Currently the budget for the City of Pensacola will not make allowances to purchase one hundred thirty (130) LBVs. Grant funding will provide assistance necessary for this essential equipment that will ensure the safety of officers and the public alike.
The grant will be used to purchase LBVs to support the physical health, longevity and safety of PPD officers. To increase the longevity of the officers, they will wear the vests on-duty and during extra-duty jobs/events. Pensacola Police Department’s current vests are worn beneath the uniform shirt and requires all the officer’s equipment to be worn on their duty belt. These vests will afford officers with a high visibility profile complete with agency identification. LBVs can be quickly donned allowing officers to deploy fully equipped enabling to negotiate safely through any circumstance they may face in the course of any given shift. These vests have Multi-Functional accessories including large and small utility pockets, flashlight pocket, magazine pocket and radio pocket and an assortment of other attachments that will be listed in the budget narrative. They afford the officers with an effective means to accomplish their mission fully prepared. The LBVs also have the ability to release from the officer’s body in case in of immediate emergency medical attention or the need for rapid cooling between calls for service (if needed).
The equipment listed in the budget narrative will be purchased by the Project Director. Once received, training will be provided to ensure it is properly used, it will then be assigned to officers for deployment in the field.
The JAG Program blends the previous Byrne Formula and Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG) Programs (under Title XI-Department of Justice Reauthorization) to provide agencies with the flexibility to prioritize and place justice funds where they are most needed. The JAG Program provides states, tribes and local governments funding to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based upon local needs and conditions. Matching funds are not required under the JAG Program.
Among the grant requirements are that the Pensacola Police Department notify City Council of its intended use of the grant and to allow the citizens an opportunity to comment prior to the application submission.
PRIOR ACTION:
None
FUNDING:
Budget: $55,104.00
Actual: $24,960.00 LBV Carriers
1,560.00 holster drop plate for duty belt
2,340.00 accessory locking fork
1,170.00 holster locking fork
2,925.00 double magazine holder
3,269.00 triple magazine holder
5,395.00 cuff case
2,385.50 flashlight holder
2,385.00 pepper spray holder
4,270.50 body cam holder
4,777.50 radio holder
$55,438.50
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The estimate grant award for the FY21 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance (JAG) Program: State is $55,104.00 based on the 2021 Florida Local JAG Allocations. Projects to be funded from this grant award do not require a local match. Adoption of the supplemental budget resolution will appropriate funding for this grant.
LEGAL REVIEW ONLY BY CITY ATTORNEY: Yes
12/23/2021
STAFF CONTACT:
Kerrith Fiddler, City Administrator
Eric Randall, Chief of Police
ATTACHMENTS:
1) Supplemental Budget Resolution No. 2022-003
2) Supplemental Budget Explanation No. 2022-003
PRESENTATION: No end