TITLE
Consider a memorandum/resolution accepting the 2015 Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program Grant.
SUMMARY
AGENDA ITEM
2015 COPS Hiring Grant
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT
Police Department
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program Grant provides funding directly to law enforcement agencies to hire career law enforcement officers to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts.
The COPS Hiring Program Grant has approved the City of Killeen’s 2015 application for salaries and benefits for 13 entry-level, full-time police officer positions, a total project of $2,454,884. The COPS Hiring Grant will pay up to a maximum of $1,625,000 of the entry-level officers’ salaries and benefits for three years, with the City matching the balance of the cost of $829,884 over the life of the three-year grant. The City of Killeen commits to hire at least one military veteran and to maintain the 13 officers for an additional 12 months after the federal funding has ended for each position.
The grant provides funding to the grantee based on the entry-level salaries and benefits costs at the time of application. Any additional costs above the approved entry-level salaries and benefits are the responsibility of the grantee agency.
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION
COPS Hiring Program Grant funds were awarded in the amount of $1,625,000. This is the amount requested on our application, which represents the maximum allowed through the 2015 grant announcement for the hiring of 13 full-time police officers. If accepted, the COPS Hiring Program grant monies will be used to provide officers' salaries and benefits during the grant period, September 1, 2015, through August 31, 2018.
The overall objective of this program is to build trust and fortify the relationship between the police department and our diverse minority community utilizing intelligence-led policing and community policing models. The department’s Community Resource Officers will partner with local minority groups: the Killeen National Association of Colored People, the Korean American Association, the League of United Latin American Citizens and the Multi-ethnic Cultural and Arts Association. Each Community Resource Officer (Team Leader) will combine their efforts with two additional Community Resource Officers each to identify and address cultural, police and quality of life issues.
The Community Resource Officers will also enhance training throughout the department on advanced community policing strategies as community needs are identified through the minority group partnerships.
The City of Killeen is responsible for the administration of the funds including monitoring the award and submitting performance and financial reports to the grantor quarterly.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City of Killeen’s revenue will be recorded in the 2015 COPS Hiring Program Revenue Account, account number 010-0000-382-10-10. Expenditures related to the COPS Grant, to include the matching funding of $829,884 over the life of the grant, will be drawn from the various police department salaries and benefits accounts as incurred. The grant funds will be used to reimburse the expenditures quarterly.
The length of the award is from September 1, 2015, through August 31, 2018 and requests for extensions may be submitted as appropriate. The City of Killeen commits to fund each of the positions for 12 months after the end of the federal funding period for each position.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to accept the 2015 Community Oriented Policing Service Hiring Program Grant (electronic signature) and to grant the Killeen Police Department the authority to allocate and administer the duties required by the grant in concert with the City of Killeen Grant Analyst.