Title
Consider a memorandum/resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a grant agreement with the Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services for the purpose of providing De-escalation instructor training to law enforcement.
Summary
DATE: March 7, 2023
TO: Kent Cagle, City Manager
FROM: Charles F. Kimble, Chief of Police
SUBJECT: De-Escalation Training Grant
BACKGROUND AND FINDINGS:
Throughout the history of policing, effective communication and the ability to restore order and calm in volatile situations has been crucial to successful law enforcement efforts. Police officers are expected to go into unpredictable situations and interact with people suffering from a variety of stressors, and all too often these situations are emotionally out of control before the police even arrive. The ability to de-escalate encounters can lower the risk of officers needing to use force to accomplish their missions, or other potentially violent outcomes.
De-escalation has been a part of mandatory new hire and intermediate level police training in Texas for many years. The Killeen Police Department has met or exceeded the minimum state standard in de-escalation training, but recognizes the need for this to be a recurring training goal for public safety employees throughout their career.
The Department applied for and was awarded a grant through the Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), for $49,000. If accepted, this grant would allow the Department to host de-escalation “train-the-trainer” courses. This is a two-year certification, and would afford the Department the ability to provide recurring in-service training focused on de-escalation, at no additional cost to the City. As the largest agency in the area, we are leaders in training and we would also allow other area agencies to attend these trainer certification classes, tuition free. This would benefit the entire region, with the City of Killeen leading the way in promoting de-escalation strategies to first responders. This grant would also extend into fiscal year 2023-2024, allowing us to train instructors beyond this year.
THE ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED:
Disapprove the grant.
Approve the grant and corresponding budget amendment.
Which alternative is recommended? Why?
Staff recommends accepting the grant and authorizing the corresponding budget amendment. Doing so would allow the Department to train de-escalation instructors throughout the region, benefitting local law enforcement and multiple communities.
CONFORMITY TO CITY POLICY:
This conforms to City Policy.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
What is the amount of the expenditure in the current fiscal year? For future years?
Expenditures, if approved, will not exceed $49,000 for fiscal year 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, combined.
The following statements are a specific grant requirement:
In the event of the loss or misuse of grant funds, the City of Killeen will return all funds to the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.
The city is committed to provide all applicable matching funds. For this grant, there are no matching funds required.
Is this a one-time or recurring expenditure?
One-time, for the designated time period of the grant.
Is this expenditure budgeted?
Funds will be available in the General Fund Police Department account 010-6055-441.44-30, upon approval of the budget amendment.
If not, where will the money come from?
N/A
Is there a sufficient amount in the budgeted line-item for this expenditure?
Upon approval of the budget amendment
RECOMMENDATION:
The city staff recommends that the City Manager be designated as the authorized official and be given the power to apply for, accept, reject, alter or terminate the grant on behalf of the city.
DEPARTMENTAL CLEARANCES:
Purchasing
Finance
Legal
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
Grant