Fiscal Note
This grant will be accounted for in a special revenue fund (SG50). There is no effect on the expenditure restraint program or the levy.
Title
Authorizing the Mayor, City Clerk and Chief of Police to accept a 2009 Innovative Law Enforcement Program award from the State of Wisconsin, Office of Justice Assistance, in the amount of $14,500 and to utilize these funds toward crime prevention and anti-gang community-policing enforcement efforts.
Body
WHEREAS, the U.S. Dept. of Justice has sought innovative projects geared toward education, prevention and crime deterrence related to a local law enforcement need; and
WHEREAS, the Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance has sought to fund innovative programs that enhance crime prevention and help provide needed services to the community; and
WHEREAS, the Madison Police Department has developed an innovative plan to utilize proven community policing methods in a coordinated crime prevention strategy to address rising crime issues (particularly crime associated with gang activity); and
WHEREAS, this strategy centers on the creation of a unique Crime Prevention/Gang Unit that will make use of centralized intelligence to investigate criminal activity, and to provide the information in a timely, understandable manner to businesses, neighborhood groups and other interested parties, thereby improving efforts to deter and/or solve crimes; and
WHEREAS, this new Crime Prevention/Gang Unit will enhance the needed links between Central Intelligence and Crime Analysts on the one hand, and Patrol Services, Neighborhood Officers and Community Policing Teams on the other; and
WHEREAS, development of this model will ensure that intelligence-led services are operationalized on the neighborhood level, which will be particularly important in ensuring that criminal activity and gang issues in neighborhoods are addressed as part of a coordinated citywide effort; and
WHEREAS, these funds would be utilized to pay for overtime and benefits, and provide materials and supplies for Crime Prevention/Gang Unit officers to educate and outreach to youth and the general community, especially neighborhood groups and businesses; and
WHEREAS, these same funds would be utilized to provide resources for the newly-developed "Stepping Up & Respecting Environment, Education, Everyone!" (S.U.R.E.) program whose goal is to provide 6th graders with productive and healthy alternatives to gang participation.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Madison, through the Madison Police Department, is authorized to accept an Innovative Law Enforcement Program award from the State of Wisconsin, Office of Justice Assistance in the amount of $14,500; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor and Common Council authorizes the expenditure of grant funds in accordance with the grant application, with modifications upon appropriate approvals from the Office of Justice Assistance, as follows:
1) Overtime and benefits for Crime Prevention/Gang Unit members to present at business and community meetings, and work with at-risk youth in the amount of $4,329 (SG50-51300-712000 = $3,398; SG50-52000-712000 = $931), and
2) Supplies for the Crime Prevention/Gang Unit members to support their work in intelligence gathering and dissemination, and community education and prevention, including the S.U.R.E. program, in the amount of $10,171 (SG50-55510-712000).
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Comptroller and the Madison Police Department are authorized to establish and/or maintain accounts as required for the administration of the grant funds; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Comptroller and the Madison Police Department are authorized to enter into agreements and/or contracts as needed for the programs listed above.