Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes the acceptance of a Wisconsin Department of Administration Law Enforcement Agencies Safer Communities grant. The $833,338 grant will reimburse expenditures from March 15, 2022 through June 30, 2023 for certain costs associated with Madison Police Department (MPD) hiring, training, testing, and equipping law enforcement officers; updating technology and policies; and implementing new crime-reduction initiatives.
The resolution also amends MPD’s 2022 operating budget to appropriate $669,938 of the grant funding for purposes delineated in the resolution. MPD will propose a plan as part of their 2023 Operating Budget Request for using the remaining grant funds ($163,400). The grant does not require any city matching funds and there is no impact on the levy.
Title
A Resolution amending the 2022 Operating Budgets of the Police Department; and accepting $833,338 from the Wisconsin Department of Administration Law Enforcement Agencies Safer Communities fund to support law enforcement
Body
WHEREAS on March 15, 2022, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers announced a new investment of more than $50 million to help make Wisconsin communities safer, including nearly $19 million to be allocated to every local and tribal Law Enforcement Agency (LEA) in the state, through the state’s American Rescue Plan Act funds; and,
WHEREAS, the Wisconsin Department of Administration has notified the Madison Police Department that its allocation is $833,338 and can be used to reimburse expenditures from March 15, 2022 through June 30, 2023 for certain costs associated with hiring, training, testing, and equipping law-enforcement officers, as well as updating certain technology and policies and implementing new crime-reduction initiatives; and,
WHEREAS, the Police Department has been seeking ways to improve officer recruitment and retention, and improve operations and initiatives to better align with its community policing goals of increased legitimacy, trust and accountability.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and Chief of Police are authorized to accept $833,338 in Law Enforcement Agencies Safer Communities funding from the Wisconsin Department of Administration.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Police Department will use $669,938 as follows:
• Provide $2,000 sign on bonuses and up to an additional $2,000 for out-of-state recruitment bonuses for its 2023 spring recruit class, as permitted by the grant funding guidelines, if appropriated by the Common Council in its 2023 operating budget ($110,000)
• Improve its community policing efforts organizationally by training officers in stratified policing supervisory and operational model to improve efficiency, effectiveness and accountability ($98,000).
o Stratified Policing is an award winning evidence based policing strategy that incorporates Problem-Oriented Policing, Crime Analysis, and Accountability within all levels of the organization. The Stratified Policing implementation model is essential to understanding organizational culture and crime behavior in Madison. The assessment includes an examination of current data and technology capabilities, supervisor and officer training, crime analysis products, crime reduction policies and procedures, as well as the organizational structure and unit/personnel functions.
• Purchase and enter into a contract for ShotSpotter Connect patrol management software to improve officer pro-activity in addressing data-driven beat-level issues, concerns and trends (using the stratified policing operational model) that will improve neighborhood-level response with the goal of better preventing and addressing crime, pending APM 3-20 approval (Attorney’s, Risk Management and IT) ($175,000)
o Connect is patrol management software that uses data driven analytics designed with civil liberties protections. The platform uses crime data, and community specific input data, to help police optimize patrols, deter crime, and improve community relations. Traditional methods of policing rely on person-based and historical crime data, which we believe leads to unintentional bias. Bias in any manner is ineffective law-enforcement and creates racial disparities. Connect gives command staff better visibility into officer activity, which helps to control “over-policing”, and provides a transparent mechanism for community members to understand officer behavior that builds police legitimacy and makes communities feel safe. This product is not gunshot detection software.
• Electric bicycles ($30,000) that would allow officers to better engage the community, respond to calls quicker, and arrive on scene with less fatigue then conventional bikes.
• Ballistic helmets for all officers to provide officer safety for potential use during active shooter responses ($221,400).
• Cover the costs of some officer initial issue supplies, equipment and uniform costs allow for the reallocation of $35,538 which will be used then for one-time equipment and supplies purchases.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Police 2022 Operating Budget, is amended to appropriate any grant funds received to be used for the purposes of the grant, including modifications upon appropriate approvals from the funder, the Wisconsin Department of Administration.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Finance and Police Departments are authorized to establish and/or maintain accounts as required for the administration of the grant funds.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that grant funds not expended as of December 31, 2022, be carried forward until fully utilized.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Police Department will propose a plan later this year for using the remaining grant funds ($163,400).