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RESOLUTION R-1718-50: A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, APPROPRIATING $4,755 FROM THE STATE SEIZURES AND RESTITUTION FUND BALANCE TO PURCHASE 100 STATE IDENTIFICATION CARDS OR DRIVER’S LICENSES FOR MEMBERS OF NORMAN’S HOMELESS COMMUNITY AND TO PURCHASE 65 RACIAL INTELLIGENCE TRAINING AND ENGAGEMENT (RITE) TRAINING KITS TO HELP OFFICERS AND CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY WITH MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
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BACKGROUND: The mission of the Norman Police Department is to maintain and enhance the quality of life in the City of Norman by protecting life, liberty, property, and keeping the peace. The pursuit of this mission requires specific capabilities be acquired and maintained to deliver the expected police services. One aspect of these services is to continue collaborating with community organizations and community members to help better the over-all quality of life for Norman citizens.
The key to helping with this is quality training and outreach. The department has identified the Racial Intelligence Training and Engagement (RITE) course as a useful tool that helps officers interact better with all members of the Norman community. The department’s goal is to complete the training of all employees in 2018.
DISCUSSION: One of the ways the Police Department can better assist members of the homeless community is helping them receive Oklahoma State Identifications or Oklahoma State Driver’s Licenses. These documents can help stabilize the lives of the homeless and help them gain better access to needed community resources. The Department is requesting funding ($3,000) to purchase 100 State Identifications or Driver Licenses for the homeless population. The Department is collaborating with the Continuum of Care here in Norman to host a resource fair in late 2017. The driver’s licenses and state identifications will be dispensed at that event.
The educational component of this request is to purchase training kits for the RITE course for Police Department employees. This course is copyrighted and managed by a private company. The needed instructional literature and kits would cost $27 per kit and the Department needs 65 to complete the training. This training will help officers and civilian employees in self-awareness and the understanding of others who may not always be focused in the same direction.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that $4,755 be appropriated from the State Seizure Fund Balance (account 025-0000-253.20-00) with $1,755 to be allocated to General Supplies/Employee Training (account 025-6035-421.30-13) and $3,000 to Professional Services/Community Intervention (account 025-6035-421.40-29).