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RESOLUTION R-1718-78: A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, APPROPRIATING $30,700 FROM THE STATE SEIZURES AND RESTITUTIONS FUND BALANCE TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR EVIDENCE COLLECTION EQUIPMENT, SAFETY EQUIPMENT FOR SPECIAL TEAM ACTIVITIES, AND A TRAINED POLICE CANINE TEAM.
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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. The Norman Police Department must possess equipment capable of documenting evidence of crimes. The Department has to protect and limit liability in the areas of employee safety. Finally, the Department needs the tools and training to provide better service to the community.
State Seizure funds are awarded to the City of Norman following Norman Police Department activity associated with the enforcement of narcotics and illegal drug laws. Money or property seized during this law enforcement activity is subject to forfeiture following a judicial review and finding that such a seizure is appropriate. Typically, the City of Norman will receive a share of the forfeited property along with other law enforcement agencies participating in the law enforcement activities. Oklahoma State Statutes allow money or property awarded to law enforcement agencies to be used by those agencies for their operations. This agenda item asks Council to appropriate State Seizure Fund balance into Norman Police Department operational accounts for use toward the accomplishment of the specified law enforcement purposes.
DISCUSSION: The appropriation requested will fund evidence collection equipment for first responders, safety equipment for special team activities, and a trained police canine team. The funding needed for the Norman Police Department to maintain the identified capabilities is not available in fiscal year 2017-2018 (FYE18) allocations.
Evidence collection is a vital part of police officer’s daily job duties. Digital cameras are needed technology to assist officers in documenting evidence in cases such as domestic violence, robbery, drug violations and property crimes such as burglaries to residences. In addition, the purchase of the cameras will help better prosecute these and other crimes in court. Although not an exhaustive list, these capabilities provide an increased level of abilities for the members of the Norman Police Department and the citizens, which they serve. Fifty (50) camera sets will be purchased at an approximate cost of $250 each for a total of $12,500.
The safety equipment for the Bike Team includes the purchase of new jackets for each Bike Team member. There is a need for jackets because 40 percent of the positions on the team are new members, primarily due to vacancies. The new jackets have more safety features than the old style jackets by having material that is more reflective on the jacket. To increase the safety for all the Bike Team members and to be consistent in appearance we are planning to replace all the old style jackets. Eighteen (18) sets of safety equipment, including jackets, cost approximately $177 each for a total cost of $3,186.
A trained police canine team (a team consists of one officer and one dog) is a vital tool to policing in today’s environment. The Department currently has two multi-purpose canine teams in the Operations Bureau and a third is needed. The daily need for these teams continues to increase and borrowing another agency’s asset is becoming more and more difficult. A third multi-purpose trained canine team would assist the Operations Bureau in tracking persons (victim/suspect), handler protection and narcotics investigations. This acquisition would include training of the team and the purchase of the canine.
A new police canine officer will need to be identified and trained in the proper handling and control of a new police canine. This training would be during the same time as the receiving of a new canine and would happen in conjunction with the canine/handler bonding time. Also, there is a need for canine vehicle repair to make a third vehicle transport ready. The third vehicle would be a current vehicle in the police fleet that would need minor repair to be canine ready.
Purchasing and training the canine plus training a selected handler is a package deal costing between $13,000 and $14,000. Cost to repair a vehicle to make it canine ready is estimated at $1000-$2000.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that $30,700 be appropriated from the State Seizure Fund Balance (account 025-0000-253.20-00) to the following accounts:
$12,500 to Minor Equipment & Tools/Other (025-6035-421.36-99),
$3,200 to Uniform & Clothing/Safety & Protective (025-6035-421.35-02), and
$15,000 Plant & Operating Equipment/Crime Prevention (025-6035-421.51-20).