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PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING ACCEPTANCE OF A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $21,509 TO THE CITY OF NORMAN AND CLEVELAND COUNTY FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE/BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE (DOJ/BJA) THROUGH THE EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT (JAG) PROGRAM WITH NORMAN'S PORTION OF $19,358 TO BE USED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR POLYGRAPH INSTRUMENTS AND EMPLOYEE WELLNESS/COUNSELING, APPROVAL OF CONTRACT K-1920-74, AND BUDGET APPROPRIATION FROM THE GRANT REVENUE ACCOUNT.
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BACKGROUND: The U.S. Department of Justice, fiscal year 2019 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant, announced that grant funds are available to the City of Norman and Cleveland County in the amount of $21,509. These entities are considered disparate jurisdictions based on a U.S. Department of Justice formula that includes population crime statistics and other law enforcement related data. Norman’s share of the award is $19,358 with the remaining $2,151 passing through to Cleveland County. The grant requires that a public hearing be conducted prior to disbursement of any funds.
DISCUSSION: The department received notice of an award for the 2019 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Award No. 2019-DJ-BX-0786).
The Norman Police Department employs three commissioned officers who are also polygraph examiners. The department uses polygraph examination in both criminal and administrative interviews as well as pre-employment background investigations. Having two instruments not only allows concurrent interviews, but also allows diverse examination locations. The majority of criminal examinations, for example, take place at the Norman Investigations Center. Administrative and background examinations, however, take place mostly at the main Police Headquarters building in the Municipal Complex. Additionally, having two instruments allows for backup when one instrument fails or is in need of repair and/or update. New instruments are being requested as the existing ones are approaching ten years in service and are no longer supported by the manufacturer. Further, we have an opportunity to exchange the current instruments for a reduced price on the purchase of new instruments. This opportunity, and the rate of exchange, is limited by the continuing age of our current instruments.
The Norman Police Department, in accordance with Pillar 6. Officer Wellness & Safety (from The President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing), intend to use remaining funds to provide voluntary mental health wellness checks for up to 50 employees. While all City of Norman employees have access to the Employee Assistance Program and required Fitness for Duty examinations, these programs require the use of City providers who may, or may not, fully understand or support “police culture”. Additionally, the police culture itself has not historically supported efforts to treat, or even acknowledge, mental health concerns because they are seen as signs of weakness. Regardless, the President’s Task force identified that the daily stressors of working with difficult (often hostile) individuals, responding to tragic events, and continuous criticism from both internal and external sources often stretches an employee’s coping abilities resulting in frayed family relationships, alcohol abuse, domestic violence, overaggressive policing, and even suicide.
The remainder of the award would pass through to the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office who intend to pursue updating their own polygraph instrument.
RECOMMENDATION NO. 1: That a public hearing be conducted where each person in attendance receives a copy of the agenda and attachments and is eligible to speak about this topic as required prior to applying for the grant.
RECOMMENDATION NO. 2: Approval of the grant by Council and acceptance by the Mayor (by signing and dating the attached Award Document, initialing the bottom right corner of each page of the attached Special Conditions document, signing and dating the attached Certifications and Assurances by the Chief Executive of the Applicant Government, and signing the attached Interlocal Agreement).
RECOMMENDATION NO. 3: Deposit funds into JAG Grant Revenue (account 022-0000-331.13-33) and appropriate those funds into and expend from the following Special Grant Fund accounts:
• Minor Equipment & Tools/Other (account 022-6017-421.36-99; project GP0033), $10,615 for two polygraph instruments;
• Professional Services/Other Professional (account 022-6017-421.40-99; project GP0033), $8,743 for voluntary employee wellness checks; and
• Miscellaneous Services/Pass-Thru Refunds (account 022-6017-421.47-54; project GP0033), $2,151 for distribution to Cleveland County.