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ACCEPTANCE OF A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $69,301 FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE/BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE (DOJ/BJA) THROUGH THE CORONAVIRUS EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING PROGRAM (CESFP) TO BE USED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PURCHASE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE), DECONTAMINATION EQUIPMENT, AND COVID-19 TESTING, DISTANCE LEARNING FOR POLICE OFFICERS, APPROVAL OF CONTRACT K-1920-79, AND BUDGET APPROPRIATION FROM THE SPECIAL GRANT FUND.
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BACKGROUND: The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) announced on March 30, 2020 that it was seeking applications for the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program (CESFP). The City of Norman, as a unit of local government who was eligible for the (FY) 2019 State and Local Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program, was eligible to apply. The grant is a formula grant with a specific allocation in the amount of up to $69,301.
Unlike the JAG program, this grant directs that funding, “must be utilized to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus”. Also, unlike the JAG program, this grant provides different funds for Cleveland County and does not require a joint application. Further, this grant is not restricted to law enforcement activities, and it does not require a public hearing.
The department received notice of an award for the 2020 Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program, (2020-VD-BX-0127) on April 23, 2020.
DISCUSSION: The Norman Police Department has identified four projects for CESFP funding.
1. Purchasing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - the department has minimal appropriate PPE capable of protecting ourselves from exposure to Coronavirus, or guarding community members from possible dissemination/transferal. Funding allows for the purchase of masks, face/eye protection, disposable isolation gowns/splash suits, disposable foot coverings, and disposable gloves. Funding also allows proper training and fit testing in accordance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and/or Oklahoma Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health Division (PEOSH) standards.
2. Decontamination Equipment for Critical Assets - the department does not currently have decontamination equipment for vehicles and facilities. Since a significant number of persons infected with COVID-19 are a-symptomatic, we run the risk of unknowingly transmitting the disease from contact with an infected surface (e.g., the back seat of a patrol car, an office, a high-trafficked area of a facility, or even shared equipment). We also run the risk of exposing our employees to contaminated surfaces as they attempt to clean by hand hard to reach and/or confined areas. Funding allows our agency to purchase a surface disinfecting instrument that would provide a more effective decontamination capability - especially in confined spaces - and would reduce the amount of time equipment is out of service, or areas are off-limits, for decontamination.
3. Testing for Essential Employees - the City of Norman is requiring all commissioned officers, Firefighters, and numerous other employees to continue providing essential services. As a result, employees run the risk of being exposed to a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, is exhibiting the symptoms of the disease, or is a-symptomatic. Each undetected contact puts an employee’s health at risk. It also puts the community at risk as an employee can also serve as an a-symptomatic carrier, or may transmit the disease prior to the onset of symptoms. Funding allows the city to aggressively test employees who have been involved in a prolonged close-contact exposure to a person known, or suspected, to be infected with COVID-19 or any person’s body fluids - regardless of whether or not symptoms are present.
4. Distance Learning for Police Employees - the department, in accordance with Federal, State and Local guidelines, has cancelled training and qualifications for personnel as the classroom setting conflicts with social distancing. Additionally, the heavy strain on staffing, as essential employees are isolated, quarantined, and re-assigned due to the spread of COVID-19, has made even the most essential training impossible. Community expectations, adherence to industry standards, and State certification requirements, mandate, however, that quality training continue - especially as the crisis continues indefinitely. Funding allows the Norman Police Department to subscribe all members in a distance learning program. This program would provide pre-produced training (much of which has been accredited by Oklahoma’s Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training) which can be assigned to ensure we maintain a Community Oriented Policing focus and stay current with national standards. Distance learning platforms also allow for us to upload our own content so that we can continue to provide specialized training geared to our community’s needs without violating the standards of social distancing.
RECOMMENDATION NO. 1: Approval of the grant and contract by Council and acceptance by the Mayor by signing and dating the attached Award Document (box 19 and 19a) and initialing the bottom right corner of each page of the attached Special Conditions document.
RECOMMENDATION NO. 2: Appropriate $69,301 from the Special Grant Fund balance 22-29000 and designate: $12,000 to Miscellaneous Equipment- Other (account 22660118-45799, GP0037), $38,458 to General Supplies- Safety & Protection (account 22660118-43019, GP0037), $8,568 to Professional Services- Training (account 22660118-44017, GP0037), and $10,275 to Professional Services- Testing (account 22660118-44020 GP0037).
RECOMMENDATION NO. 3: Upon reimbursement, deposit funds into Other Revenue 226-333339.