Agenda Packets - 2003/05/12 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Item No:9I Meeting Date: May 12, 2003 Type of Business: CB WK: Work Session; PH: Public Hearing; CA: Consent Agenda; CB: Council Business City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Mike Sommer, Police Chief Item Title/Subject: Approval to Proceed with the Department of Justice Universal Hiring Grant Program for Two New Police Officers Date of Report: May 12, 2003 Background: The U.S. Department of Justice is offering a funding opportunity through the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) office. This grant program, called the Universal Hiring Program (UHP), is to subsidize the hiring of new police officers nationwide. If successful in receiving a grant under this program, Mounds View would receive an award of $75,000 for each officer allocated. The $75,000 will be dispersed over a three-year period, and is to help subsidize the wages of newly hired police officers. A minimum 25% local cash match on the part of agencies receiving an award is required. Communities, which are successful in receiving a UHP Grant must also commit, in writing, to retaining any COPS-funded officer positions for at least one full local budget cycle after federal funding has ceased. Discussion: Pursuit of a similar grant opportunity was attempted in the year 2000, but was unsuccessful. The process for receiving an award under the UHP is a competitive one, and the needs of the community are assessed in determining award allocations. It has long been the goal of the Mounds View Police Department to reach a staffing level that would allow a minimum of two police officers to be on duty 24 hours a day, 7-day a week, under most circumstances. The MVPD still short of that goal, and typically there is a two to four hour period each and every day of the week where there is only one officer on patrol. It is not unusual for this number to drop to zero whenever that single officer needs to accompany an EMS team to the hospital on an emergency medical run, or book a prisoner into the St. Paul jail when an arrest situation arises. Having one officer on duty also poses significant safety risks when responding to calls where recommended training protocols strongly suggest a minimum of two officers. The addition of two additional patrol officers would allow two-officer coverage in nearly all instances, even during the school year when we have one officer assigned full time as a School Resource Officer at Edgewood Middle School. The deadline for the grant application is June 6, 2003. Recommendation: Staff recommends council approval to submit a grant application requesting funding under the COPS Universal Hiring Program for two additional police officers. _______________________ Respectfully submitted by Mike Sommer, Police Chief