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Home My WebLink About _ 4.9(a)--2024 JAG Grant � � �' � � � � � � ' � �' � � ' � ` CITY OF REDDING REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: November 5, 2024 FROM: Brian Barner, Chief of Police ITEIVI NO. 49(a) ***APPROVED BY*** � �,,. , � �� , �� „�� , 3�� . ��..,_..�� 3r��r��rn et`�a�Pc��ic� ��"` IC}�'2�12C�2� �� p�ir�,C�i �� , ItJ�'3(�t'2{�? bbarner@reddingpolice.org btippin@cityofredding.org SUBJECT: 4.9(a)--Affirm submission of an application for the U.S. Department of Justice 2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant to provide equipment for the Redding Police De artment. Recommendation Authorize and apprave the following: (1) Approve and ratify submission of an application for the U.S. Department of Justice 2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant in the amount of$39,932 to fund the leasing of five additional body worn cameras; (2} Authorize the City Manager to accept the grant if it is awarded; and (3) Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to sign the grant application's Certifications and Assurances signifying that the governing body was notified of the application and citizens were provided the opportunity to comment on the application. Fiscal Impact This grant provides supplemental funding to the Redding Police Department (RPD). There is no negative General Fund impact by applying for and accepting this grant funding. Alternative Action The City Council could choose not to approve the grant application. RPD would lose the opportunity to purchase needed equipment. Background/Analysis RPD is scheduled to receive funding from the U.S. Department af Justice 2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant. This is a formula (block) grant through which RPD wi11 be awarded $39,932. These funds are usually offered on an annual basis, but the amount and application deadlines vary from year-to-year, The grant application deadline was October 22, 2024, and the application has already been submitted online. Report to Redding City Council October 30,2024 Re: 4.9(a)--2024 JAG Grant Page 2 Prior to the utilization of these funds, the City of Redding (City) must make the application available for review by the governing body and must allow an opportunity for comments from citizens. Attached is a Utilization Plan explaining how the funds will be expended. RPD requests that the funds this year be used for five additional body worn cameras (BWC). In August 2023, a lease agreement was entered into for BWCs. While the original agreement was for the total number of sworn personnel in the department, it was determined that non-sworn personnel that work in the field (Community Service Officers, Community Work Program. Officers) need to be issued cameras as well. Since the administrative and detective command staff as we11 as the detectives are not regularly in the field, the majority of those cameras were deployed to those non-sworn staff and a pool of cameras was created for the detectives to use when needed. Whi1e cameras are made available to the detectives on an as needed basis, it is not an ideal situation. This requires staff to sign in to one of the pool cameras with their credentials when checked out which takes time and can cause confusion if personnel forget to do this. With the current BWC count, when all detectives are out in the field, some do not have them. The additional BWCs will help alleviate this problem. Environmental Review This grant is not defined under the California Environmental Quality Act, and no further action is required. Council Pr�ioNity/City Manage� Goals • Public Safety — "Work to improve a11 aspects of public safety to help people feel secure and safe where they live, work, and play in the City of Redding." Attachments City of Redding Project Narrative - JAG 2024 REDDING POLICE DEPARTMENT PROJECT NARRATIVE 2024 JAG FUNDING The City of Redding Police Department(RPD)will use the FY 2024 JAG funds in the amount of $39,932 for additional body worn cameras (BWC). RPD entered into a lease agreement for BWCs that started in August 2023. While the original agreement was for the total number of sworn personnel in the department, it was determined that non-sworn personnel that work in the field(Community Service Officers, Community Work Program Officers)need to be issued cameras as well. Since the administrative and detective command staff as well as the detectives are not regularly in the �eld, the majority of those cameras were deployed to those non-sworn. staff and a pool of cameras was created for the detectives to use when needed. While cameras are made available to the detectives on an as needed basis, it is not an ideal situation. This requires staff to sign in to one of the pool cameras with their credentials when checked out which. takes time and can cause confusion if personnel forget to do this. When all detectives are out in the field, with the current BWC count, some do not have them. Additional devices will help to alleviate the issue. For years, the Redding City Council had desired to obtain body worn cameras for RPD but due to financial constraints, it wasn't possible unti12023. It was Council's desire to ensure transparency to the community and to protect the officers. Since the BWC have been implemented there have been several incidents where footage was released to the public to clear up misinformation that was circulating on social media. Adding additional cameras will support the Council's desire for the program. Since inception, administrative staff time has been significantly reduced by reducing frivolous complaints that are quickly resolved by viewing the BWC footage. 1 Before BWC were issued to personnel, it was necessary to adopt policies and procedures for their use. The policy states that the Department will provide uniformed personnel with a BWC for use during the performance of their duties. The use of a BWC is intended to enhance the mission of the Department by accurately capturing interaction between members of the Department and the public. BWC video recordings help provide context and capture bene�cial information during police investigations and enforcement contacts with members of the public. RPD continues to monitor the policies and procedures that govern BWC to ensure they meet the needs of the department and staff and to ensure best practices are in place. The implementation of BWC created the need to manage the data produced by the program. In order to address this issue, two community service officers, overseen by the administrative lieutenant, have been assigned to this duty. This team is responsible for maintaining, redacting, copying, or supplying video andlor audio in the body-worn camera storage system a11 of the data including redaction of footage that will be released. RPD is committed to the use of BWCs to maintain a transparent process for both personnel and the community. The use of the JAG funds will a11ow RPD to expand the program to ensure a11 personnel who need them have access to them. 2