AGENDA REPORT
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
DATE: 11/7/2018
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Police Department
SUBJECT:
Title
City Council consideration authorizing the Riverside County District Attorney Gang Impact Team Memorandum of Understanding between the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office and the Corona Police Department and the equitable distribution of the remaining Gang Task Force Region 8 Team’s Asset Forfeiture funds being held at the City.
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RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommended action
That the City Council:
1. Approve the Riverside County District Attorney Gang Impact Team (GIT) Memorandum of Understanding between the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office and the Corona Police Department.
2. Authorize the Chief of Police to execute the Riverside County District Attorney Gang Impact Team Memorandum of Understanding between the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office and the Corona Police Department.
3. Authorize the Chief of Police to negotiate and execute any amendments to this MOU which are either non-substantive or otherwise in compliance with the City Council’s actions hereunder.
4. Authorize the distributions $32,066.77 of Asset Forfeiture funding remaining from the Gang Task Force (GTF) Region 8 Team, with the cash to be shared among the participating team agencies equally, based on officer participation on the team, for Border Patrol, California Highway Patrol, Corona Police Department, Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, Riverside County Probation and Riverside Sheriff’s Department.
5. Authorize the distributions of any outstanding GTF Region 8 related cases that become available in forms of cash distribution from the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, be equally shared with the respective agencies as noted above.
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ANALYSIS:
The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office has drafted a Riverside Gang Impact Team proposal calling for coordination with local law enforcement agencies to effectively increase public safety by detecting, investigating, and enforcing state and federal laws related to organized crime. The proposal outlined by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office is intended to ensure well-coordinated violent and gang enforcement regionally and increase the flow of violent offender and gang-related intelligence information between the various law enforcement agencies participating on the task force.
It is recommended that Corona Police Department assigns one Detective position to the task force. Each partner agency would be responsible for all costs of each own’s employee, including vehicle and equipment costs. The Riverside District Attorney’s Office will provide some equipment as necessary and it is subject to funding availability. The current partners of the GIT would be the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, Hemet Police Department, Palm Springs Police Department and the Corona Police Department. Additionally, the MOU will allow Corona to participate in distribution of forfeitures as related to any GIT seizures.
The GIT is expected to be an ongoing task force for an indefinite period, however, its continuation is subject to the availability of necessary funding. There is a thirty-day written notice requirement allowing partners to terminate if needed. It is recommended that the Chief of Police be allowed authorization to determine continued participation, as long as there is no significate fiscal impact or other significant changes to the MOU.
The City Attorney has reviewed and approved as to form the proposed GIT MOU.
The GIT formed a Western Riverside County team after the dissolvement on June 30, 2018 of the GTF Region 8 Team. Corona was a member of the GTF by City Council approval in April 2006. The team was composed of officers from Border Patrol, California Highway Patrol, Corona Police Department, Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, Riverside County Probation and Riverside Sheriff’s Department.
Together the agencies worked on anti-gang efforts on a regional level to significantly enhance law enforcement’s ability to reduce gang related crimes. Additionally, the GTF MOU allowed Corona to participate in distribution of forfeitures as related to any GTF seizures. The funds that were seized by the GTF were collected in the Corona Asset Forfeiture account.
With the dissolvement of the GTF Region 8 Team there is $32,066.77 of cash (includes earned interest) that needs to be shared among the participating team agencies. It was decided by the task force to equally share the balance among the agencies, based on member participation. The funding will need to remain as Asset Forfeiture as it is subject to the applicable laws of the State and Federal seizures.
The funding will be allocated to Border Patrol, California Highway Patrol, Corona Police Department, Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, Riverside County Probation and Riverside Sheriff’s Department as listed in the fiscal impact. Additionally, there are three GTF cases pending court judgement, and if those assets are deemed legally forfeited they will be shared equally once received.
COMMITTEE ACTION:
Not Applicable.
STRATEGIC PLAN:
This item supports the City Strategic Plan goal to Activity Engage in Public and Private Partnerships to Provide Services and Amenities (b) proactively develop partnerships with local and regional business interests and agencies.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No additional appropriation is requested for this position. CPD will support the GIT with these duties internally, with one Detective position, a vehicle, and related equipment are estimated at $224,430 annually to support the team.
The GIT MOU will allow Corona to participate in distribution of forfeitures as related to any GIT seizures.
With the dissolution of the GTF Region 8 Team as of June 30, 2018 there are cash disbursement required from the Asset Forfeiture fund totaling $32,066.77. Funding will be as distributed as listed:
Border Patrol, 1 member, $4,580.96
California Highway Patrol, 1 member, $4,580.96
Corona Police Department, 2 members, $9,161.97
Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, 1 member, $4,580.96
Riverside County Probation, 1 member, $4,580.96
Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, 1 member, $4,580.96
Funding needs to remain in the Asset Forfeiture accounting, as it is subject to the applicable laws of the State and Federal seizures. Additionally, any GTF cases pending court judgement, and if deemed legally forfeited, will be shared equally once received.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
No environmental review is required because the proposed action is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act.
PREPARED BY: BARBARA THIERJUNG, PUBLIC SAFETY FINANCE DEPUTY DIRECTOR
REVIEWED BY: JAMES PATTON, POLICE CAPTAIN
REVIEWED BY: GEORGE JOHNSTONE, CHIEF OF POLICE
REVIEWED BY: KERRY D. EDEN, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER/ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR
REVIEWED BY: MICHELE NISSEN, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
SUBMITTED BY: DARRELL TALBERT, CITY MANAGER
Attachment:
Riverside County District Attorney Gang Impact Team (GIT) Memorandum of Understanding