DATE: April 11, 2023
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: John Zanoni, Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator
SUBJECT: Retroactive Grant Application/Award/Agreement for Body-Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program to Support Law Enforcement Agencies
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Retroactively approve and authorize the Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator’s previous submittal of an online grant application to the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, for the Body-worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program to Support Law Enforcement Agencies, effective October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2025, ($430,000);
2. Retroactively approve, authorize and ratify the Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator’s, or his designee’s, execution of retroactive Grant Award/Agreement Number 15PBJA-22-GG-03303-BWCX, which requires compliance with assurances and certifications that relate to conduct during the performance of the award/agreement on behalf of the County to the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, for the Body-worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program to Support Law Enforcement Agencies, effective October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2025, ($430,000);
3. Approve and authorize the Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator, or his designee, to execute claims for reimbursement, activity reports, and extend the grant ending date to expend allocated funding; and
4. Approve Amendment to the Salary Resolution adding one Sheriff’s Information Technology Analyst IV position to the Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator’s Org 3111, effective April 17, 2023 as reflected in Appendix “C.”
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) awarded funding to the Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator’s Office to implement the body-worn camera policy program. The solicitation was released on March 24, 2022, and the Department submitted the application on May 25, 2022 to meet the grant’s deadline contingent upon the Board’s approval. U.S. DOJ sent approval of funding on September 26, 2022. Approval of the recommended actions will allow the Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator’s Office to implement a body-worn camera (BWC) program, adding one Sheriff’s Information Technology Analyst position for the Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator’s Office to provide digital data storage, management, software updates, and equipment maintenance for the BWC policy and implementation program. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Not approving the recommended actions will result in cancellation of the grant, and de-obligation of the allocated Federal funding. It is anticipated that BWC’s will be a requirement in the future, and this grant allows the Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator’s Office to implement the program with grant funds.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The recommended agreement is retroactive to October 1, 2022 as the Sheriff’s Office was notified on September 26, 2022. Subsequent time for processing the award, updating the quote, finding funding, and developing the policy delayed this item from being placed on an earlier Board date.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. There is a 50% in-kind match requirement, which will be met using Local Innovation funds from Org 3438. The amount of Innovation funds required through the end of the grant funding period is approximately $1.8 million, as follows:
FY 2023-24 = $361,110
FY 2024-25 = $768,348
FY 2025-26 = $668,791
It should be noted, the difference of the additional nine months (from the end of the grant funding period of September 30, 2025 through June 30, 2026) is $472,942 and will be funded with Innovation funds. If grant funding or Innovation funds become unavailable, the additional position will be deleted, if other funding is not identified.
Appropriations and estimated revenues for subsequent years will be included in the Sheriff’s requested budgets for Org 3111.
DISCUSSION:
The U.S. DOJ/OJP/BJA awarded the Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator’s Office the FY 2022 Body-worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program grant to fund the purchase of BWC as part of a comprehensive BWC program. The purpose of the BWC program is to support law enforcement agencies seeking to establish a BWC program through the purchase of body-worn cameras. BWC programs are an important tool that can be integrated as part of a jurisdiction’s holistic problem-solving and community-engagement strategy, helping to increase both trust and communication between the police and communities they serve. BWC’s can be highly effective, providing an objective audio and visual record of interactions that can capture empirical evidence in the event of a crime, police-citizen interaction, or use-of-force incident.
The Fresno County Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator’s Office will use its allocation of grant funding to implement the broad-scale BWC program and acquire 215 body worn cameras for sworn deputies assigned, but not limited, to the patrol bureau. Currently, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office provides oversight of the office personnel through a Professional Standards Review Board, which consists of seven members of Sheriff’s Executive Management. The Professional Standards Review Board reviews all incidents and allegations that may have negatively impacted the Sheriff’s Office values and the Sheriff. The utilization of BWC’s will provide data and information which will improve the ability of the Professional Standards Review Board to provide better oversight of members of the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office which in turn will increase the public’s trust in the Sheriff’s Office.
Dedicated to excellence in the delivery of public safety services, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office intends to enhance its ability to maintain the confidence of its citizens through professionalism, accountability, integrity, trust, commitment, and service using BWC’s. The utilization of BWCs by members of the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office will increase transparency with the public.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Salary Resolution Amendment - Appendix C
On file with Clerk - Grant Application
On file with Clerk - Grant Award/Agreement
CAO ANALYST:
Samantha Buck