DATE: April 14, 2020
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Margaret Mims, Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator
SUBJECT: Resolution for the Purchase of a Handheld Mass Spectrometer Chemical Detection System
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing FY 2019-20 appropriations for HIDTA Asset Forfeiture Treasury Fund 0095, Subclass 17666, Org 1467 in the amount of $300,000 (4/5 vote); and
2. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing FY 2019-20 appropriations and estimated revenues for Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator Org 3111 in the amount of $300,000, of which $70,500 is for the purchase of a Handheld Mass Spectrometer, $107,650 for officer overtime and $121,850 for operational services and supplies (4/5 vote).
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The Sheriff’s Office will use HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) Asset Forfeiture Treasury funds for the purchase of a handheld mass spectrometer chemical detection system, operational services and supplies and officer overtime. The recommended actions will establish appropriations and estimated revenues in the appropriate accounts for these expenses. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative action. If the recommended actions are not approved, the Central Valley HIDTA - High Impact Investigations Team (HIIT) will be unable to purchase the handheld mass spectrometer through the County of Fresno with HIDTA Asset Forfeiture Treasury Funds.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. Approval of the first recommended action will increase the FY 2019-20 appropriations in the Sheriff’s Special Revenue Fund (SRF) HIDTA Federal Asset Forfeiture Treasury Org 1467 to process an operational Transfer Out. Approval of the second recommended action will increase the FY 2019-20 appropriations and estimated revenues in the Sheriff’s Org 3111 to process an Operating Transfer In. Total appropriations and estimated revenues for Sheriff’s Org 3111 are $300,000 of which $70,500 will be for the purchase of a Handheld Mass Spectrometer Chemical Detection System, $121,850 for operational services and supplies and $107,650 for HIIT officer overtime.
DISCUSSION:
HIDTA Federal Asset Forfeiture monies are received from the U.S. Department of Treasury from property seized during special narcotic investigations based on the Federal Sharing Agreement. The primary purpose of the Forfeiture program is for law enforcement to deter crime by depriving criminals of the profits and proceeds of their illegal activities and to weaken criminal enterprises by removing the instrumentalities of crime.
The Central Valley HIDTA- High Impact Investigation Team is the only clandestine lab team in the Central Valley. The HIIT is called out to process clandestine labs that contain hazardous materials and is also utilized when there has been a possible Fentanyl overdose and there are unknown substances present at the scene. Sometimes there are only trace amounts of a substance at a lab or overdose scene. There are times that the quantity is so small it cannot be collected for a proper test in a lab environment.
The MX908 hand held device is a portable high-pressure mass spectrometry (HPMS) device that will allow for detecting trace amounts of narcotics explosive chemical and hazmat substances. The devises that we currently utilize cannot test trace amounts of unknown substances. If there is enough of the unknown substance to collect, the sample is sent to a lab for testing and that could take days or weeks for results to come back. This delay could cause more individuals to be exposed to the unknown substance. With the MX908’s ability to detect low to mid parts per billion quantities, HIIT and the agencies they are assisting would be able to know right away what substance is and the danger it poses.
Approval of the recommended actions will allow the Department to purchase a MX908 handheld mass spectrometer, pay for HIIT officer overtime, which include Fresno County Sheriff officers and resource agency officers working overtime on HIDTA cases, as well as miscellaneous services and supplies needed to carry out HIDTA case investigations.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Budget Resolution (Org 3111)
On file with Clerk - Budget Resolution (Org 1467)
CAO ANALYST:
Yussel Zalapa