Okaloosa County BOCC — June 21, 2016 — FY16 Ed Byrne JAG Agenda Package — reading text

2016 JAG Local Byrne Grant Application – Okaloosa County Board of Commissioners PROJECT ABSTRACT APPLICANT NAME: Okaloosa County Board of Commissioners IMPLEMENT AGENCY: Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) PROJECT TITLE: Electronic Monitoring and Officer Safety Enhancements PROJECT GOALS: 1. Enhance ability of OCSO Narcotics Unit personnel, via the purchase of updated covert transmitters and antennas, to conduct undercover operations and better investigate/infiltrate mid to upper level drug distributors and drug trafficking organizations, and to better operate amongst the public/criminals without being detected. 2. Enhance ability of OCSO Property Crimes and/or Street Crimes Unit personnel, via the purchase of a complement of specialized electronic equipment, to operate independently of the narcotics unit and conduct undercover operations related to the theft, possession, and/or sale of stolen property, and better investigate/infiltrate lower “street” level drug distributors. 3. Enhance ability of OCSO Uniform Patrol personnel, via the purchase of individual ballistic shields and rifle plates, to more safely respond to high-risk incidents involving armed suspects. STRATEGIES: This program consists of product research, equipment purchases, and in-house/vendor training. The first phase of the project will be researching specialized electronic equipment/products to ensure that items purchased fulfill required capabilities. There are existing laws, established procedures, and agency policies already in place that govern the use of the specialized electronic equipment to be purchased with this funding, and agency personnel are currently using similar covert electronic equipment and ballistic shields/rifle plates. The second phase of the project consists of identifying specific equipment type/specifications best suited for fulfilling the project goals, then procuring the equipment and providing any necessary training required to operate/deploy equipment which can all be done via agency personnel w/vendor assistance if necessary. 1 PROJECT IDENTIFIERS: Surveillance, Equipment – Video/Audio, Officer Safety, Equipment – Tactical. 2 2016 JAG Local Byrne Grant Application – Okaloosa County Board of Commissioners PROGRAM NARRATIVE This proposed project consists of using federal grant funds to purchase supplies and/or equipment to update aging technology and enhance the current capabilities of the OCSO Criminal Investigations Division, and to enhance uniform patrol officer response/safety during high risk incidents. The program consists of research, equipment purchases, and in-house/vendor training. The first phase of the project, expected to last 30 to 60 days, will be researching specialized electronic equipment to ensure that items purchased fulfill required capabilities. Personnel with the criminal investigation are currently using similar specialized electronic equipment and they will, based on their knowledge, expertise, and familiarity/experience using similar equipment, conduct the product research. There are existing laws, established procedures, and agency policies already in place that govern the use of the specialized electronic equipment to be purchased, and investigators who use this electronic equipment will do so under the direct supervision of a supervisor. OCSO uniform patrol officers are already using individual ballistic shields w/rifle plates and the same/similar equipment will be purchased to maintain continuity and familiarity with users. The second phase of the project, expected to last 60 to 90 days, will begin once the research is complete and consists of identifying specific equipment type/specifications best suited for fulfilling the project goals then requesting competitive bids or quotes and procuring the equipment. Once the equipment has been purchased any necessary training required to operate/deploy the equipment, which should be minimal, will be done via agency personnel w/vendor assistance if necessary. We anticipate all aspects of the project should be completed in approximately 180 days. Proposed Project 1: OCSO personnel assigned to the narcotics unit routinely conduct undercover operations which target mid to upper level drug distributors and drug trafficking organizations. These investigations require the use of specialized electronic equipment to gather evidence of illegal activity in an effort to increase arrest rates and enhance prosecution of offenders. The specialized equipment utilized by narcotics investigators includes audio/video transmitters “body wires” and receivers, audio/video recorders, specialized/covert antennas, etc.). The OCSO Narcotics Unit has a functional complement of covert equipment but several components, which were purchased with grant funds approximately seven years ago, are antiquated and, because of rapidly changing trends and technology (analog/digital), need to be updated/replaced. OCSO Narcotics Unit personnel 1 have also identified the need for covert vehicle antennas which will enhance their capability to operate amongst the public/criminals without being detected. In an effort to update aging technology and enhance current capabilities, OCSO proposes using grant funds to replace two (2) covert electronic audio transmitters (previously purchased with grant funds - not supplanting), and to acquire four (4) covert vehicle antennas which will enhance current capabilities. Both the covert audio transmitters and antennas are compatible with equipment currently being used by the narcotics unit. Note* unable to provide further detailed information/description of covert equipment and/or capabilities due to operational security issues. Proposed Project 2: The OCSO Criminal Investigations Division was separated into different sections based on investigative responsibilities. OCSO personnel assigned to conduct property crimes investigations have found the need to conduct undercover operations associated with property crimes to include theft, burglary, and dealing in stolen property (e.g., undercover officer used to purchase stolen firearms/property, etc.). The OCSO formerly had a street crimes unit that was previously disbanded because of funding issues but efforts are underway to reestablish this unit due to increasing violent crime. Although they both investigate drug related crime, the mission of the narcotics unit and street crimes unit are different. The two units operate independently of one another and they investigate different level distributors and/or organizations. OCSO personnel formerly assigned to the street crimes unit routinely conducted undercover operations which targeted lower “street” level drug distributors. These investigations also require the use of specialized electronic equipment for the purpose of gathering evidence. Undercover operations are very fluid in nature and many times have to be conducted on short notice with little planning and preparation. In the past OCSO property crimes and/or street crimes personnel have, on occasion, needed to utilize this specialized electronic equipment for an investigation and were unable to conduct operations because the equipment was being used by narcotics personnel at the time. In an effort to mitigate this conflict and enhance current capabilities, OCSO proposes using grant funds to purchase a complement of specialized electronic equipment which will be used by OCSO property crimes and/or street crimes personnel to conduct undercover investigations related to their specific area of responsibility. This will give property crimes and/or street crimes personnel the ability to operate independently of the narcotics unit and ensure equipment is always available for use to prevent an impact on operations. OCSO proposes using grant funds to purchase one (1) audio receiver/recorder, one (1) repeater w/rechargeable battery, two (2) covert receiver antennas, and two (2) covert audio/video recording devices. 2 Note* unable to provide further detailed information/description of covert equipment and/or capabilities due to operational security issues. Proposed Project 3: OCSO personnel routinely respond to situations involving armed, and/or potentially armed, violent offenders (criminal/wanted persons, domestic violence suspects, mental health/suicidal subjects, hostage takers, etc.). In protracted incidents, e.g. a suspect who barricades himself in a residence, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team (SRT) personnel, who have specialized training and equipment, respond to support patrol officers and resolve the situation but there is typically a delay before SRT personnel can arrive on scene. Violent incidents such as these typically unfold quickly so first responders/patrol deputies are usually the ones who resolve the situation. Waiting for well-armed and equipped SRT personnel to arrive is not an option when there is an imminent threat to the public such as an active shooter situation. Current protocols for an active shooter situation require the first-responding deputies to enter the threatened facility and locate, isolate, and if possible mitigate the threat, therefore it is necessary to provide all first responders/uniform patrol deputies with the greatest amount of personal protection possible. The ballistic armor currently used by OCSO patrol deputies, which is worn on the body, offer Level IIIA protection (protect against pistol round). To help mitigate this risk to officers, OCSO proposes using grant funds to purchase individual ballistic shields with rifle plates which together offer NIJ Level IV ballistic rating (protect against rifle round). These shields and can be stored in the trunk or rear storage area of patrol vehicles, are extremely portable, and can be rapidly deployed. They are versatile, unlike body worn vests/armor, and can be used/affixed to vehicles for ballistic protection and as a blanket to cover/protect injured officers or citizens during tactical evacuation from a scene. Several years ago the OCSO used grant funds and implemented a program to purchase individual shields and rifle plates for uniform deputies and this equipment has been very beneficial during tactical patrol responses. Several ballistic shields previously purchased with grant funds did not have accompanying rifle plates because of limited funding. OCSO proposes using grant funds to purchase eight (8) rifle plates to complement the previously purchased ballistic shields and to purchase an additional twenty-three (23) ballistic shields and rifle plates to further equip OCSO uniform patrol deputies. The long-term goal of this project is to assign every uniform officer with his/her own ballistic blanket and rifle plate. 3  General Instructions & Resources View Budget Summary OMB APPROVAL NO.: 1121-0329 EXPIRES 7/31/2016 Budget Detail Worksheet (1) Purpose: The Budget Detail Worksheet is provided for your use in the preparation of the budget and budget narrative. All required information (including the budget narrative) must be provided. Any category of expense not applicable to your budget may be left blank. Indicate any non-federal ( match ) amount in the appropriate category, if applicable. (2) For each budget category, you can see a sample by clicking (To View an Example, Click Here) at the end of each description. (3) There are various hot links