HomeMy WebLinkAboutICPD_Federal_Funds_Memo
Date: August 17, 2020
To: City Council
From: Denise Brotherton, Interim Police Chief
Eleanor Dilkes, City Attorney
Sue Dulek, Assistant City Attorney
Rachel Kilburg, Assistant to the City Manager
Re: Iowa City Police Department Federal Funds
Introduction
On Tuesday, June 16, 2020, City Council adopted Resolution No. 20-159, which outlined
seventeen actions to respond to the Black Lives Matter Movement and address systemic
racism. Item number ten of this resolution included direction for staff to deliver a report on
federal contracts that provide support to the Iowa City Police Department (ICPD).
Discussion
Attached to this memo is a report of federal grant agreements signed by the ICPD since
January 1, 2017. There are currently six open agreements and three pending.
The attached list includes: (a) funds directly awarded by the federal government; (b) federal
funds awarded through the State of Iowa (federal “pass-through” grants); (c) two grants for
which funds have been awarded but no agreement has yet been signed; and (d) one grant for
which an application has been submitted, pending notification of award.
Additionally, the list also contains two contracts (denoted by an asterisk) with the federal
government for police department services for periods in FFYs 2018 and 2020. (The federal
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDEFT) Program is often aided by local
law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.
OCDETF operates a program to reimburse local agencies for employee overtime costs while
assisting in OCDEFT investigations. These contracts allow the City to submit for overtime
reimbursement up to a maximum amount. They are not grant agreements in that the City did not
apply for funding to initiate a local activity, but rather OCDEFT makes limited employee overtime
funding available for when local assistance is provided in a federal investigation.)
Johnson County Drug Task Force
Of the 22 listed agreements, eight support the Johnson County Drug Task Force (6 closed, 1
open, 1 pending). This Task Force deals with the more serious drug cases involving narcotics in
the Iowa City area, with a focus primarily on methamphetamine and heroin. Recent efforts have
been focused on attempting to identify distributors after a heroin overdose that results in serious
injury or death.
This regional task force is made up of one member each from the Iowa City Police Department
(1 position, 75% grant funded), the Johnson County Sherriff’s Office, the Coralville Police
Department, the University of Iowa Department of Public Safety, the Washington County
Sherriff’s Office, the City of Washington Police Department, and the Iowa Department of
Narcotics Enforcement.
August 18, 2020
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Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Conditions
The Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG grant) is the primary provider of federal
criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. In 2017 the U.S. Attorney General began
imposing immigration-related conditions on the receipt of Byrne JAG grants in an attempt to
deny federal funds to localities that choose to limit their participation in federal immigration
enforcement. These conditions have been challenged in a number of courts throughout the
country on the grounds that they are unconstitutional and contrary to Congress’ intent in
enacting the program. In creating the Byrne JAG Program, Congress recognized the critical
importance of local control over law enforcement policy and structured the program to maximize
each state and local recipient’s flexibility to meet its community’s needs. State and Local control
over their own policy choices is a central principle of the Byrne JAG program.
The City of Iowa City has joined in amicus (friend of the court) briefs filed in the litigation by
cities and counties throughout the country and the United States Conference of Mayors, the
National League of Cities, the National Association of Counties, the International Municipal
Attorneys Association and the International City/County Management Associations. All courts
with the exception of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals have issued decisions holding that
some or all of the challenged conditions are invalid.
The City of Iowa City is a member of the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM). On
September 26, 2019 the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in the
case of Evanston v. Barr issued a permanent injunction against the Department of Justice’s
imposition of the immigration-related conditions to Byrne JAG funds against members of the
U.S. Conference of Mayors. Given the injunction, the conditions cannot be enforced against
USCM members, including the City of Iowa City, and acceptance of the grant may not be
construed as an acceptance of these conditions.
ICPD Federal Funding Agreements (January 1, 2017 – August 4, 2020)
• Title: Iowa Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program
(Grant No. 15-JAG-197460)
Amount: $32,132 ICPD share. ($88,868 total awarded and used).
Funds Used For: A portion of the wages and benefits for the Iowa City officer who is
part of the Johnson County Drug Task Force. The award also includes Johnson County
and Washington County Sheriff’s offices, and the City administers the grant for these
agencies.
Status: Closed out.
• Title: Bulletproof Vests Partnership
(Grant No. 2017-BUBX17089255)
Amount: $8,077 awarded and used.
Funds Used For: Purchase of 21 bulletproof vests.
Status: Closed out.
• Title: Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy/U.S. Dept. Justice-Methamphetamine
(Grant No. 17-CAMP-05)
August 18, 2020
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Amount: $3,438.81 ICPD share. ($17,000 total awarded, $13,634 total used).
Funds Used For: Reimbursed overtime hours for methamphetamine investigations. All
Johnson County Drug Task Force agencies are included in the grant, and the City
provides the grant administration.
Status: Closed out.
• Title: Iowa Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program
(Grant No. 17-JAG-304034)
Amount: $34,276 ICPD share. ($102,827 total awarded and used).
Funds Used For: A portion of the wages and benefits for the Iowa City officer who is
part of the Johnson County Drug Task Force. Also includes Johnson County and
Washington County Sheriff’s offices, and the City administers the grant for these
agencies.
Status: Closed out.
• Title: Agreement—Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (10/17 to 9/18)*
Amount: $4,210 used. ($18,042 maximum).
Funds Used For: Overtime reimbursement for assisting U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.
Status: Closed out.
• Title: Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy/U.S. Dept. Justice Anti-Heroin
(Grant No. 18-COPS Heroin-03)
Amount: $7,905 ICPD Share. ($17,667 total awarded, $16,193 total used).
Funds Used For: Reimbursed overtime hours for heroin investigations. All Johnson
County Drug Task Force agencies are included in the grant, and the City provides the
grant administration.
Status: Open.
• Title: Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy/U.S. Dept. Justice-Methamphetamine
(Grant No. 16-CAMP-05)
Amount: $2,228 ICPD share. ($18,301 total awarded, $18,266 total used).
Funds Used For: Reimbursed overtime hours for methamphetamine investigations. All
Johnson County Drug Task Force agencies are included in the grant, and the City
provides the grant administration.
Status: Closed out.
• Title: Stop Violence Against Women
(Grant No. VW-18-04-CJ)
August 18, 2020
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Amount: $63,583 awarded and used.
Funds Used For: Domestic violence investigator wages and benefits.
Status: Closed out.
• Title: Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau
(Grant No. PAP-18-405d-M6OT, Task 18)
Amount: $35,797 used. ($35,800.00 awarded).
Funds Used For:
a. Purchase four Dept. Public Safety-approved preliminary breath testers (PBT) and
partial payment of fifth unit.
b. Conduct 518 hours of high visibility traffic enforcement with a maximum effort
directed at occupant r estraint, impaired driv ing and excessiv e speed violations
during times and at locations identified as high-risk.
c. Participate in traffic safety training approved by the Dept. of Public Safety.
Status: Closed out.
• Title: Iowa Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program
(Grant No. 16-JAG-249496)
Amount: $36,055 ICPD share. ($99,832 total awarded, $99,689 total used).
Funds Used For: A portion of the wages and benefits for the Iowa City officer who is
part of the Johnson County Drug Task Force. Total award includes Johnson County and
Washington County Sheriff’s Offices, and the City administers the grant for these
agencies.
Status: Closed out.
• Title: International Assn. of Chiefs of Police – Gender Bias
(Grant No. IACP-2018-7586-04)
Amount: $421,742 used. ($447,810 awarded).
Funds Used For: Wages and benefits for the Police Department Sergeant serving as
grant coordinator, travel expenses for conferences for multiple officers and community
partners, and overtime for officer training. The training events covered topics of
domestic assault, sexual assault, stalking and strangulation with an emphasis on
learning about and mitigating/overcoming gender bias and improving our response and
relationship to the LGBTQ+ community.
2018. 6 national-level conferences attended by 12 ICPD staff and 8 community
partners/advocates. One local training event attended by 15 ICPD staff and 19
community advocates, community partners and outside law enforcement agencies.
2019. 10 national-level conferences and 1 in-state conference attended by 50 ICPD staff
and 24 community partners/advocates. 8 local training events attended by 151 ICPD
staff and 60 community partners/advocates/other law enforcement officers.
August 18, 2020
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Status: Closed out.
• Title: Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy/U.S. Dept. Justice-
Methamphetamine
(Grant No. 18-CAMP-06)
Amount: $6,233 ICPD share. ($19,500 total awarded, $15,670 total used).
Funds Used For: Reimbursed overtime hours for methamphetamine investigations. All
Johnson County Drug Task Force agencies are included in the grant, and the City
provides the grant administration.
Status: Closed out.
• Title: Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau
(Grant No. PAP-19-402-M0PT, Task 11-00-00)
Amount: $44,693 used. ($45,100 awarded).
Funds Used For:
a. Conduct 686 hours of high visibility traffic enforcement with a
maximum effort directed at occupant r estraint, impaired driv ing and excessiv e
speed violations during times and at locations identified as high-risk, including at least
two specific traffic enforcement projects, one of which will be conducted at night.
b. Conduct at least twelve public information/education activities aimed at improving
driver safety behaviors.
c. Conduct and publicize results of two observational occupant protection surveys
during March and August.
d. Purchase four Dept. Public Safety- approved preliminary breath testers (PBT)and two
in-car video cameras and utilize for impaired driving-related traffic enforcement.
e. Participate in traffic safety training.
Status: Closed out.
• Title: Stop Violence Against Women
(Grant No. VW-19-04-CJ)
Amount: $83,853 awarded and used.
Funds Used For: Domestic violence investigator wages and benefits.
Status: Closed out.
• Title: Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau -Highway Safety
(Grant No. GTSB PAP-20-405b-M1HVE, Task 00-06-00)
Amount: $5,000 awarded.
Funds Used For:
August 18, 2020
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a. Conduct 104 overtime hours of planned high traffic enforcement with a maximum
effort directed at occupant restraint after sunset and before sunrise and at locations
identified as high-risk.
b. Conduct at least one public information activity aimed at improving driver safety
behaviors related to the nighttime seat belt enforcement project.
Status: Open.
• Title: Stop Violence Against Women
(Grant No. VW-20-42-LE)
Amount: $69,941 awarded.
Funds Used For: Domestic violence investigator wages and benefits.
Status: Open.
• Title: Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau -Highway Safety
(Grant No. GTSB PAP-20-402-M0PT, Task 18-00-00)
Amount: $45,350 awarded.
Funds Used For:
a. Conduct 708 overtime hours of high visibility traffic enforcement with a maximum effort
directed at occupant restraint, impaired driving and excessive speed violations during
times and at locations identified as high-risk, including at least two special traffic projects,
one of which will be conducted at night.
b. Conduct at least twelve public information/education activities aimed at improving
driver safety behaviors.
c. Conduct and publicize results of two observational occupant protection surveys during
March and August.
d. Purchase three Dept. Public Safety-approved preliminary breath testers (PBT) and two
in-car video cameras and utilize for impaired driving-related traffic enforcement.
e. Participate in traffic safety training.
Status: Open.
• Title: U.S. Dept. of Justice Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding
Program
(Grant No. 2020-VD-BX-1235-FY20)
Amount: $72,542 awarded.
Funds Used For: Purchase of Aeroclave Mobile Decontamination Unit, ultraviolet
germicidal irradiation equipment, panel partition walls for shared workspace, body
temperature scanners, Lexis/Nexis Desk Reporting System software, Open Lattice data
model consulting, and small amount of additional equipment.
Status: Open.
August 18, 2020
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• Title: Agreement—FFY 2020 Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force*
Amount: $2,000 maximum amount.
Funds To Be Used For: Overtime reimbursement for assisting U.S. Drug Enforcement
Agency.
Status: No overtime expenses have been incurred to date.
• Title: Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy/U.S. Dept. Justice/Byrne
(Grant No. 18-JAG-343666)
Amount: $100,000 awarded.
Funds Used For: A portion of the wages and benefits for the Iowa City officer who is
part of the Johnson County Drug Task Force. Also includes Johnson County and
Washington County Sheriff’s offices, and the City administers the grant for these
agencies.
Status: Grant agreement has not been received.
• Title: Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau -Highway Safety
(Grant No. _____)
Amount: $47,350 awarded.
Funds To Be Used For: Traffic enforcement, training related travel, likely purchase of 2
moving radar units and 3 preliminary breathalyzer tests (PBT).
Status: Grant agreement has not been received.
• Title: Bulletproof Vests Partnership
Amount: $8,274 requested.
Funds To Be Used For: Purchase of 21 bulletproof vests.
Status: Grant application submitted; not awarded.