TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Steve Powers, City Manager
FROM: Gerald Moore, Chief of Police
SUBJECT:
title
Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
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ISSUE:
Shall City Council authorize the City Manager to apply for; accept, if awarded; and execute all documents associated with a U.S. Department of Justice, Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) grant in an amount up to $17,300?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Authorize the City Manager to apply for; accept, if awarded; and execute all documents associated with a U.S. Department of Justice, BVP grant in an amount up to $17,300.
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SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND:
The BVP grant program is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance. The BVP program helps protect the lives of law enforcement officers by assisting state, local, and tribal governments in equipping their officers with body armor.
The City of Salem (City) has applied for, and received, BVP grant funds totaling more than $60,000 in the past. These grant funds have been used to support the replacement of body armor for police officers. The Salem Police Department (SPD) is required to replace body armor every five (5) years. The BVP grant program only supports the purchase of body armor that has been tested and found to comply with the National Institute of Justice’s (NIJ) Ballistic or Stab Standards. The grant program also requires that each applicant jurisdiction be responsible for contributing at least 50% of the cost of any qualifying body armor purchased.
Under current legislation, jurisdictions with fewer than 100,000 residents receive priority funding, and any remaining funds are distributed on a pro rata basis to jurisdictions with more than 100,000 residents. In recent years, funds have been exhausted by awards to smaller agencies, and the City has not received an award. It is unknown at this time if there will be sufficient funding to award funds to all agencies during this solicitation, however, staff is recommending that the City still submit an application so that the need can be documented for future funding opportunities.
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
1. If awarded, the grant funds will be used by SPD to purchase body armor for its sworn officers.
2. SPD has the funds budgeted in its operating budget to contribute to the cost of any replacement body armor purchased as required by the grant program.
3. The grant funds will help protect the lives of SPD officers and benefit the public.
Skip Miller
Deputy Chief
Attachments:
1. None
05/03/2016