HomeMy WebLinkAboutITEM II-A-1,k
AUBURN
WASHINGTON
AGENDA BILL APPROVAL FORM
Agenda Subject: 2008 Justice Assistance Grant Public Hearing Date:
7/10/08
Department: Police Attachments: Program Narrative Budget Impact:
Administrative Recommendation:
City Council conduct a public hearing to receive public comment on a Department of Justice Local Law
enforcement Block Grant.
(See Resolution No. 4378, Item VI11.B.2, for further action on this item.)
Background Summary:
The Auburn Police Department is applying for the 2008 US Department of Justice Local Law Enforcement
Block Grant (Justice Assistance Grant). Per the grant requirement, the city is holding a public hearing
regarding the application in order to provide community members an opportunity to comment.
P0804-1
F5.4.1
Reviewed by Council & Committees: Reviewed by Departments & Divisions:
? Arts Commission COUNCIL COMMITTEES: ? Building ? M&O
? Airport ? Finance ? Cemetery ? Mayor
? Hearing Examiner ? Municipal Serv. ? Finance ? Parks
? Human Services ? Planning & CD ? Fire ? Planning
? Park Board ?Public Works ? Legal ? Police
? Planning Comm. ? Other ? Public Works ? Human Resources
? Information Services
Action:
Committee Approval: ?Yes ?No
Council Approval: ?Yes ?No Call for Public Hearing
Referred to Until _/_/_
Tabled Until -/-/
Councilmember: Cerino Staff: Kell
Meeting Date: August 4, 2008 Item Number: II.A.1
AUBURN *MORE THAN YOU IMAGINED
PROGRAM NARRATIVE
City of Auburn Police Department
Justice Assistance Grant Application
Program Period: 1011/07 to 10/1110
Application # 2008-F6561-WA-DJ
The Auburn Police Department is making application to the United States Department of
Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance under the 2008
Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant: Local Solicitation (JAG). The City of
Auburn has been allocated $13,681 for the purposes of supporting law enforcement
programs.
The City of Auburn has utilized the funds received under the JAG to support community-
policing efforts. The concept of community policing enables officers to work in specific
neighborhoods for a protracted period of time, become knowledgeable about specific
neighborhoods and develop special relationships with residents and business owners.
Developing a rapport with the community members allows officers to problem solve with
residents as well as build trust and communication while enhancing the officer's ability to
recognize those conditions requiring a law enforcement response. Much of this work is
conducted in addition to the regular duties of police officers, which are often times spent
responding to 911 calls for service.
Over the last several years the JAG has funded overtime costs so that officers can
participate in such community policing efforts as:
? Teen Late-Night Program
? Crime Prevention Block -Watch Meetings
? DUI Enforcement Patrols
? Racer Emphasis Patrols
Latino Community Outreach Program
? Citizen's Police Academy
The City of Auburn intends to continue funding our community policing efforts upon the
receipt of the 2008 JAG award.
The City of Auburn does not receive any other on-going federal or state funding to
support these community-policing efforts. The anticipated JAG funds will not be used to
supplant existing funds, but rather, will be used to supplement funds from the general
overtime account.
The following is a brief outline of each program that will be funded under the 2008 JAG
award:
1. Auburn Parks and Recreation Teen Late-Night Program: The Auburn Late
Night Program features opportunities in recreation, arts and crafts, leadership
and skill building. The program is designed for middle school and high school
aged youth living in or attending school within the Auburn School District
boundaries. The program has been in existence for over ten years, and it has
involved Auburn Police participation since its' inception. The Auburn Police
Department provides a commissioned police officer to provide security for the
event, as well as to interact with the youth and answer specific law enforcement
related questions. The need for this program to continue is vital, as the positive
impact it has on the youth of Auburn is significant.
2. Crime Prevention Block Watch Meetings: The Auburn Police Department has
an active Block Watch program, with over forty organized groups in the city. The
Auburn PD takes a unique approach to Block Watch, in that a representative
from the Patrol Unit accompanies the Community Programs/Crime Prevention
officer to nearly every Block Watch meeting. Having a member of the Patrol Unit
on-hand to answer specific questions posed by residents is paramount, as these
officers have the most up to date and relevant information possible.
3. DUI Enforcement Patrols: In surveys conducted amongst our residents, the
issue of speeding and negligently driven vehicles is of great concern. Auburn is
also home to the Muckleshoot Tribal Casino, which is a source of a significant
number of DUI drivers arrested in greater King County. DUI Enforcement
Patrols, funded by the Community Policing Overtime Grant allow officers to
spend a protracted amount of time in and around the casino area. These patrols
have lead to an increase in DUI arrests, which results in a significantly positive
impact on our community member's ability to travel safely through our city. In
addition to the JAG, the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission will
occasionally offer one-time funding for special DUI emphasis patrols. The City of
Auburn has taken advantage of these funding opportunities in the past, and we
will continue to enhance our JAG funding whenever possible.
4. Racer Emphasis Patrols: Auburn is home to several industrial and business
areas that have an abundance of paved straight-aways that the racer community
has been using to conduct illegal street races. Many of the businesses that
operate in these areas are open 24 hours per day, with employees coming and
going all through the day and night. These conditions, in addition to the inherent
danger involved in street racing cause concern for the safety of our community
members. The police department has been working with business owners to
rectify this on-going problem. The JAG award will provide a continued funding
source to support the on-going Racer Emphasis Patrols.
5. Latino-Community Outreach Program: For the last twenty months, the Auburn
Police Department in conjunction with the City of Auburn Planning Department
has been involved in the Latino Community Outreach Program, which is centered
at a local apartment complex. Auburn Police DARE Officer Rafael Sermeno has
been instrumental in developing and building this program, which is designed to
assist Latino (and primarily non English-speaking) community members with
problems that they may encounter on a daily basis. LLEBG funds have been
utilized in the past to pay Officer Sermeno's salary when he attends functions
occurring during his off-duty hours.
6. Citizen's Academy: Since 1993 the Auburn Police Department has hosted a
Citizen's Police Academy for local residents. The Citizen's Academy is a 12-
week program where participants meet once each week from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. to
learn about and interact with Police Department employees, from the Chief of
Police to the Volunteer Program Coordinator. Topics of discussion include K-9,
Narcotics, Investigations, Firearms/Officer Survival, Records Management,
Traffic Enforcement, and Patrol to name just a few. The LLEBG funds have been
utilized to pay for the officers to attend this program, which occurs outside of
normal business hours. This program has been very successful in educating our
community members in terms of the basics of law enforcement, as well as
building public trust and support.
In conclusion, the City of Auburn has been utilizing federal law enforcement grant
funding for approximately ten years. These funds have been used to support several of
our community policing efforts, as previously outlined. The continuation of these grant
funds will ensure that these programs continue with the same frequency as in years
past. The City of Auburn has been very responsible and judicious in our use of federal
grant funding, and we look forward to continued support and opportunity.
Respectfully Submitted,
Sergeant Scott Near
Inspectional Services Unit
Auburn Police Department