Department of Police
Reference: FY 2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program
To: Mayor Gregory Mills and Members of City Council
Through: Michael P. Martinez, City Manager
Prepared By: Lieutenant Nick Struck
Date Prepared: December 19, 2024
PURPOSE
As presented on January 14, 2025 to City Council in a study session, the City Council is being asked to approve a resolution accepting the JAG grant funds for the purchase of Flock Safety Cameras. The purchase of the cameras will also include access to the nationwide Flock Systems network to enhance our solvability of crimes in the City of Brighton.
BACKGROUND
The Edward Bryne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to states and units of local government. Through this opportunity, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) will award JAG program funds to eligible units of local government as described in the FY 2024 JAG Program Local Solicitation.
The program is designed to reduce violent crime through the purchase of technology to identify vehicles that are stolen, or vehicles driven by a suspect after a violent crime. The funds are to be used for Law Enforcement Activity Equipment Purchases.
The Police Department is seeking grant funding from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program to purchase Flock Safety Falcon cameras. Violent crime in the City has increased over the past 5 years. More resources are needed to help solve the crimes and increase our case closure rate. This equipment falls under the Purposes for Which Funds Awarded the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) Program May Be Used - 34 U.S.C. § 10152 (a)(1)”JAG Program funds may be used:
(A) Law Enforcement programs.
(iii) [p]rocuring equipment, technology, and other material directly related to basic law enforcement functions.
The Police Department will procure 8 Flock cameras: 1 mobile and 7 fixed cameras. The purchase of the cameras also allows access to the nationwide network of Flock cameras and information. This means that when an identified suspect vehicle leaves a crime scene, we will be able to track the vehicle with cameras and locate the suspect. This reduces the amount of time spent searching for a suspect and thereby reducing the time it takes to solve a crime. This equipment is also consistent with equipment and technology being used by surrounding jurisdictions which increases collaboration and solvability of complex crimes which we know are not bound by jurisdictional borders.
The cameras also use a technology called Vehicle Fingerprint. This allows an officer to enter a vehicle description when a plate is not known, and the system will search for vehicles in that area matching that description. The data is CIJIS compliant, and the use of the information gives real-time alerts to NCIC entries as well as local stolen vehicles.
One mobile camera will be purchased and placed on a current Radar Trailer. This allows us to move the camera to an area where there has been an increase in crime.
The Brighton Police Department plans the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program FY2024 funds to be used in the project year during the time period of approximately January 1, 2025, to August 9, 2025.
During the project year, the following approximations are the implementation goals:
• January 2025 - If awarded the grant, purchase of the Flock Safety Falcon cameras. These cameras are monitored in the Patrol Division.
• January 2025 - March 2025 - The sites will be prepared, and the cameras will be installed.
• May 2025 - A complete assessment of the program’s effectiveness will be evaluated and reported to the Department of Justice.
The project year times may vary in the phases described above. The time frames for implementation have been given enough leeway and expectations are that the 3 phases can be accomplished sooner in the project year. All the funds would be used to purchase this equipment and begin immediate implementation.
The grant will not pay for all of the 8 cameras, but the remaining funds needed ($13,473.99) will come from a separate fund, the Asset Forfeiture Fund.
The grant of $12,576.00 was awarded to Brighton PD on Dec. 04, 2024 (Award Number 15PBJA-24-GG-04848-JAGX) pending approval of City Council and leadership. The grant acceptance is contingent on an opportunity for public comment and, therefore, we will be bringing this grant acceptance before City Council on January 21, 2025.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This grant is not a matching grant and, therefore, there is no funding required on the part of the city. All of the money requested and allotted for the City is used for the purchase of the cameras. The cameras will require a yearly subscription, but we are able to put that in our regular budget.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Allow the purchase of Flock Safety from the 2024 JAG funding.
OPTIONS FOR COUNCIL:
• Approve the Resolution
• Modify the Resolution
• Deny the Resolution
ATTACHMENTS
1) Resolution
2) Flock Safety Impact Study - How many crimes do automated license plate readers (ALPRs) solve, anyway?
3) City Sentiment Survey 2023
4) Privacy Commitment
5) Flock Safety Brighton PD Planning Locations.
6) FY 2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program Local Allocations - Colorado
7) FY 2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) details
8) Certification of Local Authority