Police Department
Reference: Presentation by Chief Blackhurst
To: Mayor Richard N. McLean and Members of City Council
Through: Manuel Esquibel, City Manager
Prepared By: Clint R Blackhurst, Chief of Police
Date Prepared: May 15, 2015
PURPOSE
To report to Council the current status of the Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Brighton Police and the City of Commerce City establishing a shared special weapons and tactics (SWAT) team
BACKGROUND
Historically the Brighton Police Department has relied upon neighboring police agencies to provide special weapons and tactics (SWAT) resources when faced with situations requiring a tactical response. Calls requiring such a response include, but are not limited to, high risk search warrants related to criminal cases, hostage situations, subjects who have barricaded themselves and other types of crimes where response by patrol officers could be ineffective and unnecessarily dangerous for the public, victims and officers.
The financial impact of such a team can be cumbersome for any police agency. In order to reduce the overall cost of maintaining a SWAT team the Brighton and Commerce City Police Departments are seeking to establish a partnership. This IGA will provide for a sharing of in-kind services, equipment, personnel and special asset costs by both agencies.
Brighton and Commerce City currently share resources in the way of SWAT personnel. Since July 2014 two members of the Brighton Police Department, one a sergeant and the other an officer, have successfully completed the testing process to become team members. Both have been participating in missions and training with the team. This assignment is an ancillary assignment performed alongside their current assigned duties.
From July 2014 through the end of 2014 there were a total of eight SWAT missions carried out by the team. Four took place in Brighton and four in Commerce City. Six of those missions were the result of action requested by the North Metro Drug Task Force. The most recent mission in Brighton was the execution of a narcotics related search warrant and arrest in April 2015.
To provide an equitable financial formula for cost sharing between the two cities three factors based on 2014 statistics were taken into consideration in order to arrive at a percentage of financial responsibility:
· Population 83439 = Commerce City 48421/Brighton 35018 = 58% / 42%
· Calls for service = Commerce City 70879/Brighton 46203 = 60% / 40%
· Incident reports = Commerce City 9272/Brighton 5663 = 62% / 38%
Share Calculation Table
City Population CFS Case Reports Share
Commerce City 58% + 60% + 62% = 180/3 60%
Brighton 42% + 40% + 38% = 120/3 40%
Based on this formula Brighton's personnel share on a 20 person team would be 8 officers.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
· The cost of purchasing special equipment for additional members
Approximately $4500.00 each
· The 40% share of purchasing special equipment such as vehicles and weaponry
· Overtime costs incurred by officers assigned to the team (Variable)
OPTIONS FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
1) Approve
2) Decline
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends approval of this IGA. While there will be a financial impact to the city the costs can be included in budget planning with the possibility of some items being sourced through grants and other means. In addition, this partnership will increase the ability of Brighton Police Command staff members to make better informed decisions regarding tactical response to high risk incidents. This IGA will help enhance the safety and security of the citizens of Brighton.
ATTACHMENTS
N/A