Department of Police
Reference: FY 2023 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: Deputy Chief Betsy Westbrook
Date Prepared: September 27, 2023
PURPOSE
Requesting City Council approval to use JAG funds for the purchase of software to enhance the implementation and public viewing of our policy manual. PowerDMS programing, specifically Power Policy, Power Training, and Power FTO will be purchased as well as a supplemental procedures manual from Lexipol. The remaining funds will be used to purchase a computer and equipment to run the programs.
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 2023 JAG Program Local Solicitation.
In 2020, the State of Colorado passed Senate Bill 20-217 Enhance Law Enforcement Integrity. The purpose of the bill was to increase accountability to Law Enforcement through the documentation and reporting of all interactions involving police and the public. Several of the measures surround the proper documentation the department must maintain on law enforcement contacts with the public. This bill does not provide any additional funding to any local government agencies and therefore it is on the department to create a way to become compliant with the bill.
The bill becomes fully enacted in 2023. The Brighton Police Department has been working hard to be compliant with the bill and has completed that task with the purchase of the Axon BodyCam system. However, more is needed to track compliance from the officers in relation to the policy and procedures of the department. PowerDMS (owned by NeoGov) provides a policy managemen...
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