To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Sheriff’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: Jim Naugle, 565-6010
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Sheriff’s Office Organized Retail Theft Prevention Grant Application
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a resolution authorizing the Sheriff and his designee to apply for and if awarded, accept the subsequent award from the California State Board of State and Community Corrections, Organized Retail Theft Prevention Grant Program in the amount not-to-exceed $400,000, to provide in-vehicle cameras. In addition, authorize the Sheriff and his designee to execute all related documents needed to accept the grant award and implement the grant project.
end
Executive Summary:
The Sheriff’s Office is interested in pursuing a grant opportunity through the California State Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) to obtain funding being made available through the BSCC’s Organized Retail Theft Prevention Grant Program which was established in Senate Bill 154. The application process requires authorization from the Board of Supervisors. This item requests authorization for the Sheriff and his designee to apply for this funding opportunity and if awarded funding to execute all necessary grant award documents. The Sheriff is applying for grant funds to purchase in-vehicle camera systems. There are no matching funds required for this grant opportunity, therefore, the County will not be required to provide any funding in order to accept the award and implement the grant project. The grant proposal is due July 7, 2023. If selected for funding, the grant agreement will be from October 1, 2023, to June 1, 2027. The grant service period runs from October 1, 2023, and ends on December 31, 2027, with an additional six months (Jan 1, 2027, to June 1, 2027) for the purposes of finalizing and submitting a required Local Evaluation Report and finalizing and submitting a required financial audit.
Discussion:
The California State Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) is soliciting applications for funding being made available through the BSCC’s competitive Organized Retail Theft Prevention Grant Program which was established in Senate Bill 154. Per SB 154:
Grant funds shall be used to support local law enforcement agencies in preventing and responding to organized retail theft, motor vehicle or motor vehicle accessory theft, or cargo theft. Permissible uses of grant funds include, but are not limited to, purchase of technology or other equipment to help deter strategies for preventing or responding to crime. These funds shall be used to supplement and not supplant existing funds for these activities.
The Sheriff’s Office is interested in applying for these funds to pilot an in-vehicle dual-view camera program. The in-vehicle camera/video system provides a centralized platform to capture clear panoramic video evidence with automated license plate reader capabilities which can cover 3 lanes of traffic. The interior camera captures the rear seat compartment from below the occupant’s knee to above their head, with color in well-lit conditions and infrared illumination at night.
This pilot program will allow the Sheriff’s Office to evaluate the effectiveness of the in-vehicle camera system in solving and preventing crimes including vehicle theft and vehicle accessory theft as well as improve Sheriff’s Office accountability. In-vehicle cameras (dash cameras) enhance officer safety and accountability by providing additional, undeniable evidence of what occurred in any given incident. In-vehicle cameras can also reduce potential liability by augmenting what is captured on body worn cameras during any given incident that occurs in front of, or in the back seat of a patrol vehicle. Body worn cameras only capture a portion of an incident from the deputy’s point of view. Cameras affixed to the deputy’s vehicle will offer a larger perspective of an incident that may not be viewable by the deputy’s body camera. Cameras mounted in the rear compartment of the transport vehicle will capture any activity in the back seat. This will help officer safety, should the detainee place something in the vehicle. It will also help with the investigation of alleged misconduct of the deputies during transport and any incidents of arrestee injury. In-vehicle cameras can potentially help avoid potential lawsuits alleging misconduct and will assist with administrative investigations to exonerate or hold deputies accountable.
Additionally, there are many benefits of automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology including providing real-time alerts when the camera detects a license plate of a stolen or wanted vehicle, a vehicle associated with a missing person, or a vehicle associated with an AMBER, or Feather alert. ALPR increases the effectiveness of investigations after a crime is committed. Often, by the time a crime is reported to law enforcement, the suspect(s) have already fled the area. A partial license plate or vehicle description is a common investigative lead in these situations. Deputies would be able to take that imperfect information and use ALPR technology to produce an actionable lead. The use of ALPR technology has assisted in various investigations including homicides, burglaries, retail theft, missing persons, auto thefts, sideshows, and home invasions. For example, in 2020 a Georgia child was abducted at 12:30 pm one afternoon. An AMBER alert was issued and within 2 hours, using in-car cameras equipped with ALPR technology, the suspect’s vehicle was identified. Two hours later the suspect’s vehicle was located, and the child was found unharmed. This is just one illustration of the thousands of success stories using ALPR technology. ALPR technology is currently in use in the cities of Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, Cotati, and Petaluma; with the City of Sonoma, Town of Windsor, and Sonoma State University all in the process of obtaining the technology. Numerous California Auto Theft Task Forces funded and operating under California Vehicle Code 9550.14 are also using ALPR technology with tremendous success. The Sonoma County Auto Theft Task force is also hoping to implement this technology in the near future.
The Sheriff’s Office pilot project will consist of the purchase and installation of 22 in-vehicle camera systems and three years of services. The Sheriff’s Office will comply with all competitive procurement requirements of the County and grantor. In addition, the application will include Sheriff’s Office staff expenses, including overtime to provide investigative services as well as data collection and analysis. The grant requires the grantee set aside up $25,000 for an independent final grant audit and at least $75,000 for data collection and evaluation efforts including the development of the Local Evaluation Plan and Local Evaluation Report. The Sheriff’s Office is in the process of fine tuning our proposal and in doing so will narrow down the application specifics and the budget. At this time, we are requesting authority to apply for up to $400,000 in grant funding. No local match is required to participate in this grant opportunity; therefore, no County General Fund is needed.
The grant proposal is due July 7, 2023. If selected for funding, the grant agreement will be from October 1, 2023, to June 1, 2027. The grant service period runs from October 1, 2023, and ends on December 31, 2027, with an additional six months (Jan 1, 2027, to June 1, 2027) for the purposes of finalizing and submitting a required Local Evaluation Report and finalizing and submitting a required financial audit.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
None
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY 22-23 Adopted |
FY23-24 Projected |
FY 24-25 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
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$400,000 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
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$400,000 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
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$400,000 |
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Fees/Other |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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$400,000 |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Any fiscal impacts to the Sheriff’s Office budget will occur if the application is approved and grant funds are awarded. Grant application will not exceed $400,000. Grant award will not result in the use of County General Funds. If award is received, Sheriff’s Office FY 23-24 Adopted Budget will be adjusted through the County’s consolidated budget adjustment process.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Organized Retail Theft Prevention Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
Grant Program Solicitation Description