Richmond, VA

Grants

2012 Edward Byrne Memorial
Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program

Last Updated: 2012-07-10

Project Abstract

City of Richmond, VA Comprehensive Approach to Policing
Training, Proactive Community Engagement and Enforcement

The city of Richmond respectfully requests funding to support our Paradigm for Policing model. True community policing puts officers and citizens together – in the community. From monthly Command Staff community walks to civic association meetings to proactively policing communities, the paradigm has been a model of success of the Richmond Police Department.

The goal of the philosophy is to ensure coordinated efforts with local and state law enforcement and criminal justice partners to increase public safety, reduce crime and the fear of crime in the City of Richmond. Additionally, at the core of the philosophy is the success created by building true, sustainable partnerships that have a positive impact on the community.

Examples of the partnerships established are:

• Crime Sweep initiative that brings together local, state and federal agencies to reduce crime within the community
• Youth programs such as the Young Adult Police Commissioners
• Faith Leaders forum and community based events
• Violence Free Zone programs in 2 local high schools – in partnership with Richmond Public Schools

The Richmond Police Department partly measures its success by crime reduction (Part I and Part II), successful partnerships and community perception. Specifically the RPD will seek a three-percent crime reduction during the grant period and establish two new community partnerships per year for the same period.

The top identifiers associated with this effort are as follows:

• Community Policing
• Crime Prevention
• Violent Crime Reduction
• Youth Engagement

Program Narrative

The city of Richmond's estimated population is approximately 200,000. It is generally accepted that the total population for Richmond and immediate jurisdictions is nearly 815,000. The population is very diverse and includes as many as 60,000 undocumented Hispanics. Richmond, Virginia’s capitol city, has major highway systems that flow directly through the city limits.

Interstate 95, the main north-south artery of the east coast and Interstate 64, a primary east-west thoroughfare, are essential links to business and commerce, tourist attractions and various attractions within the city and surrounding jurisdictions. The combination of these factors, as well as others, contributes to the daily public safety challenges facing Richmond.

The city of Richmond, with the Richmond Police Department (RPD) as lead agency, has developed a comprehensive strategy to address public safety issues. The RPD continues to work with various federal partners including DEA, FBI, ATF and USAO on various initiatives

This focused approach to violence reduction has been successful with the assistance of local and state partners as well (Commonwealth Attorney's Office and Virginia Office of Attorney General). Under the leadership of Chief Bryan Norwood, the RPD philosophy of policing involves a focused law enforcement approach, community and law enforcement partnerships, and systemic prevention programs.

Organizational Capacity

RPD is led by Chief Bryan Norwood. The following report directly to the Chief of Police:

• Deputy Chief of Administration
• Deputy Chief of Operations
• Deputy Chief of Support Services
• Chief of Staff
• Internal Affairs
• General Counsel
• Executive Protection Unit

The Administrative Division includes the following units: Training Academy, Financial Management, Information Technology, Department of Emergency Communications and Planning and Accreditation and Human Resources. Within the units are Property and Evidence, Payroll, Recruitment and Training, Officer Training, and Warrants and Information.

The Operations Division consists of approximately 430 officers assigned to this division. The officers are responsible for patrolling and providing first-class service to the citizens of Richmond. The four precincts are broken out into Area 1 (Major and 2 Captains) and Area 2 (Major and 2 Captains) and each precinct consists of 3 sectors (led by the Sector Lieutenant) each. The map representing the sectors is below.

The Support Services Division conducts major case investigations against criminal organizations involving narcotics trafficking, prostitution, illegal gambling, sales and distribution of illegal liquors and pornography. This division includes Narcotics, Asset Forfeiture, Gang, Technical Assistance, Homicide, Violent Crime and Special Events units. The Community, Youth and Intervention Services Unit is designed to improve the quality of life in neighborhoods, along with placing a greater emphasis on youth and seniors and also falls within the Support Services Division.

In total, the RPD consists of 753 sworn personnel and 150 civilian staff.

It should also be noted that the RPD is an active participant on the Richmond Community Criminal Justice Board (CCJB) and that the Grants Manager is assigned to the Finance and Quality Assurance Committee.

The Finance Quality and Assurance Committee is comprised of stakeholders from Richmond's Criminal Justice, Finance, Planning and Budget community. The purpose of the Finance and Quality Assurance Committee is to promote full financial accountability; compliance with relevant laws and regulations; and efficient and effective operation of grant funded programs.

The committee's duties will include the following:

• Review Board priorities to assess opportunities that may come forward through grant solicitations, foundations, or community partnerships
• Establish a standardized review and approval process for submitting federal, state, and local funding applications through city administration that serves the criminal justice service population
• Review and approve specific proposals that have been developed after having received initial approval

The request for funding will be aligned within each of the three areas - Administration, Operations and Support Services – and will include the project identifiers listed above.

Administration

Warrants and Information

The Warrant and Information Services Unit is currently in need of replacing the three computers that are used within the warrant room. These systems are dedicated for entering, clearing and inquiring as to the existence of warrants from both the Department’s PISTOL system as well as VCIN. Additionally solely these systems are utilized for all criminal record requests for the Magistrates Office, receiving faxed warrants from other jurisdictions and receiving teletype responses. All of these functions require a timely response and are conducted 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.

The current computers are over four years old and their loss of speed and stability has caused a loss of productivity. They are continuously slow, requiring 1-2 minutes to perform a function, and at least two “crash” per shift and are not functional for at least another 15 - 20 minute while they load up.

The lack of functioning speed and instability of the current computers works out to an average loss of productivity of over 2 hours daily.The loss of productivity combined with the need of timely responses for Officer safety require the replacement of these three computers and the video cards required to run the 2 screens for each.

Department of Emergency Communication (DEC)

The DEC training room is essential for a variety of training purposes. RPD, DEC, other city agencies, as well as other partners in the community, utilize our training facility for various meetings and training purposes.

A new projector is needed in order to outfit the facility with current day technology and replace an outdated projector system. The quality of our training, as well as that of other agencies and partners, is impaired as a result of this projector, as images are marred and often not readable for the trainees.

DEC trainees, Communication Officers and Supervisors receive a myriad of in-house training including the Dispatch Academy, In-Service Training, Roll-Calls, VCIN Training, Human Resources Testing/Training, Leadership Training, phone system training, CAD training and various sundry related training classes.

Most of these activities require the use of a projector system for presentations. While the projector is still used, the quality of the presentation is diminished due to the current need for a new projector system. Oftentimes, copies of the presentations are needed due to the lack of clarity on the current projector system.

The DEC Training Room is in need of a new projector system. The current projector is over 10 years old and is outdated. The material that comes through the project is often not clear and readable. DEC has attempted to fix the projector system; however, current day technology makes refurbishment of this projector not cost effective.

Human Resources/Training

As the agency moves forward it is imperative that those in management roles are properly trained. The RPD has identified leadership training that will enhance the skills of its management team.

Navigating the Leadership Challenge (NLC) is not your typical leadership course. As you charge across the battlefield in Gettysburg in 1863, sink an entire naval fleet in 1940, and turn a failing business into a thriving enterprise in a time when the rest of the country is sinking into the Great Depression, you will gain the leadership skills and perspectives you need to navigate your way through your own, current-day leadership challenges.

Navigating these challenges can be daunting, but with the right skills and framework, leaders can prepare for not just the daily challenges associated with being a leader, but also for those moments that demand the most of our leadership abilities.

This course will enable your supervisors to quickly shift their leadership styles depending on the situation at hand. It will allow the supervisor to manage meaning in communications when everyone else is looking to them for direction and teach supervisors the skills to turn obstacles into opportunities.

Perhaps most importantly, NLC provides leaders with a framework for making decisions in their leadership roles both on a daily basis and in critical events. Making a difficult decision doesn’t have to leave you second-guessing at two in the morning. NLC includes a self-directed decision making guideline for the worst critic of your decisions: yourself.

Developing leadership skills is an ongoing learning process. Navigating the Leadership Challenge is a two-day course designed to launch life-long learning habits, the perspective necessary to extract leadership lessons from events all around us.

Planning and Accreditation

Crime Analysts within the department run a multitude of software on their machines or access server based software and systems from their laptops including but not limited to the Department’s Records Management System (PISTOL), i2 Analyst’s Notebook, Automated Tactical Analysis of Crime (ATAC), Blue Spider Social Network Analysis software, CrimeNTel, Business Objects, Datalink Viewer and other systems in order to provide timely and advanced administrative, strategic and tactical analysis of crime and provide critical support to operational personnel.

The laptops currently being used by the Crime Analysts are unable to provide efficient processing under the load of the above mentioned and other applications and have required frequent re-imaging and maintenance to support the needs of the Unit. All personnel assigned to the Crime Analysis Unit are mobile and are required to have their laptops with them at meetings and to move between locations (headquarters to the Precincts) and thus require docking stations for the laptops. Finally, three of the Analysts do not currently have dual-screen monitors set-ups. All of the Analysts assigned to the Crime Analysis Unit run multiple applications simultaneously and need the ability to view more than one application at a time.

Additionally, the unit would like to send staff to the International Association of Law Enforcement Planners Conference. The annual training conference of the International Association of Law Enforcement Planners (IALEP) cooperatively shares information about the latest innovations, issues, problems and solutions confronting criminal justice professionals. It serves as a forum to exchange ideas, programs, techniques, and policies and provides planners an opportunity to take standard and advanced level certification training.

The conference is an excellent way for planners to exchange information and serves as a networking tool allowing planners to "put their finger on the pulse" of cutting-edge innovation available to law enforcement. There will be breakout sessions on the following areas, as well as others.

• DNC Core Planning
• Process Mapping
• Creating a Police Foundation
• Predictive Analytics
• Electronic Monitoring

This is the closest that this conference has been and likely will be (for quite some time) to Richmond in many years. This opportunity will enable the attendees to significantly increase their knowledge of current trends, patterns, and best practices in not only Law Enforcement Planning but law enforcement in general.

Another critical training is the Annual IACA Training Conference (IACA) which will feature many training sessions for analysts at all experience levels. Dr. Cynthia Lum of George Mason University (GMU) will be a keynote speaker at this year's conference and it would be valuable for the department's Crime Analysis Supervisor or her designee to attend based on the work RPD is doing with GMU.

IACA encourages Individuals with a demonstrated interest in crime and intelligence analysis including but not limited to law enforcement personnel serving in the analytical capacity, supervisors, investigators, homeland security analysts, narcotics analysts, administrators, academia and students. This conference provides information and training on a broad range of topics, skills and technology.

The Richmond Police Department's Crime Analysis Unit is a leader within the industry and often visited by other Crime Analysis personnel from agencies of various sizes. Attendance at this important conference is crucial to continue to grow the capacity of the personnel assigned to the unit and maintain awareness of current systems and practices employed by Crime Analysts across the country

Financial Management

For the past six years, the Richmond Police Department has been using the Police Officers Scheduling Software (POSS) package. This scheduling software is designed to allow officers and civilian staff to enter their schedules into the system.

POSS also allows supervisors to pull work assignments, shifts and reports as needed. The current drawback is that POSS does not allow for 100% real time reports and updates.

The software is in need of some customization to automatically update the time sheets with approved overtime and leave according to payroll rules (FLSA) for each employee group. Currently, time sheets are recreated by Police Payroll at the beginning of each cycle and supervisors are required to recreate their direct reports as they update or make any changes by end of the cycle. However, this results in additional overtime being approved; but not reflected on the time sheet due omission of the re-creation step prior to signing the final time sheet.

RPD submits corrective data to Personnel division to process adjustments during the validation process after close of bi-weekly cycle. The enhancements will greatly assist the Payroll unit with processing and reporting tools to increase efficiency and provide real time data on daily activity including initiatives, special assignments, etc.

Information Technology

Essential training is needed for the current technological advances being made in the RPD. The Windows 7 Enterprise Desktop support provides our technicians with the enhanced skills to troubleshoot, manage, install and configure clients in a Window based environment.

This class will allow a technicians become certified in this area to demonstrate expertise in this environment. Our technicians are responsible for the daily support of a Windows system and computer hardware environment already which requires knowledge on how to troubleshoot and resolve Window or hardware based issue.

These classes will enhance their current skill level which is essential in the position as system operation analyst, which are responsible for the maintenance and support of the department computer system as well show their expertise in this field. The A+ Certification will test the hardware and operating system; how to properly optimize, diagnose, upgrade and repair a Windows based system.

Our technicians are responsible for the maintenance and repair of over 650 computer within the department these classes will enhance their current knowledge base as well provide methods to improve efficiencies in resolving hardware and software related issues.

Operations

Overtime Initiatives

The RPD will also utilize overtime to support the Fugitive and Firearms Initiative (FFI), Summer Suppression and Parks and Recreation special initiatives within the City.

FFI is a joint firearm interdiction partnership between uniform Richmond Police Department and Virginia State Police staff supported by the A.T.F. The initiative targets those individuals that choose to use a firearm in an illegal manner. The FFI generally has been implemented for an operation for 100 days from Memorial Day thru Labor Day. The department is strongly considering some changes to this approach and will explore the possibility to run the targeted enforcement project throughout the year.

FFI uses predictive analysis to determine target locations that had a high propensity for random gunfire and violent crimes involving firearms during the spring months. Target locations are fluid based upon analysis, weather, and operational success in certain areas.

In addition to geographic locations, analytical research and social analysis assist in determining individuals with a high potential for firearm violence.

FFI has proven to be an important proactive strategy to address violence and gun crime within the city. The initiative will continue to assist law enforcement partners in increasing public safety.

In addition to the FFI, the Richmond Police Department proactively seeks to quell any rise in crime during the summer months by deploying officers at area parks that are traditionally extremely busy during that time. Past efforts to police the areas with bike and foot patrols have proved beneficial.

Within the city, Belle’s Island and Brown’s Island tend to be somewhat problematic, particularly on weekends. Added overtime patrol and visibility tends to minimize the criminal activity. It is expected that a 3 percent reduction in crime will be realized.

RPD will also employ a new initiative directly related to bike patrol in targeted neighborhoods. During various times of the year, certain areas of the city experience a crime spike such as theft from motor vehicles or burglaries, just as an example.

To address this type of crime, bicycle patrol has proved to be an effective way of addressing this issue and also meeting the needs of the citizens. Several areas have requested more bicycle patrol and it provides visibility to the area, but also allows better patrols in alleys and tight areas.

The idea is to saturate an area that experiences these spikes with 6-8 bicycle officers patrolling an area a few times a week for a four-hour time frame. The purpose would be to prevent any further crimes, but also be in the area in order to arrest any individual(s) that may be committing these offenses.

In addition to these initiatives the Operations Division would like enhance the abilities of its Focus Mission Teams (FMT). The Focus Mission Team (FMT) provides tactical support at the precinct level for drug and robbery investigations, as well as the suppression of both violent and property crime.

On a frequent basis they are tasked with conducting high-risk police operations to include drug buys, suspect take-downs, search warrants, and felony traffic stops. Due to the innately hazardous implications associated with these types of police operations, deploying the most effective equipment is of the utmost importance to ensure officer safety and increase unit efficacy.

Proper equipment is essential to the success of the teams. The utilization of ballistic shields enables officers to safely protect themselves from the risk of small arms fire during tactical operations; the additional light system also offers the added benefit of allowing officers to identify potential suspects in low-light conditions.

Entry rams are valuable tools that help officers to quickly gain access to a structure when time is of the essence, minimizing their exposure to a possible threat and allowing them to quickly clear a residence and secure the occupants. The fore-end light attachments for department shotguns allows for effective threat identification in low-light conditions, and the tactical sling for the same weapons allow for them to be safely carried during tactical operations such as search warrants and vehicle take-downs.

Support Services

SWAT and Special Events Division

The Special Operations Division and SWAT team has identified a weakness in their ability to communicate and deter individuals and groups during certain situations. The purchase of a “Long Range Acoustic Device” or LRAD will alleviate these weaknesses by allowing a more flexible approach to a wide variety of incidents.

The LRAD device provides focused and variable strength amplification of voice, recorded message, and warning tones. Also, the device is capable of being heard clearly over ambient noises and at distances exceeding ½ mile. This flexibility provides both Special Operations Division and SWAT team operations to be able to perform several functions not currently available.

The LRAD system will be of great assistance to the units below – those units that often have the responsibility of dealing with large crowds and crowd control challenges. Those units are:

• Special Events

  Special Events/Special Operations manage many major events each year which draw thousands of participants and spectators. There is no effective current method to address very large groups or areas where people concentrate to provide them with direction, information, or notifications. The only current device used is the Public Address (PA) system of each police car which is both inadequate in strength and clarity of amplification.

• SWAT

  SWAT operations require the ability to communicate and gain the attention of individuals or groups that are involved extremely dangerous incidents. The current method of communication involves the delivery of a bag phone system which must be physically carried to and inserted into the room, building or structure or provide a safe perimeter for voice communication. In both instances, these methods require exposure of SWAT members to hostile threats. Utilization of the LRAD system will provide SWAT members with a capacity to provide clear directions, information, and notice at a greater standoff distance and through walls and barriers providing SWAT members improved safety during critical incidents.

• Civil Disobedience

  The Crowd Management Team (CMT) provides incident management during protest incidents and a key component of that is clear direction to the assembled crowd both from a public safety and legal requirement standpoint. Currently, CMT personnel use the above mentioned inadequate public address (PA) system of a patrol car or bullhorn device. Neither provides clear or long range communication.

  LRAD utilization in these scenarios will provide CMT a method to safely address all persons in the area of a protest of directions, safety messages, and warnings. Further, the LRAD has warning tones which add to the non-lethal abilities of the CMT when they become actively engaged in management of a protest. The LRAD device can provide audible tones which deter persons from closing with and physically confronting members of the CMT. This added ability provides CMT with an increased standoff distance which reduces the likelihood of both officer injury from thrown objects and protester injury by reducing the need for physical action.

Crowd Management Team

The Crowd Management Team (CMT) currently has 47 members, including seven sergeants and 40 officers, which are dispersed city-wide working in various assignments. This unit will likely need to be expanded once the internal assessment is completed.

Essentially the CMT must have the ability to effectively respond to critical incidents, protests, and situations involving civil disobedience. These officers are assigned throughout a number of divisions and are members of this unit as an additional assignment. The team is available to respond to all protests or instances involving civil disobedience, large crowds at planned events, disorderly / unruly crowds, and situations involving mass arrest.

CMT members are provided specialized training and the team has three large components.

The CUT team responds to situations in which protestors are utilizing devices or chaining themselves to fixed objects to prevent arrest.

The GAS team deploys chemical agents when appropriate to regain control over large crowds. The Gas team utilizes directed weapons on targeted individuals as well as general weapons when we are targeting a large group as opposed to am individual target. The Gas team is a lees lethal component of the CMT and is deployed based on directives given by the Chief through the chain of command.

The CMT also has a team of Officers that are the LINE/ARREST Team. This is the largest contingent of the CMT. Their primary duties are to form a line and gradually move a crowd in a desired direction. The Arrest portion of this team, will make arrests as the situation develops with the goal being to restore order to a situation before it gets to the point in which chemical agents need to be deployed. The CMT works on a standby/call back basis. The team has planned responses to situations however when needed they can be activated and recalled at anytime.

SWAT

Often placed in high-risk situations such as hostage involved situations, barricaded subjects and search warrants, the SWAT team must have current tools of the trade to effectively and successfully complete the job. Enhancements to the equipment will allow SWAT to respond to multi-story, confined space and steep terrain incidents.

Ropes allow officers to use alternative entry and exit points in multi-story buildings. Furthermore, it allows officers to negotiate steep terrain. Another use is in confined space areas where air quality is an issue. Not only will this equipment assist in getting officers into a critical incident, but it also allows the evacuation of victims.

Range-R is a lightweight handheld radar system designed to detect people through walls. It informs the user of stationary or moving people inside of a room. This ability to gather pertinent intelligence gives SWAT teams an incredible advantage in planning and implementing safe operations. In hostage or barricade situations, officers can locate hidden people without putting themselves in unnecessary danger. The device is user friendly, works up to 50 feet and has a 95% accuracy rate.

Each of the identified initiatives works within the Richmond Crime Sweep program that utilizes various tools and maximizes the established partnerships with community groups, law enforcement agencies and criminal justice agencies and professionals. The Criminal Justice community continues to work collectively to increase the public safety issues and reduce the fear of crime within the city of Richmond. The collective goal is to increase the quality of life for all.

Review Narrative

The city of Richmond will provide notification of the request to apply for and receive funding for the Justice Assistance Grant. Because the grant solicitation application has not been reviewed by the administration prior to the grant application due date, the application will go to the full Council in August 2012.

The administration will receive and sign acknowledgement of receipt the application during August of 2012 and the application will be posted on the city's website for review for not less than 30 days.

The Richmond Police Department Grants Manager will notify the Department of Justice's JAG Program Manager when this requirement has been met. It is understood that funds will be "on hold" until this requirement is fulfilled.

Justice Assistance Grant Budget Detail Worksheet

A. Personnel

Item	Cost	Computation
Overtime (FFI, Summer, Parks & Recreation)	1562 hours x $32	$50,000.00
Bike Initiative	625 hours x $32	$20,000.00
Sub Total		$70,000.00

B. Fringe Benefits

Item	Cost	Computation
N/A	N/A	N/A
Sub Total		0.00

C. Supplies

Item	Cost	Computation
Video Card	8 x $95	$760.00
Sub Total		$760.00

D. Travel

Item	Cost	Computation
IALEP Registration	3 x $600	$1,800.00
Lodging	3 x $700/attendee	$2,100.00
Per Diem	3 x $300/attendee	$900.00
IACA Registration	1 x $400/attendee	$400.00
Lodging	1 x $640/attendee	$640.00
Per Diem	1 x $340/attendee	$340.00
Airfare	1 x $425/attendee	$425.00
Ground Transportation/Shuttle	1 x $60/attendee	$60.00
Sub Total		$6,665.00

E. Equipment

Item	Cost	Computation
Intruder ballistic shield	2 x $1998	$3,996.00
Entry ram, Blackhawk	2 x $225	$450.00
Sure-fire 318LM Shield	3 x $370	$1,110.00
Vtac slings for Shields	3 x $43	$129.00
Vtac sling attachments	3 x $12	$36.00
Long Range Acoustic Device	1x $39,200	$39,200.00
Handheld Through-Wall Sensor	1 x $5,990	$5,990.00
Half-Inch Accessline Rope	6 x $210	$1,260.00
Steel figure 8 with ears	6 x $43	$258.00
NFPA sit harnesses	6 x $145	$870.00
Steel auto-lock carabineers	24 x $35	$840.00
Shell Gear Sets	10 x $173	$1,730.00
CMT Uniforms (Shirt & Pants)	12 x $49.50	$594.00
Police Identifiers	73 x $5	$365.00
Gas Mask Carriers	6 x $35	$210.00
Helmets	10 x $112	$1,120.00
Riot Shields	9 x $161	$1,449.00
Millennium Gas Masks	10 x $310.50	$3,105.00
Boxes Gas Mask Filters	2 x $239.50	$479.00
Sub Total		$63,191.00

F. Contractual

Item	Cost	Computation
Dell Desktop (Warrants)	3 x $1,045	$3,135.00
Projector (DEC-Training)	1 x $8,000	$8,000
Dell Laptops/Monitor (Analysts)	6 x $1,600	$9,600.00
Sub Total		$20,735.00

G. Other

Item	Cost	Computation
Supervisors/Leadership Training	1 x $20,000	$20,000
POSS Timekeeping Upgrade	1 x $15,000	$15,000
Windows 7 Technician Training	1 x $3,300	$3,300
A+ IT Certification Course	1 x $3,300	$3,300
Sub Total		$41,600.00

Budget Summary

Category	Amount
A. Personnel	$70,000.00
B. Fringe Benefits	$0.00
C. Supplies	$760.00
D. Travel	$6,665.00
E. Equipment	$63,191.00
F. Contractual	$20,735.00
G. Other	$41,600.00
Total Project Cost	$202,951.00
Federal Request	$202,951.00

Budget Narrative

Personnel

Richmond Police Department Fugitive and Firearm Initiative (FFI)

This initiative is a joint firearm interdiction partnership between uniform Richmond Police Department and Virginia State Police staff supported by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms(ATF). The initiative targets those individuals that choose to use a firearm in an illegal manner.

The FFI is operation for 100 days from Memorial Day through Labor Day. FFI uses predictive analysis to determine target locations that had a high propensity for random gunfire and violent crimes involving firearms during the spring months. Target locations are fluid, based upon analysis, weather, and operational success in certain areas. In addition to geographic locations, analytical research and social analysis assist in determining individuals with a high potential for firearm violence.

In addition to the FFI, the Richmond Police Department proactively seeks to quell any rise in crime during the summer months by deploying officers at area parks that are traditionally extremely busy during that time. Past efforts to police the areas with bike and foot patrols have proved beneficial.

Within the city, Belle's Island and Brown'’s Island tend to be somewhat problematic, particularly on weekends. Added overtime patrol and visibility tends to minimize the criminal activity. It is expected that a three-percent reduction in crime will be realized.

Bicycle Patrol

RPD will also employ a new initiative directly related to bike patrol. During various times of the year, certain areas of the city experience a crime spike such as theft from motor vehicles or burglaries, just as an example. To address this type of crime, bicycle patrol has proved to be an effective way of addressing this issue and also meeting the needs of the citizens. Several areas have requested more bicycle patrol and it provides visibility to the area, but also allows better patrols in alleys and tight areas. The idea is to saturate an area that experiences these spikes with six to eight bicycle officers patrolling an area a few times a week for a four-hour time frame. The purpose would be to prevent any further crimes, but also be in the area in order to arrest any individuals that may be committing crimes.http://wwwstage/content/Grants/grantForPublicSafetyPrevention.aspx

Fringe Benefits

N/A

Supplies

Video Card

The video card allows users to connect several monitor to one computer this gives user the ability to view several application at the same time. This card is needed to provide dual monitor support for our warrant location. This area interacts with the public and internal personnel. This equipment is essential in assisting the user to multi-task, as well view status update in real time.

Travel

IALEP Training

The annual training conference of the International Association of Law Enforcement Planners (IALEP) cooperatively shares information about the latest innovations, issues, problems and solutions confronting criminal justice professionals. It serves as a forum to exchange ideas, programs, techniques, and policies and provides planners an opportunity to take standard- and advanced-level certification training.

Annual IACA Training Conference

The annual IACA Training Conference will feature many training sessions for crime analysts at all experience levels. IACA encourages Individuals with a demonstrated interest in crime and intelligence analysis including but not limited to law enforcement personnel serving in the analytical capacity, supervisors, investigators, homeland security analysts, narcotics analysts, administrators, academia and students. This conference provides information and training on a broad range of topics, skills and technology.

Equipment

Battering Rams/Ballistic Shields

The utilization of ballistic shields enables officers to safely protect themselves from the risk of small arms fire during tactical operations; the additional light system also offers the added benefit of allowing officers to identify potential suspects in low-light conditions. Entry rams are valuable tools that help officers to quickly gain access to a structure when time is of the essence, minimizing their exposure to a possible threat and allowing them to quickly clear a residence and secure the occupants. The fore-end light attachments for department shotguns allows for effective threat identification in low-light conditions, and the tactical sling for the same weapons allow for them to be safely carried during tactical operations such as search warrants and vehicle take-downs.

Long Range Acoustic Device

The Special Operations Division and SWAT team has identified a weakness in their ability to communicate and deter individuals and groups during certain situations. The purchase of a "Long Range Acoustic Device" (LRAD) will alleviate these weaknesses by allowing a more flexible approach to a wide variety of incidents. The LRAD device provides focused and variable strength amplification of voice, recorded message, and warning tones.

The device is capable of being heard clearly over ambient noises and at distances exceeding one-half mile. This flexibility provides both Special Operations Division and SWAT team operations to be able to perform several functions not currently available.

Handheld Radar Wall Sensor

Range-R is a lightweight handheld radar system designed to detect people through walls. It informs the user of stationary or moving people inside of a room. This ability to gather pertinent intelligence gives SWAT teams an incredible advantage in planning and implementing safe operations. In hostage or barricade situations, officers can locate hidden people without putting themselves in unnecessary danger.

Repelling Equipment (Ropes, Harnesses, Carbiners)

Rappelling equipment is essential in SWAT operations. This equipment permits SWAT to respond to multistory, confined space and steep terrain incidents. Ropes allow officers to use alternative entry and exit points in multistory buildings. Furthermore, it allows officers to negotiate steep terrain. Another use is confined space areas where questionable air quality is an issue. Not only will this equipment assist in getting officers into a critical incident, but it also allows the evacuation of victims.

CMT Shell Gear

This is the protective gear worn by our frontline officers when on the line in a large crowd situation. This equipment provides a hard exoskeleton for our officers and protects the chest, arms, and legs.

Uniforms

The CMT is outfitted with a BDU uniform which includes a shirt and pants. Each member is issued two uniforms, one to be used for training and the other to be used for active duty.

Police Identifiers

Currently, our team does not have any police identifier on our hard-shell equipment. The police identifiers to be purchased will be large enough to be seen by citizens and will be attached to the outermost piece of protective equipment worn by our officers.

Gas Masks

Currently, the CMT uses the Millennium Gas Mask. This item is a vital piece of equipment offering protection during events when chemical agents such as CS gas or OC need to be deployed. Currently many of our current masks are desperately in need of replacement due to age and wear.

Gas Mask Carrier

This item is needed because it provides a secure place to house the gas mask and can be worn on the officer's side. It also provides a safe, dry environment for the mask extending the life of the equipment.

Gas Mask Filter

A necessary piece of equipment, the gas mask filter is vital for the deployment of the Millennium gas mask. Currently, the stock of filters that we have is at expiration. The expired filters will be used for training but cannot be deployed in the field.

Helmets

Helmets afford the officers protection for their heads. The helmets we will be purchasing have been tested by RPD and utilized in the field. Each helmet comes equipped with a face shield and chin strap.

Riot Shields

Riot shields are a standard issued piece of equipment. The riot shield that will be purchased is one-quarter-inch thick and has proven to be durable. This shield has police markings on the front and is easily identifiable. RPD will use these 20 shields to outfit ten new members and the remainder will replace damaged shields.

Contractual

Desktop Computers

The Warrant and Information Services Unit is currently in need of three replacement computers that are used within the warrant room. These systems are dedicated for entering, clearing and inquiring as to the existence of warrants from both the department's PISTOL system as well as VCIN.

Additionally, these systems are utilized for all criminal record requests for the magistrates' office, receiving faxed warrants from other jurisdictions and receiving teletype responses. All of these functions require a timely response and are conducted 24-hours a day, 365 days of the year. The loss of productivity combined with the need of timely responses for officer safety require the replacement of these three computers.

DEC Projector

The training room is used for a variety of training purposes. RPD, DEC, other city agencies, as well as other partners in the community, utilize our training facility for various meetings and training purposes. A new projector is needed in order to outfit the facility with current day technology and replace an outdated projector system.

Laptops (Crime Analysts)

The Planning Division is currently in need to replace the computer laptops used by the agency's Crime Analysis Supervisor and five crime analysts assigned to the Planning Division.

Crime analysts within the department run a multitude of software on their machines or access server based software and systems from their laptops including but not limited to the department;s Records Management System (PISTOL), i2 Analyst’s Notebook, Automated Tactical Analysis of Crime (ATAC), Blue Spider Social Network Analysis software, CrimeNTel, Business Objects, Datalink Viewer and other systems in order to provide timely and advanced administrative, strategic and tactical analysis of crime and provide critical support to operational personnel.

The laptops currently being used by the crime analysts are unable to provide efficient processing under the load of the above mentioned and other applications and have required frequent re-imaging and maintenance to support the needs of the anit. All personnel assigned to the Crime Analysis Unit are mobile and are required to have their laptops with them at meetings and to move between locations (headquarters to the Precincts) and thus require docking stations for the laptops.

Finally, three of the analysts do not currently have dual-screen monitors set-ups. All of the analysts assigned to the Crime Analysis Unit run multiple applications simultaneously and need the ability to view more than one application at a time.

Other

Supervisors Leadership Training

This course will enable our supervisors to quickly shift their leadership styles depending on the situation at hand. It will allow the supervisor to manage meaning in communications when everyone else is looking to them for direction and teach supervisors the skills to turn obstacles into opportunities. This training provides leaders with a framework for making decisions in their leadership roles both on a daily basis and in critical events.

Windows 7 Technician Training

The Windows 7 Enterprise Desktop support provides our technician with the enhanced skills to troubleshoot, manage, install and configure clients in a Windows-based environment. This class will allow a technician become certified in this area to demonstrate expertise in this environment. Our technicians are responsible for the daily support of a Windows system and computer hardware environment already which requires knowledge on how to troubleshoot and resolve Windows- or hardware-based issues. These classes will enhance their current skill level which is essential in the position as system operation analyst, which are responsible for the maintenance and support of the department computer system, as well show their expertise in this field.

A+ IT Certification Course

The A+ Certification will test the hardware and operating system; how to properly optimize, diagnose, upgrade and repair a Windows based system. Our technicians are responsible for the maintenance and repair of over 650 computer within the department. These classes will enhance their current knowledge base as well provide methods to improve efficiencies in resolving hardware and software issues.