Item No.
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
BY: SCOTT R. LOUGHNER, CHIEF OF POLICE
DATE: OCTOBER 22, 2024
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION TO SUBMIT APPLICATION FOR EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT FY 2024 LOCAL SOLICITATION
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City Council will consider authorizing the Downey Police Department to apply for the 2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant. This grant is awarded on an annual basis by the Federal Government to fund programs aimed at decreasing violent crimes. Funding from the grant would be allocated for the Police Department’s neighborhood preservation assignment, for community education programs, and for crime prevention/suppression details.
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council:
Authorize the Downey Police Department to submit a grant application for the 2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant.
BACKGROUND
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program was established as a partnership among federal, state, and local governments to create safer communities. The grant is named in honor of 22-year-old New York City Police Officer, Edward Byrne, who was ambushed and killed in 1988 during a detail protecting a witness who had agreed to testify against a local drug kingpin. The JAG was created in 2004 by the United States Congress to streamline justice related funding and administration to law enforcement agencies.
The JAG is awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) for use by state and local government entities to improve the criminal justice system, with emphasis on addressing violent crimes and serious offenders. If awarded, the Police Department would use grant monies to enforce state and local statutes, similar to those in the federally passed
EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT FY 2024 LOCAL SOLICITATION OCTOBER 22, 2024
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2 Controlled Substance Act (CSA). Last year, the Department was awarded $28,082.
Annual funding is based on JAG’s funding award formula each year.
ANALYSIS
Historically, when the Downey Police Department has been awarded a JAG, funding has been allocated for the Neighborhood Preservation assignment, community education programs, and crime prevention/suppression details. If awarded, the Department intends to continue to use funding for enforcement activities that target specific crime categories (i.e., street robberies, auto theft, and burglary).
In order to be considered for award issuance, the Downey Police Department needs to submit a grant application, Certification and Assurance Agreement (Attachment A), that has been authorized by the City Council to the Bureau of Justice Assistance before the grant deadline.
There is no matching fund requirement for any grant monies awarded.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Fiscal Responsibility
Quality of Life, Safety & Infrastructure
Public Engagement
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact.
ATTACHMENT
Attachment A: Certification and Assurances Agreement
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS
Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2024 Local Solicitation Certifications and Assurances by the Chief Executive of the Applicant Government On behalf of the applicant unit of local government named below, in support of that locality’s application for an award under the FY 2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (“JAG”) Program, and further to 34 U.S.C. § 10153(a), I certify to the Office of Justice Programs (“OJP”), U.S. Department of Justice (“USDOJ”), that all of the following are true and correct:
1. I am the chief executive of the applicant unit of local government named below, and I have the authority to make the following representations on my own behalf as chief executive and on behalf of the applicant unit of local government. I understand that these representations will be relied upon as material in any OJP decision to make an award, under the application described above, to the applicant unit of local government.
2. I certify that no federal funds made available by the award (if any) that OJP makes based on the application described above will be used to supplant local funds but will be used to increase the amounts of such funds that would, in the absence of federal funds, be made available for law enforcement activities.
3. I assure that the application described above (and any amendment to that application) was submitted for review to the governing body of the unit of local government (e.g., city council or county commission), or to an organization designated by that governing body, not less than 30 days before the date of this certification.
4. I assure that, before the date of this certification— (a) the application described above (and any amendment to that application) was made public; and (b) an opportunity to comment on that application (or amendment) was provided to citizens and to neighborhood or community-based organizations, to the extent applicable law or established procedure made such an opportunity available.
5. I assure that, for each fiscal year of the award (if any) that OJP makes based on the application described above, the applicant unit of local government will maintain and report such data, records, and information (programmatic and financial), as OJP may reasonably require.
6. I have carefully reviewed 34 U.S.C. § 10153(a)(5), and, with respect to the programs to be funded by the award (if any), I hereby make the certification required by section 10153(a)(5), as to each of the items specified therein.
7. If the applicant named below is not the unit of local government itself, I certify that it is an instrumentality of the unit of local government and is approved to serve as the applicant and recipient of FY 2024 JAG funding on behalf of the unit of local government.
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Signature of Chief Executive of the Applicant Unit of Date of Certification Local Government
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Printed Name of Chief Executive Title of Chief Executive _
Name of Applicant Unit of Local Government
Rev. April 19, 2024