CITY OF MENIFEE
SUBJECT: Memorandum of Understanding with United States Postal Inspection Service for Criminal Offense Investigation
Coordination Efforts
MEETING DATE: June 19, 2024
TO: Mayor and City Council
PREPARED BY: Christine Booker, Budgets & Grants Analyst REVIEWED BY: Chris Karrer, Police Chief
APPROVED BY: Armando G. Villa, City Manager
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Approve and authorize the City Manager, or designee, to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) for Inland Empire Financial Crimes.
DISCUSSION
The proposed MOU between the City of Menifee Police Department and USPIS strives to develop a cooperative effort with Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies who are charged with investigating and prosecuting criminal offenses involving financial fraud, identity theft, counterfeit securities, and associated mail theft and violent crimes. This joint task force would work together to coordinate investigations and cases for criminal prosecution.
The primary objectives of this MOU include maximizing communication within the participating agency task force members, including the sharing of intelligence, and providing a coordinated response effort to criminal investigations. Additionally, this joint task force seeks to link and associate financial crimes and related complaints with larger schemes and related criminal activity, as well as educating the victims and the public on aspects of identity theft and counterfeit securities to deter future crimes.
This agreement would include up to two Postal Investigators provided by the USPIS and up to one Police Detective provided by the Menifee Police Department. The task force position being allotted in this MOU is an existing Detective position within the Police Department organizational structure and no additional bodies are being requested. Additionally, there are no new vehicle or equipment appropriations that Menifee would be required to acquire. This task force participation would be on a part time basis for the Detective assigned and would not create a hardship on the
City of Menifee Staff Report
USPIS MOU
June 19, 2024
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caseload for the detective bureau since the cases being handled would have been investigated without the benefit of this collaboration and are now only providing additional resources and assistance to complete. Any work specific to the task force above and beyond the regular duties of the Detective would be completed in an overtime capacity and reimbursed by USPIS.
Participation in the task force would allow for Menifee Police Department to request reimbursement for overtime expenses incurred by the assignment Detective. As identified in Addendum A to the attached MOU, for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023/2024 the allowable reimbursement amount is $19,372. Reimbursement totals can fluctuate from year to year, but if future funding was ever reduced, adjustment would be made to ensure there is no negative impact on the General Fund. If the funding were to be eliminated, the overtime expenses would be absorbed into the existing Menifee Police Department overtime budget.
STRATEGIC PLAN OBJECTIVE
Safe and Vibrant Community
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommended action. The funding for this position is already included in the FY 2023/2024 adopted budget and there is no additional appropriation needed. Additionally, the City could be reimbursed up to $19,372.00 from the USPIS for overtime work performed that is directly related to work on the task force.
ATTACHMENTS
1. USPIS MOU