Public Safety CommitteeFebruary 27, 2023
AGENDA REPORTTO:G. Harold Duffey FROM:Darren AllisonInterim City Administrator Acting Chief of PoliceSUBJECT:CGIC Grant AcceptanceDATE:February 14, 2023City Administrator Approval Date:RECOMMENDATIONStaff Recommends That The City Council Adopt A Resolution Authorizing the City Administrator To Accept And Appropriate Grant Funds In An Amount Not To Exceed Six Hundred Ninety Five Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety-Seven Dollars ($695,997) From The Office Of Justice Programs (OJP), Under The Funding Opportunity From The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Entitled “2022 BJA FY22 Local Law Enforcement Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) Integration Initiative”, During The Grant Period Of Federal Fiscal Years 2022 To 2025, To Support The Oakland Police Department (OPD) Crime Laboratory Operations And CGIC. EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThe Oakland Police Department (OPD) Crime Laboratory was awarded a three-year grantofsix hundred ninety-five thousand nine hundred ninety-seven dollars ($695,997) from the office of justice programs (OJP), under the funding opportunity entitled “2022 BJA FY22 Local Law Enforcement Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) Integration Initiative”. The grantperiod is 2022 to 2025. Funding will be invested in improving infrastructure in which laboratory firearms work occurs as well as travel expenses for OPD CriminalisticsLaboratory (Crime Lab) staff to attend a required symposium. Additionally, grant funds willbe used to purchase Firearms Unit supplies and equipment (e.g., test-fire ammunition and comparison microscope). Remaining funds are proposed for onboarding mission critical staff to assist with administrative and data analysis tasks. BACKGROUND / LEGISLATIVE HISTORYThe FY22 Local Law Enforcement CGIC Integration Initiative is a limited competition grantprogram that will provide funding to address illegal firearm-related crime and forensics. Thisinitiative furthers BJA’s mission by assisting state, local and tribal law enforcement in responding to violent crime, and working with the ATF to utilize intelligence, technology, and community engagement to swiftly identify crime guns, their sources, and effectively prosecute
G. Harold Duffey, Interim City AdministratorSubject: CGIC Grant Acceptance Date: February 14, 2023 Page 2 Public Safety Committee February 27, 2023
perpetrators. In accepting the grant funds, the laboratory will make full faith attempts to improve operations in closer alignment with the timeframes and other provisions listed in the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) Minimum Required Operating Standards (MROS). These include: Comprehensive collection of all cartridge cases Routine IBIS entry done without fee for service Minimize Latent Print and DNA demands on routine submittals for NIBIN only Lead notification within 24-48 hours from evidence submission Release of investigative NIBIN leads which are unconfirmed Establish priority for o Current casing evidence o Current test fires from guns o Backlogged cartridge casings o Backlogged guns In addition, the grant funds are to improve OPD’s CGIC by: Establishing a feedback loop o Provide feedback to NIBIN site o Communicate successes to NIBIN site Creating a collaborative working group Partnering with lab and academic organizations Determining the best components of intelligence to disseminate (NIBIN, eTrace, etc.) Collecting performance data A key component of a CGIC is collaborative meetings with local, state, and federal partners to review intelligence and information on recent shootings and NIBIN leads. OPD has a longstanding Ceasefire strategy that largely complies with the following: these routine meetings should be dedicated to GunStat, which measures core strategies and benchmarks that lead to an overall reduction in violent gun-related crime. The GunStat meeting should include other law enforcement partners such as parole, probation, and the juvenile supervision agency. Its focus should be to prioritize warrant service, improve compliance of the identified gun offenders under supervision, and the enforcement of all relevant gun laws. The law enforcement partners should also follow up with the identified gun offenders and discuss any new offenders identified through the most recent NIBIN leads. Grant awardees will receive training and technical assistance provided by BJA at no cost to the grantee on the GunStat process and should indicate a willingness to implement it. ANALYSIS AND POLICY ALTERNATIVES OPD Crime Lab Training The OPD Criminalistics Laboratory (Crime Lab) could benefit from this funding to provide additional training to the Crime Lab staff. The Crime Lab will be required to earmark some of G. Harold Duffey, Interim City AdministratorSubject: CGIC Grant Acceptance Date: February 14, 2023 Page 3 Public Safety CommitteeFebruary 27, 2023
the grant funds to comply with the symposium attendance requirement of the grant.Additionally, this grant provides the opportunity to improve the impact of the Firearms Unit and staff. It would allow the Firearms examiners to acquire critical equipment required to conduct casing comparisons that cannot be funded with the current budget.Figure 1: OPD spending per analyst in blue over the decades (right axis). The laboratory’s annual budget in red (left axis). The Crime Lab’s Annual Budget has returned to FY2000-2001 level when the lab had half the staff it does today.$0$5,000$10,000$15,000$20,000$0$50,000$100,000$150,000$200,000$250,000$300,000Historical O&M BudgetBudgetO&M/analyst G. Harold Duffey, Interim City AdministratorSubject: CGIC Grant Acceptance Date: February 14, 2023 Page 4 Public Safety CommitteeFebruary 27, 2023
OPD spending per analyst is at far left in Figure 2below. Four similar crime laboratory’s spending per analyst at the right.Figure 2: Agency Comparison O&M/AnalystOPD Crime Lab Overview and ChallengesThe Crime Lab is a full-service forensic testing laboratory that analyzes evidence collected from crime scenes to determine how an event occurred and, in some instances, identify who was involved. The four operational units of the Crime Lab are: FirearmsForensic Biology (DNA)Latent PrintsDrug AnalysisTo address efforts to curb violent gun crime, the Crime Lab Firearms Unit analyzes cartridge cases left at shooting scenes to determine interconnectivity among firearms, assesses firearms for functionality and determine whether a particular firearm was the device that left evidentiary cartridge cases at scene. Other investigations involving relative positioning of shooters to victims or targets (trajectory analysis) and distance determinations can also be performed by the section but are beyond the scope of this report.OPD’s Crime Lab uses ATF’s Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS) to compare ballistic evidence with effective results. The Crime Lab’s firearms staff enter scanned images of bullets and cartridges into the ATF NIBIN automated ballistic imaging system. This system uses computer algorithms to analyze images of cartridge case impressions and aids in providing investigative leads for possible matches at a greatly accelerated rate. However, OPD’s laboratory firearms staff must still visually confirm matches with use of the IBIS imaging equipment or microscopes. $8,438.13 $25,221.24 $22,028.46 $34,103.82 $25,748.05 $0.00$5,000.00$10,000.00$15,000.00$20,000.00$25,000.00$30,000.00$35,000.00$40,000.00Agency Comparisons O&M / Analyst G. Harold Duffey, Interim City AdministratorSubject: CGIC Grant Acceptance Date: February 14, 2023 Page 5 Public Safety Committee February 27, 2023
OPD’s Crime Lab includes several units staffed mainly by criminalists, highly skilled and specialized civilian professionals that complete the day-to-day work of the Lab. The Lab has 23 funded criminalist positions of which 19 are filled. Efforts are underway to fill these positions by the Crime Lab manager. These positions will be filled to support the ongoing, daily needs of the Crime Lab; however, the grant will provide the additional resources that can support the collaborative efforts between the Crime Lab and CGIC. This grant, which funds a Forensic Technician or Administrative Assistant and a Data Analyst, is needed in order to be successful at improving information disseminated to the CGIC. After a Site Visit report is issued by an assessment team as to the current CGIC program structure, with gaps identified and recommendations, it is required that OPD devise a strategic plan to improve CGIC processes. Metrics will be designed to follow throughput of the laboratory, CGIC investigational follow up, feedback to stakeholders and prosecutions to determine whether that the program is progressing in a positive direction. Sustainability It is imperative that sustainability of the grant-funded positions be provided to keep the momentum of implementing this grant moving in a positive direction. These mission critical positions need to be supported in the future organizational structure of the Crime Laboratory and CGIC. Support has been given by OPD Command and similar support from City Council is requested, contingent on proof that the program has been successful. Adoption of this resolution advances the Citywide Priority of responsive, trustworthy government by allowing OPD to provide a higher level of services for residents and robust training for staff. FISCAL IMPACT BJA will grant $695,997 in funds to be spent on the following:Use of Funds Year(s) Amount PersonnelForensic Technician or Administrative Assistant 2023-24 $164,216Data Analyst 2025 $92,000Fringe Benefits 2023-25 $204,334TrainingConference Symposium and Related Travel 2025 $6,774EquipmentComparison Microscope 2023 $75,000SuppliesTest fire ammunition, ongoing costs to run the unit 2023-25 $153,673GRAND TOTAL $695,997 G. Harold Duffey, Interim City AdministratorSubject: CGIC Grant Acceptance Date: February 14, 2023 Page 6 Public Safety Committee February 27, 2023
Funds will be allocated in a Fund to be determined, Crime Lab (102610), in the Project tobe determined. Use of funds will support CGIC. PUBLIC OUTREACH / INTEREST No public outreach was required in the development of this report and resolution beyondstandard City Council meeting noticing requirements. COORDINATION This report and legislation have been reviewed by the Office of the City Attorney andthe Budget Bureau. SUSTAINABLE OPPORTUNITIES Economic: There are no economic opportunities identified in this report. Environmental: There are no environmental opportunities identified in this report. Race and Equity: The activities completed under this grant will better position OPD’s Crime Lab to maintain high quality services and training for staff; better Crime Lab services will benefit Oakland residents and visitors through robust investigations that support crime victims and public safety.
G. Harold Duffey, Interim City AdministratorSubject: CGIC Grant Acceptance Date: February 14, 2023 Page 7 Public Safety CommitteeFebruary 27, 2023
ACTION REQUESTED OF THE CITY COUNCILStaff Recommends That The City Council Adopt A Resolution Authorizing the City Administrator To Accept And Appropriate Grant Funds In An Amount Not To Exceed Six Hundred Ninety Five Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety-Seven Dollars ($695,997) From The Office Of Justice Programs (OJP), Under The Funding Opportunity From The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Entitled “2022 BJA FY22 Local Law Enforcement Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) Integration Initiative”, During The Grant Period Of Federal Fiscal Years 2022 To 2025, To Support The Oakland Police Department (OPD) Crime Laboratory Operations And CGICFor questions concerning this report, please contact Sandra Sachs, OPD CriminalisticsLaboratory Manager, at 510-238-2108. Reviewed by:Drennon Lindsey, Deputy ChiefOPD, Bureau of InvestigationsTracey Jones, Police Services ManagerOPD, Research and Planning Unit Prepared by:Sandra Sachs, LaboratoryManagerOPD, CriminalisticsLaboratory