City Council
February 6, 2024
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Jestin D. Johnson
City Administrator
FROM: Darren Allison
Interim Chief of Police
SUBJECT: OPD DEA Task Force MOU DATE: January 18, 2024
City Administrator Approval Date
RECOMMENDATION
Staff Recommends That The City Council Adopt A Resolution Authorizing The City Administrator Or Designee To Enter Into A Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) Through September 30, 2026 With The United States Department Of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) And The Oakland Police Department (OPD) DEA Task Force Group (Task Force) To Collaborate On Information Sharing And Focused Operations To Disrupt Illegal Drug Activity Occurring In The City Of Oakland.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This resolution, if approved by the City Council, will authorize OPD participation in the OPD DEA Task Force until September 30, 2026. The Task Force focuses on investigations related to the trafficking of illegal drugs in Oakland. The MOU (Attachment A) stipulates that OPD will assign one OPD sworn officer to collaborate with the DEA Task Force. The DEA will also provide funding for office space, supplies, travel funds, equipment, and training, subject to funding availability.
BACKGROUND AND LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
There is an established nexus between the use, manufacture, and sale of illegal narcotics and violent crime in Oakland. The mission of the DEA is to enforce the controlled substances laws and regulations of the United States and bring to the criminal and civil justice system of the United States, or any other competent jurisdiction, those organizations and principal members of organizations, involved in the growing, manufacture, or distribution of controlled substances appearing in or destined for illicit traffic in the United States; and to recommend and support non-enforcement programs aimed at reducing the availability of illicit controlled substances on the domestic and international markets.
The DEA State and Local Task Force combines federal leverage and the specialists available to the DEA with state and local officers’ investigative talents and detailed knowledge of their jurisdiction to lead drug law enforcement investigations. The DEA shares resources with state and local officers, thereby increasing the investigative possibilities available to all.
Jestin Johnson (Jan 25, 2024 16:03 PST)
Jan 25, 2024
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: OPD DEA Task Force MOU
Date: January 18, 2024 Page 2
City Council
February 6, 2024
DEA Task Forces also allow state and local police agencies to receive a share of forfeited drug proceeds; participation in DEA Task Forces also allows the DEA to pay for the overtime and investigative expenses of participating police agencies.
The proposed MOU was presented to Privacy Advisory Commission (PAC) on January 4, 2024, and unanimously approved.
ANALYSIS AND POLICY ALTERNATIVES
This report advances the citywide priority of responsive, trustworthy government as OPD is keeping its MOU up to date to continue its participation with federal law enforcement agencies and their task forces.
The current DEA MOU expired on December 31, 2023. Adopting this proposed resolution will allow OPD to renew the MOU through September 2026.
The MOU stipulates that OPD will assign one OPD sworn officer to collaborate with the DEA Task Force.
PUBLIC OUTREACH / INTEREST
No outreach was deemed necessary for this report beyond the standard City Council agenda noticing procedures.
COORDINATION
The MOU was presented to PAC on January 4, 2024, and unanimously approved. OPD consulted with the Office of the City Attorney in developing this report and accompanying resolution.
FISCAL IMPACT
There are no personnel or other costs to OPD associated with collaboration with this taskforce; OPD will designate one officer already employed through OPD’s operating budget. Any distributions of forfeited assets from DEA to OPD shall be deposited into Fund to be determined, Org 102310, Account 46319, Project to be determined, and Program PS03.
SUSTAINABLE OPPORTUNITIES
Economic: There are no economic opportunities associated with this report.
Environmental: There are no environmental opportunities associated with this report.
Race and Equity: OPD’s collaboration with the DEA helps OPD to target not only illegal drug and narcotics trafficking but violent crime connected to illegal drug trafficking and associated Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: OPD DEA Task Force MOU
Date: January 18, 2024 Page 3
City Council
February 6, 2024
networks through investigation via intel-led policing. All residents and visitors benefit from these efforts to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in this illegal and dangerous activity.
ACTION REQUESTED OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
Staff Recommends That The City Council Adopt A Resolution Authorizing The City Administrator Or Designee To Enter Into A Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) Through September 30, 2026 With The United States Department Of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) And The Oakland Police Department (OPD) DEA Task Force Group (Task Force) To Collaborate On Information Sharing And Focused Operations To Disrupt Illegal Drug Activity Occurring In The City Of Oakland.
For questions regarding this report, please contact Lt. Stave Valle at [email protected].
Reviewed by:
Hamann Nguyen, Acting Deputy Chief
OPD, Bureau of Investigations
Eriberto Perez-Angeles, Captain of Police
OPD, VCOC
Steve Valle, Lieutenant
OPD, VCOC
Prepared by:
Tracey Jones, Police Services Manager
OPD, BOS, Research and Planning
Attachments (1)
A: OPD DEA Taskforce MOU