Public Safety Committee
December 9, 2025
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Jestin D. Johnson FROM: Floyd Mitchell
City Administrator Chief of Police
SUBJECT: OPD Citizens Options for Public
Safety (COPS) Grant
DATE: November 4, 2025
City Administrator Approval Date:
RECOMMENDATION
Staff Recommends That The City Council A dopt A Resolution Authoriz ing The City Administrator To A ccept and Appropriate The F iscal Years 2024 And 2025 State Of California “Citizens Options For Public Safety” For:
1) (State COPS Grant XXVI) Allocation In The Amount Of Eight Hundred Fifty-One Thousand Seventy-Two D ollars ($851,072) To Fund Helicopter Maintenance, Computer/Technology Upgrades, Marketing Supplies, Workforce Supplies, Asset Management, and Technology/Refurbished Workstations; and
2) (State COPS Grant XXVII) Allocation In The Amount Of Five Hundred Twenty-Nine Thousand Nine Hundred Thirty-Seven Dollars ($529,937 ) To Fund Helicopter Maintenance, Crime Lab Equipment Upgrades, Training, and Computer/Technology Upgrades.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Oakland Police Department (OPD) has been awarded $851,072 by the State of California Legislature for the FY 2024 Citizens’ Option for Public Safety (State COPS Grant XXVI). State COPS Grant funds are distributed to each county for distribution to cities to support front-line law enforcement, based on a population size distribution formula. OPD is seeking approval to use its front-line law enforcement grant allocation for helicopter maintenance, computer and technology upgrades, marketing supplies, workforce supplies, asset management, and, Department-wide technology/refurbished workstations.
Additionally, OPD has been awarded $529,937 by the State of California Legislature for the FY 2025 Citizens’ Option for Public Safety (State COPS Grant XXVII). State COPS Grant funds are distributed to each county for distribution to cities to support front-line law enforcement, based on a population size distribution formula. OPD is seeking approval to use its front -line law enforcement grant allocation to helicopter maintenance, crime lab equipment upgrades, training, and computer/technology upgrades.
Jestin Johnson (Nov 19, 2025 09:55:05 PST)
11/19/2025
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: OPD Citizens Options for Public Safety (COPS) Grant Date: November 4, 2025 Page 2
Public Safety Committee
December 9, 2025
BACKGROUND / LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
For the 26th and 27th consecutive year, the State Legislature has authorized supplemental funding of front-line law enforcement through the State COPS and Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act (JJCPA) Grant program. In 2023, 50 percent of the grant funds were allocated to counties to spend on juvenile justice work, 39.7 percent of grant funds were allocated separately for front-line law enforcement, and 10.3 percent of funds were allocated to county sheriffs and district attorneys.
As in past years, the entire 2024 and 2025 grant amount is restricted by statute for front-line law enforcement expenses. Examples of "front-line law enforcement” include personnel and equipment (i.e., officer training, vehicles, and officer equipment), which are utilized in everyday contact with the public. OPD has used past State COPS grant funds for a variety of allowed uses, such as:
• Vehicle purchases and upgrades
• Anti-human trafficking operations (personnel)
• Ceasefire operations (personnel)
• Equipment and maintenance
• Software and technology upgrades
• Other personnel and training needs
The grant program is a supplemental funding source for local governments. There is no guarantee that this will be a continued funding source in future fiscal years. Per the COPS legislation, Assembly Bill (AB) 1913, funds are received by the Alameda County Treasury and distributed to local jurisdictions through the Law Enforcement Services Account within the Local Revenue Fund 2011.
In the past six years, the City Council has approved several resolutions to accept and appropriate State COPS Grants: Grant XXV via Resolution No. 89741 C.M.S., Grant XXIV via
Resolution No. 88959 C.M.S., Grant XXIII via Resolution No. 88402 C.M.S., Grant XXII via Resolution No. 87938 C.M.S., Grant XXI via Resolution No. 87819 C.M.S., Grant XX via Resolution No. 87138 C.M.S., Grant XIX via Resolution No. 86530 C.M.S., and Grant XIX via Resolution No. 89741 C.M.S.
ANALYSIS AND POLICY ALTERNATIVES
The Citywide priorities advanced by this recommended policy action are 1) holistic community safety and 2) responsive, trustworthy government. The services provided through this initiative will assist the community through improved policing services, which benefit all Oakland residents and visitors. The most under-resourced areas are also disproportionately impacted by crime. Medical supplies, repair and maintenance for the helicopters, and improved records equipment are crucial for consistent and reliable police response to calls for services and to render aid once at crime scenes.
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: OPD Citizens Options for Public Safety (COPS) Grant Date: November 4, 2025 Page 3
Public Safety Committee
December 9, 2025
The Oakland Police Department is seeking City Council approval to accept and appropriate State COPS XXVI and State COPS XXVII funds per the spending plan below.
OPD requires state-of-the-art equipment, modern technological innovations, and investments in training to implement best practices, ensure transparency, and maintain public trust. For the State COPS XXVI, OPD plans to invest in (1) maintenance and fuel for OPD helicopters ($325,000), (2) technology innovations, including new computers, updated software, and other hardware related to IT needs, as well as other technology needs that arise ($127,331), (3) marketing and recruiting materials to support the Recruiting and Background Unit increase qualified candidates for the upcoming academies ($50,000), (4) workforce support supplies:
certificates and plaques, and office supplies to support internal administrative needs ($50,000), (5) Asset Management system to track military and specialized equipment in compliance with state and federal reporting requirements ($100,000) (5) technology and refurbished workstations and computers department-wide ($198,741).
State COPS XXVII, OPD plans to invest in (1) maintenance and fuel for OPD helicopters ($225,000), (2)crime lab equipment upgrades to improve evidence analysis ($200,000), (3) Department-wide training to support training initiatives ($50,000), (4) technology innovations, including new computers, updated software, and other hardware related to IT needs, as well as other technology needs that arise ($54,937).
Collectively, these purchases will make OPD better positioned to deliver high-quality policing services, improve police-community relationships, and help keep Oakland safe.
FISCAL IMPACT
OPD seeks to use its $851,072 State COPS XXVI allocation (Table 1) to fund allocation to helicopter maintenance, computer and technology upgrades, marketing supplies, workforce supplies, and asset management. Additionally, OPD seeks to use its $529,937 State COPS XXVII to fund allocations (Table 2) to helicopter maintenance, crime lab equipment upgrades, training, Department-wide technology, and refurbished workstations. There is no match requirement for this grant. The appropriation is solely an addition to City funds and cannot be used to supplant City funding from any other fund.
Table 1. State COPS XXVI Allocation:
Item Amount
Helicopter Repairs/Maintenance $325,000
Computer/Technology Upgrades $127,331
Marketing Supplies $50,000
Workforce Appreciation Supplies $50,000
Asset Management $100,000
Technology/Refurbished Workstations $198,741
Total $851,072
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: OPD Citizens Options for Public Safety (COPS) Grant Date: November 4, 2025 Page 4
Public Safety Committee
December 9, 2025
Table 2. State COPS XXVII Allocation:
Item Amount
Helicopter Repairs/Maintenance $225,000
Crime Lab Equipment Upgrades $200,000
Training $50,000
Computer/Technology Upgrades $54,937
Total $529,937
Funding will be allocated (Tables 3 and 4) in the State of California Grant Fund (2158); Org TBD, Project TBD, and Program TBD.
Table 3. State COPS XXVI Funding To Be Allocated in:
Fund Organization Project Program Amount
2158 TBD TBD TBD $851,072
Table 4. State COPS XXVII Funding To Be Allocated in:
Fund Organization Project Program Amount
2158 TBD TBD TBD $529,937
PUBLIC OUTREACH / INTEREST
There was no public outreach for the preparation of this report beyond the standard noticing procedures. There is public interest as funds will be used to enhance public and officer safety.
COORDINATION
This report and resolution were reviewed by the Office of the City Attorney and the Budget Bureau.
SUSTAINABLE OPPORTUNITIES
Economic: Whenever possible, equipment used for this project will be purchased locally.
Environmental: There are no environmental issues associated with this report.
Race and Equity: The services provided through this initiative will assist the community through improved policing services, which benefit all Oakland residents and visitors. The areas which are most under-resourced are also disproportionately impacted by crime. Medical supplies, Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: OPD Citizens Options for Public Safety (COPS) Grant Date: November 4, 2025 Page 5
Public Safety Committee
December 9, 2025
repair and maintenance for the helicopters, and improved records equipment are crucial for consistent and reliable police response to calls for services, to render aid once at crime scenes, and to provide effective and reliable services to the Oakland community.
ACTION REQUESTED OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Staff Recommends That The City Council Adopt A Resolution Authorizing The City Administrator To Accept and Appropriate The Fiscal Years 2024 And 2025 State Of California “Citizens Options For Public Safety” For:
1) (State COPS Grant XXVI) Allocation In The Amount Of Eight Hundred Fifty -One Thousand Seventy-Two Dollars ($ 851,072) To Fund Helicopter Maintenance, Computer/Technology Upgrades, Marketing Supplies, Workforce Supplies, Asset Management, and Technology/Refurbished Workstations; and
2) (State COPS Grant XXVII) Allocation In The Amount Of Five Hundred Twenty-Nine Thousand Nine Hundred Thirty-Seven Dollars ($529,937) To Fund Helicopter Maintenance, Crime Lab Equipment Upgrades, Training, and Computer/Technology Upgrades.
For questions regarding this report, please contact LaRajia Marshall, OPD, Fiscal Services Manager at (510) 238-4767.
Reviewed by:
Dr. Tracey Jones, Police Services Manager
OPD, Research and Planning Section
Prepared by:
LaRajia Marshall, Fiscal Manager
OPD, Fiscal Services Division