Public Safety Committee
July 14, 2026
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Elizabeth Lake FROM: James P. Beere
Acting City Administrator Interim Chief of Police
SUBJECT: OPD FY 2025 Edward Byrne
Memorial Justice Assistance Grant
DATE: June 15, 2026
City Administrator Approval Date:
RECOMMENDATION
Staff Recommends That City Council Adopt A Resolution Authorizing The City Administrator To Apply For, Accept, And Appropriate Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Funds Up To Three Hundred Twenty-Four Thousand, Three Hundred Twenty-Four Dollars ($324,324.00) For the Fiscal Year 2025 Grant Award Period of October 1, 2025 Through September 30, 2028, to Support Department-Wide Training, Equipment, Technology, And Operational Enhancements.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
If awarded, the Oakland Police Department (OPD) will utilize funding from the 2025 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) local allocation to support training for departmental personnel, critical technology improvements, and the continued operation of essential aviation and marine services.
Of the total award , $25,000 will be dedicated to departmental training to promote ongoing professional development and enhance organizational effectiveness. An additional $66,891.56 will fund upgrades to OPD’s information technology infrastructure, including software, hardware, and other emerging technology needs.
OPD’s aviation and marine assets, including an aging helicopter and patrol boat , require substantial resources to remain operational. The remaining $200,000 will be used to support fuel costs, equipment purchases, and mobility-related upgrades necessary to maintain these critical public safety resources.
Together, these investments will strengthen OPD’s operational capabilities, support effective service delivery, enhance community trust, and contribute to public safety throughout Oakland.
Betsy Lake (Jul 2, 2026 10:17:44 PDT)
Jul 2, 2026
Elizabeth Lake, Acting City Administrator
Subject: OPD Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Funds
Date: June 15, 2026 Page 2
Public Safety Committee
July 14, 2026
BACKGROUND / LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
The Edward Byrne Memorial JAG program is the primary federal grant program that supports state and local criminal justice initiatives. Administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the program was established in 2005 through the consolidation of the Edward Byrne Memorial Grant Program and the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG) Program. JAG funding may be used to support a broad range of public safety activities, including training, personnel, equipment, technology, information systems, technical assistance, supplies, contractual support, and other initiatives that enhance law enforcement operations and criminal justice services.
JAG funding is divided into state and local allocations. Local allocations are awarded to eligible jurisdictions using a federally established formula based on population and crime data. For Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, Alameda County and its eligible jurisdictions received a combined allocation of $719,449.
The BJA requires certain jurisdictions to apply as a consortium through a Joint Application Group. Alameda County’s Joint Application Group includes the County of Alameda and the cities of Alameda, Berkeley, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Newark, Oakland, San Leandro, and Union City. The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office serves as the lead agency and fiscal administrator for the consortium and is responsible for submitting a single application on behalf of all participating jurisdictions.
As a participating member of the Alameda County JAG consortium, OPD is eligible for a FY 2025 allocation of up to $324,324. Consistent with federal program guidelines, OPD will use these funds to support department-wide training, critical information technology upgrades, and the continued operation of essential aviation and marine resources. Specifically, funding will support professional development and training opportunities, technology infrastructure improvements, and operational costs associated with OPD’s helicopter and patrol boat, including fuel, equipment, and mobility-related upgrades.
The FY 2025 JAG Local award does not require a local funding match and provides OPD with a valuable source of funding to address critical operational needs. These investments will strengthen OPD’s operational capabilities, improve service delivery, support transparency and community trust, and enhance public safety throughout Oakland.
The City Council previously authorized acceptance of similar grant funds beginning in 2005 and continuing as recently as Resolution No. 90731, dated May 2, 2025.
ANALYSIS AND POLICY ALTERNATIVES
Since 2005, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) has served as the lead agency and fiscal administrator for the Alameda County JAG consortium, which includes Alameda County and participating local jurisdictions. Under the consortium agreement, ACSO receives a ten percent (10%) administrative allocation to support grant administration, financial management, auditing, and reporting requirements. Participating agencies receive their designated share of Elizabeth Lake, Acting City Administrator
Subject: OPD Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Funds
Date: June 15, 2026 Page 3
Public Safety Committee
July 14, 2026
the award and retain flexibility to use the funds for eligible public safety purposes consistent with federal grant guidelines.
As a participating member of the consortium, OPD will receive a FY 2025 allocation of $324,324. OPD intends to use these funds to support department-wide training, critical information technology upgrades, and continued operation of essential aviation and marine resources. Specifically, $25,000 will be allocated toward training and professional development opportunities to strengthen organizational effectiveness and support employee development. An additional $66,891.56 will be used to upgrade OPD's information technology infrastructure, including software, hardware, and other emerging technologies to enhance operational efficiency and service delivery.
The remaining $200,000 will support the continued operation of OPD’s aviation and marine units. OPD’s helicopter and patrol boats are critical public safety assets that require ongoing investment to remain operational. Funding will be used for fuel, equipment, and mobility-related upgrades necessary to maintain these resources and to support emergency response, search- and-rescue operations, crime suppression efforts, and other public safety missions.
The recommended use of JAG funding represents the most effective approach for addressing OPD’s identified operational needs while leveraging available federal resources. These investments will strengthen OPD’s operational readiness, improve technology capabilities, support workforce development, and ensure the continued availability of specialized public safety assets. Collectively, these enhancements will improve OPD’s ability to deliver high-quality policing services, foster community trust, and contribute to a safer Oakland.
RELATED PLANNING EFFORTS
This agenda item is a routine item and does not relate to any Oakland strategic planning efforts.
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of the proposed resolution will authorize the City Administrator to apply for, accept and appropriate up to $324,324 in FY 2025 Edward Byrne Memorial JAG Local Program funds from the U.S. Department of Justice, BJA, for the grant period of October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2028.
The grant award requires City Council appropriation of $324,324 in federal grant revenue into the appropriate OPD grant project accounts. The funding will be accepted and appropriated from the Federal Grant Fund.
The FY 2025 JAG Local award will be used to support department-wide training, information technology upgrades, and the continued operation of OPD’s aviation and marine resources.
Specifically, funding will be allocated as follows:
Elizabeth Lake, Acting City Administrator
Subject: OPD Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Funds
Date: June 15, 2026 Page 4
Public Safety Committee
July 14, 2026
Table 1: FY 2025 JAG Breakdown of Funding
Purpose Amount
Training & Professional Development $25,000.00
Information Technology Infrastructure Upgrades $66,891.56 Aviation & Marine Operations $200,000
Administrative & Eligible Operational Costs $32,432.44
Total Grant Award $324,324.00
Table 2 indicates the funding source for this grant.
Table 2: FY 2025 JAG Funding Source
Fund
Source
Organization Account Project Program Amount
(2112)
Federal
Grant Fund
(106510)
OPD Fiscal
Services
Division
To be
Determined
To be
Determined
To be
Determined
$ 324,324.00
The FY 2025 JAG Local award does not require matching funds and will not have a direct impact on the City’s General-Purpose Fund. All expenditures are contingent upon receipt of grant funding and must comply with federal grant requirements.
The grant award represents one-time federal funding and does not require a revenue source.
While the grant period extends through September 30, 2028, expenditures will be incurred over the life of the grant based on operational needs and project implementation schedules. Any future costs associated with maintaining equipment, technology, or operational capabilities supported through this grant will be addressed through future budget development processes and are subject to City Council approval.
Acceptance and appropriation of these funds will enable OPD to make strategic investments in workforce development, technology modernization, and critical aviation and marine resources without requiring additional local funding.
PUBLIC OUTREACH / INTEREST
No public outreach was conducted in the preparation of this report beyond the standard City Council noticing procedures.
COORDINATION
This report was reviewed by the Office of the City Attorney and the Budget Bureau.
Elizabeth Lake, Acting City Administrator
Subject: OPD Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Funds
Date: June 15, 2026 Page 5
Public Safety Committee
July 14, 2026
RACE AND EQUITY
The grant provides a critical source of funding, enabling OPD to invest in training, technology, and operational resources that enhance service delivery, improve organizational effectiveness, and support public safety for all residents of Oakland. Some of this funding goes to helicopter maintenance and operations. In 2025 Argus mitigated 147 vehicle pursuits.
These proactive measures protected residents from potential harm in the most areas most impacted by violent crimes.
ACTION REQUESTED OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Adopt A Resolution Authorizing The City Administrator To Apply For, Accept And Appropriate Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Funds Up To Three Hundred Twenty- Four Thousand, Three Hundred Twenty-Four Dollars ($324,324.00) For the Fiscal Year 2025 Grant Award Period of October 1, 2025 Through September 30, 2028, to Support Department- Wide Training, Equipment, Technology, And Operational Enhancements.
For questions regarding this report, please contact Fiscal Manager LaRajia Marshall at (510) 238-4767.
Reviewed by:
Kiona Suttle, Deputy Director
OPD, Bureau of Services
Dr. Tracey Jones, Police Services Manager
OPD, Research and Planning Unit
Prepared by:
LaRajia Marshall, Fiscal Manager
OPD, Fiscal Services Division
Elizabeth Lake, Acting City Administrator
Subject: OPD Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Funds
Date: June 15, 2026 Page 6
Public Safety Committee
July 14, 2026
Attachments (2):
A: JAG budget narrative
B: JAG Sheriff letter