City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: June 11, 2024 FROM: POLICE DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL SUBJECT: DECLARE A K-9 EQUIPPED FORD EXPLORER AS SURPLUS PROPERTY AND APPROVE DONATION TO THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF A K-9 DETECTION PROGRAM ISSUES:
Declare a K-9 equipped Ford Explorer as surplus property and approve the donation of the Ford Explorer to the University of California Riverside Police Department for development of a K-9 detection program.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Declare a K-9 equipped Ford Explorer as surplus property to the needs of the Department; and Approve the donation of the K-9 equipped Ford Explorer to the University of California Riverside Police Department for the development of their K-9 detection program.
BACKGROUND:
The Riverside Police Department’s (RPD) K-9 Unit has four specialty trained detection canines with their own unique set of skills and directives. The K-9 Unit has an Explosive Detection Canine, used to locate a variety of explosive material, a Bloodhound/Tracking Canine, used to track anyone who needs to be found, a Narcotics Detection Canine, used to detect the odor of designated narcotics, and a Support/Wellness Canine, used to reduce anxiety and blood pressure by calming emotions and offering emotional support, affection, and unconditional acceptance of those she comes in contact with.
Vehicles for the K-9 Unit are replaced as needed, particularly when the time and cost of maintaining them becomes greater than the cost of replacement.
Over the past three years, RPD purchased several Ford Explorers and upfitted them with K-9 equipment to replace existing units that were ready to be decommissioned. Several of the units remain in the fleet and are being used as reserve units. RPD began the process of designating one of the K-9 equipped Ford Explorers as a surplus asset, after which the city can either donate, transfer, exchange, sell or dispose of the unit.
DISCUSSION:
In April 2024, the University of California Riverside Police Department reached out to RPD requesting the donation of a K-9 equipped Ford Explorer that was slotted to be decommissioned to help develop their own K-9 detection program.
RPD has one K-9 equipped Ford Explorer that is no longer in service and meets the needs of the University of California Riverside Police Department. Therefore, RPD is requesting City Council approval to declare the following K-9 equipped Ford Explorer as surplus property and donate it to the University of California Riverside Police Department.
Unit #
Model Year
Description
Mileage
3535
2015
Ford Explorer
173,070
The General Services Director concurs with this report.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This item contributes to Strategic Priority No. 2 Community Well-Being and Goal No. 2.4 – Support programs and innovations that enhance community safety, encourage neighborhood engagement, and build public trust.
This item aligns with each of the five Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust – The request to donate a K-9 equipped Ford Explorer to the University of California Riverside Police Department will be discussed with the City Council for transparency and inclusive community engagement. Donating a K-9 equipped Ford Explorer will support public safety programs in the region and result in greater public good.
Equity – RPD has good collaborative partnerships with other law enforcement agencies in the region. Donating a K-9 equipped Ford Explorer will allow RPD to maintain these partnerships which helps to enhance public safety services, optimize resources in emergency situations and provide a citywide benefit.
Fiscal Responsibility – Donating a K-9 equipped Ford Explorer to the University of California Riverside Police Department will not negatively impact the General Fund.
Innovation – The donation of the K-9 equipped Ford Explorer will continue the collaborative partnerships that RPD has with other law enforcement agencies in the region.
Sustainability & Resiliency – The donation of a K-9 equipped Ford Explorer allows RPD to maintain a collaborative partnership with the University of California Riverside Police Department which helps to enhance public safety services optimize resources in the present and future, while adapting, and growing with the needs of the community.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The fiscal impact of the donation represents a reduction in City assets equal to the vehicle’s estimated current market value of $7,000, based on market prices for vehicles of similar conditions and mileage.
Prepared by: Captain Kevin Townsend
Approved by: Larry Gonzalez, Chief of Police
Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Mike Futrell, City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
K-9 equipped Ford Explorer Donation ● Page 2