04-19-2011 - Asset Forfeiture Funds for Police Patrol Vehicles - Item 5 (2).docCity of West Covina
Memorandum
AGENDA
TO: Andrew G. Pasmant, City Manager ITEM NO. 5
and City Council DATE April 19, 2011
FROM: Frank J. Wills, Chief of Police
SUBJECT: ASSET FORFEITURE FUNDS FOR POLICE PATROL VEHICLES
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
Find that Los Angeles County RFB#IS-11200079 for Ford Police Interceptors satisfies West Covina’s bid process and authorize the purchase of a total of eight (8) vehicles per specifications,
directly from Wondries Fleet Group of Alhambra for $194,458 including taxes and fees.
Appropriate $167,344.40 in federal asset forfeiture funds from the fund balance of Fund 117 into 117.31.3120.7170 for the purchase and equipping of six (6) patrol vehicles, including
conversion costs, warranties, etc. The remaining two (2) vehicles will be purchased using State grant funds discussed in a separate agenda item.
DISCUSSION:
The patrol vehicle is a basic tool needed by a patrol officer to perform the job of providing police service to residents. For patrol officers, their office space is their vehicles,
and they count on their vehicles performing every time they enter them. These vehicles’ engines often run nonstop supporting multiple patrol shifts round the clock, and Department’s
patrol vehicles are requiring more repair time and maintenance. This has become even more pronounced during the past two fiscal years as most patrol vehicles have been run longer while
only a few were replaced—with no General Funds committed to patrol vehicles, only three vehicles were purchased and replaced using supplemental grant funds during that time. Currently,
eight vehicles have been identified as needing replacement—four of them have been involved in major collisions; one of them sustained undercarriage damage during a pursuit, and the
remaining three have over 80,000 miles.
It is necessary that the City act and purchase patrol vehicles for two reasons. First, Ford previously announced it would discontinue production of its Crown Victoria Interceptor model
in 2011. If the City does not purchase them before the end of production, the Police Department’s existing vehicle-mounted equipment (light bars and control units, weapons racks, mobile
computers and mounting hardware, radio systems and mounting equipment, etc.) would not fit in another make or model vehicle. Second, there are enough non-General Fund sources to fund
this purchase, specifically the Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Grant (discussed in a separate agenda item) and federal asset forfeiture revenue recovered primarily through the
efforts of the Police Department’s Special Enforcement Team (SET).
The U.S. Department of Justice produces a lengthy publication concerning the spending rules and prohibitions associated with federal asset forfeiture. This publication is called the
Guide to Equitable Sharing of Federally Forfeited Property for State and Local Governments. Briefly, asset forfeiture funds are approved for new unbudgeted law enforcement uses, and
must be accounted for separately from other funds to adhere to financial reporting and auditing requirements. Moreover, these funds cannot be used to replace (supplant) existing funds
(like police officers, materials, services, patrol vehicles, etc., previously funded from the City’s General Fund). It is suitable to use this asset forfeiture funding to purchase
patrol vehicles.
Wondries Fleet Group of Alhambra has 2010 Ford Police Interceptors in stock. They have offered eight (8) of them to West Covina at the same price that Los Angeles County (Sheriff’s
Department) purchased one hundred and fifty (150) of them under RFB#IS-11200079—a bid that was competitively awarded among multiple vendor solicitations. Per the City of West Covina
purchasing policy, “piggypacking” on this RFB and purchasing these eight vehicles, as specified, from Wondries Fleet Group satisfies West Covina’s bid process.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Using a combination of non-General funds will allow the City to purchase the eight patrol vehicles identified for replacement. The West Covina Police Department received federal asset
forfeiture funds stemming from successful law enforcement and prosecution efforts, such that there are sufficient funds available in the fund balance of Fund 117 (federal asset forfeiture)
to purchase six (6) of the vehicles, while the Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Grant can purchase the remaining two (2). Conversion costs and extended warranties will also be
purchased from available funds.
This public safety purchase will save scarce General Fund money. Without these federal asset forfeiture funds, these unmet equipment needs would become future Police Department budget
requests, drawing on the City’s General Fund. New vehicles, with warranties and less maintenance costs than older vehicles, will be incorporated into City maintenance operations.
Prepared by: Alex B. Houston
Police Administrative Services Manager
Reviewed/Approved by:
___________________________
Frank J. Wills, Chief of Police Finance