02-01-2000 - Appropriating the "Cops in Schools" SRO GrantTO:
Ciiyof 9Vest Covina
&1ITemorandum
AGENDA
ITEM NO. B-5—C
FROM: Frank J. Wills, Chief of Police
DATE February 1, 2000
®PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
SUBJECT: APPROPRIATING THE "COPS IN SCHOOLS" SRO GRANT
SUMMARY: The City Council previously approved the Police Department's "COPS In
Schools" grant application to fund a permanent School Resource Officer
position. Now that our grant application has been accepted by the federal
government, we must appropriate the three-year grant and the required
local cash match.
City Manager and City Council
DISCUSSION:
On April 6, 1999, the City .Council approved the Police Department's "COPS In Schools"
grant application to the Federal Office of Community Oriented Policing Services
(COPS).. This is a matching grant that funds one School Resource Officer (SRO) position
for three years.
In the fall of 1999, the COPS Office notified the Police Department that our application
was approved and that we would receive the maximum amount of federal funds under
this grant-$125,000 over three years. The City of West Covina is responsible for all
remaining costs of that Officer position during that time, as the required local cash match.
After that three-year period, the City must retain the SRO position from the General
Fund, permanently increasing the sworn strength by one, as required by the COPS Office.
To offset these costs, the Police Department has reduced its Community Service Officer
positions by one, from fifteen to fourteen, as approved by the City Council.
The Police Department has reassigned a Police Corporal to become the grant -funded
SRO to teach the G.R.E.A.T. anti -gang. education program at local middle schools. The
program has already been implemented. This grant -will be used to back -fill that SRO
position, in accordance with the grant rules.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The City of West Covina will receive $125,000 in federal grant funds over the three-year
life of the grant. This grant reimburses costs already incurred. To receive those funds,
the City has to commit an estimated $88,335 from the General Fund as the required local
cash match. For the remainder of FY 1999-2000, the cash match totals an estimated
$6,895. The appropriations for subsequent fiscal years will be approved through the
budget process,.and will take into account salary adjustments and step increases, etc.
After the grant period, the City must retain the grant -funded Officer position, costing an
estimated $82,000 annually: To offset these costs, the Police Department has reduced its
Community Service Officer positions by one, -which will result in savings of about
$41,000 annually. That savings will cover the costs of the local cash match during the
grant, and will help offset the recurring costs after the grant. This was approved by the
City Council on April 6, 1999 in Item G-2.
2. Approve the transfer of the General Fund 1999-2000 match of $6,895 from 110-322