Consideration and Adoption of Resolution No. 2022-12: A resolution approving an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Phoenix Police Department and the City of Flagstaff Police Department for the receipt of funding for the investigation of Internet crimes against children.

The Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Program was developed in response to the increasing number of children and teenagers using the Internet, the proliferation of child pornography, sex trafficking, and heightened online activity by predators seeking unsupervised contact with potential underage victims. The Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children (AZICAC) Task Force is comprised of investigators from City, County, State, and Federal Agencies. Special emphasis is placed on locating, prosecuting, and imprisoning people who intentionally exploit children. Lead by the Phoenix Police Department's Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, the AZICAC Task Force diligently pushes to fulfill this goal with highly trained and professional investigators and cutting-edge forensics and technology. The Flagstaff Police Department has partnered with AZICAC since 2004. The AZICAC has been a valuable source of information and funding for training and equipment used within the Flagstaff Police Department’s Regional Computer Forensics Lab. In turn, investigators from the Flagstaff Police Department follow up on leads generated by the Phoenix Police Department's Internet Crimes Against Children Unit for crimes being committed within our jurisdiction.

There is no significant financial impact to the Flagstaff Police Department in terms of expenditures. The Arizona ICAC provides money towards training and equipment via an annual grant on a reimbursement basis. There are budgeted funds in FY 2022 in the amount of $3,500 in account number 001-04-062-6278-2-4101.

None.

Regional Plan

The City of Flagstaff has entered into Intergovernmental Agreements with the Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in previous years.

1. Approve the Intergovernmental Agreement between the Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC)Task Force and the Flagstaff Police Department.
2. Reject the Intergovernmental Agreement between the Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and the Flagstaff Police Department.

The Flagstaff Police Department has partnered with AZICAC since 2004. The AZICAC has been a valuable source of information and funding for training and equipment used within the Flagstaff Police Department’s Regional Computer Forensics Lab. In turn, investigators from the Flagstaff Police Department follow up on leads generated by the Phoenix Police Department's Internet Crimes Against Children Unit for crimes being committed within our jurisdiction. The mission of the Flagstaff Police Department is to preserve life and property. This IGA provides resources to help some of our most vulnerable victims. 

This IGA allows for the Flagstaff Police Department to receive funding on a reimbursable basis to support our efforts to investigate, prosecute and deter the possession, production, and distribution of unlawful images depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, child sex trafficking, and the utilization of the internet to seek out children as sexual victims. 

There is no cost to the City of Flagstaff or the Flagstaff Police Department to enter into this agreement.

The acceptance of this IGA allows for better training and coordination of the investigation of sex crimes involving the exploitation of children. The IGA also provides funding for outreach and education regarding the prevention of internet crimes against children.

Inform the City Council and the public on the resources this IGA will provide to the Flagstaff Police Department to help prevent the sexual exploitation of children.