Consideration and Approval of Intergovernmental Agreement:  Between the State of Arizona, Department of Public Safety and the City regarding the State Gang Task Force.

Approval of the Intergovernmental Agreement ("IGA") between the State of Arizona, Department of Public Safety ("DPS") and the City regarding the State Gang Task Force will permit the Flagstaff Police Department to participate in the Task Force.  The previous IGA was not renewed because of the uncertainty about the State's budget and expired on June 30, 2014.  The duration of the IGA shall be the fiscal year, July 1st through June 30th, beginning July 1, 2015, and shall renew annually on July 1st for a period of time not to exceed five (5) years.

Under the terms of the proposed IGA, the Flagstaff Police Department would assign one (1) P.O.S.T. certified law enforcement officer to the DPS State Gang Task Force, on a full time basis.  The officer assigned to the State Gang Task Force is permitted to work outside of their regular jurisdictional boundaries.  DPS will, in turn, agree to reimburse the Flagstaff Police Department seventy-five percent (75%) of the payroll expense of the officer, related to their assignment, and up to eight (8) hours of overtime each month.
 

The Flagstaff Police Department will receive a seventy-five percent (75%) savings on the officer’s position that has already been budgeted for.   The total cost for the officer is approximately $81,600 ($61,200 DPS share / $20,400 City Share).

Council has approved prior IGA's with the State of Arizona, Department of Public Safety, for Flagstaff Police Department Officers to participate in the State Gang Task Force.

The Council can elect not to have the Police Department participate in the State Gang Task Force and rely exclusively on Police Department and other community based efforts.

The Flagstaff Police Department would like to participate in the State Gang Task Force whose mission is to identify, interdict and prevent gang-related activity in the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County.  In addition to proactive uniformed investigations, the unit participates in anti-gang education, as well as community oriented policing projects.  The Police Department has had as many as two officers assigned to the task force in previous years.

Over the past few years, the Flagstaff community has continued to experience gang activity along with associated incidents of graffiti vandalism.  The State Gang Task Force position will be a benefit to local neighborhoods by targeting gang related crime including drug and weapons related crimes which are typically associated with gangs.
 

The State Gang Task Force has demonstrated in the past that it is a valuable resource capable of addressing the problems associated with gang violence, weapons, and drugs, by providing a more coordinated effort in enforcement, developing intelligence, and providing anti-gang education.  The State Gang Task Force should continue to have a significant impact on making this community safer, thus providing an improved quality of life for all Flagstaff citizens.  A Flagstaff Police Department Lieutenant meets regularly with the local State Gang Task Force Command Staff to ensure effective communication and coordinated efforts between the two agencies.

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