| ITEM #: 5. DATE: 04/28/2025 AI #:2564 |
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CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT
| SUBJECT: | MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTAND (MOU) WITH GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF HIGHWAY SAFETY (GOHS) TO FORMALIZE DRUG RECOGNITION EXPERTS (DREs) OFFICER SUPPORT |
| STAFF PRESENTER(S): | Brian Issitt, Chief of Police |
SUMMARY
The Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) provides substantial resources for the training of law enforcement officers in the Drug Recognition Experts (DRE) program. The Goodyear Police department provides an officer who is responsible for coordinating West Valley Regional DRE training and events. GOHS is requesting to formalize the collaboration between GOHS and the department in fiscal year 2025 for the role of the West Valley Regional DRE Coordinator, effective starting October 1, 2024 until September 30, 2025. Approval will be retroactive to the effective date.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
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RECOMMENDATION
Approve the MOU and provide authorization and direction to take action and execute documents necessary to carry out the intent of the agreement. (Brian Issitt, Chief of Police)
FISCAL IMPACT
The officer that is assigned as the West Valley Regional DRE coordinator is funded in the Police department's General Fund base budget.
BACKGROUND AND PREVIOUS ACTIONS
The police department has received funding for overtime to support enforcement efforts through GOHS funding in previous fiscal years. The department has some of the highest driving while impaired arrest numbers in the state. As part of the enforcement effort, drug recognition experts are critical to ensuring that proper field-testing and documentation is completed. GOHS indicated that in 2023, they would like to provide funding for a DRE west valley coordinator to conduct standard training. In fiscal year 2024, a Goodyear officer began conducting the coordination efforts for GOHS receiving overtime reimbursement through GOHS Enforcement grant funding. GOHS notified the department of its desire to formalize the agreement for West Valley Regional DRE coordination at the end of FY24.
STAFF ANALYSIS
The officer assigned the West Valley Regional DRE Coordinator responsibilities will provide support and expertise to assist training coordinators throughout the west valley. This includes developing, revising and delivering training materials for focus areas determined by GOHS. In fiscal year 2024, the traffic unit had 56 hours of overtime dedicated to DRE coordination. By formalizing the agreement with GOHS, this coordination effort is allocated $40,000 in reimbursement through GOHS and is not funded through the grant. This allows for the grant funding to be dedicated to enforcement. This is an opportunity for the department to continue to demonstrate it's commitment to identifying impaired drivers. The department is recommending approval of the MOU, which is included as Attachment A.