Adopt Resolution #20-307 to Approve Acceptance of a Grant for Dedicated DWI Enforcement and Authorize an Additional Police Officer Hire in 2021

The purpose of this case is to consider approval of the attached Resolution 20-307 that approves acceptance of a grant for dedicated DWI enforcement, and to authorize an additional Police Officer Hire in 2021.

In the summer of 2019, and again in the summer of 2020, Sergeant Hemmerich applied for a grant from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS), Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for a full-time DWI Officer. The DWI officer would work on local roads during the peak nights and times when drinking and driving occur, targeting traffic and DWI enforcement. Unfortunately, we were not selected on either of these first two applications. In November of 2020, Sergeant Hemmerich applied for a third time, and on December 1st was notified the City of Ramsey was awarded the grant. The award is currently estimated at $80,099.85 of reimbursable funds; covering full-time wages, fringe benefits, and any potential overtime.

Federal guidelines require this money to be spent on projects designed to reduce DWI incidents. Progress continues to be made in reducing the incidents of impaired driving, which unfortunately still remains an issue. All enforcement grants are part of the traffic safety program called Toward Zero Deaths (TZD), which works to create a safe driving culture in Minnesota by supporting a goal of zero road fatalities.

In 2018, it was conservatively estimated by the National Safety Council that the cost of alcohol-related crashes in Minnesota was $285 million. The same year, 23 percent of serious injuries sustained in crashes and 32 percent of traffic crash fatalities were alcohol-related. To address this ongoing issue, the Office of Traffic Safety will continue to offer a program supporting full-time officers dedicated to DWI enforcement and traffic safety. Only agencies from the top fifteen counties with the most impaired-related deaths and serious injuries are eligible for grant funds. Unfortunately, Anoka County is one of these fifteen counties. The goal listed in Ramsey's application is to reduce drunk driving-related deaths and alcohol-related suspected serious injuries. Ramsey will use social media to host "virtual" ride-alongs, publishing enforcement statistics, attending Happy Days to answer questions in conjunction with our crash car exhibit, and speaking at community events such as Safety Camp.

 

For 2021, the Police Department is currently budgeted for one additional (28th) full-time patrol officer to start April 1, 2021. With this grant, the Police Department is requesting a second additional (29th) full-time patrol officer to also start April 1, 2021. In essence, the Police Department is requesting advance hiring of the Police Officer planned for 2022 (from the 5-yr budget plan).  

Diverting the grant-funded officer to the required traffic enforcement takes them away from regular patrol duties.  For this reason, the Police Department is recommending that, if the grant is approved, an additional officer be hired to backfill those patrol duties.

Advancing the officer outside of the normal budget process does not allow the City Council to consider the relative needs of other departments, nor does it consider future potential economic concerns in 2022.  An option would be to consider the additional police officer hire later in 2021.  The long-term loss of patrol hours, or reassigning other non-patrol officers in the department, are other less desireable alternatives.  The Police Chief has concerns about approving the grant without backfilling the patrol position.

Utilizing grant funds, hiring a second officer would not require an increase in the 2021 budget. The City will realize slight wage savings; due to a senior officer being paid for by the grant and a new starting pay officer being hired in their place. The City would also realize savings by hiring two officers from a single process; the hiring process requires many staff hours.

This grant is funded for nine months, beginning on January 1, 2021, and ending September 30, 2021 (end of the federal fiscal year) is federally financed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with impaired driving funds. There may be an opportunity to apply for another grant in 2022 to continue funding, however, the additional (29th) licensed officer is proposed to become part of the base 2022 budget.

Staff recommends the city council authorize the police department's participation in the grant program, and to authorize an additional Police Officer hire starting April 1, 2021.