The Chief of Police for the Houston Police Department (HPD) recommends that City Council approve an ordinance authorizing the application for and acceptance of grant funds through the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) for the FY19 Target Hardening Through Collaborative Crime Suppression Grant. The grant period becomes effective October 1, 2019, and ends on September 30, 2021, for a total of 24 months. If awarded, the DOJ will provide $71,333 in grant funding. DOJ is requiring a 25% cash match of $23,778.
The purpose of the FY19 Target Hardening Through Collaborative Crime Suppression Grant is to improve security at schools and on school grounds through evidence-based school safety programs. The training will concentrate on 1) Notification that will alert all school personnel and police the moment an active shooter is verified to be on school grounds; 2) Training staff on techniques that will allow for a safe evacuation; 3) Practice routes to the designated reunification points; 4) Train staff on lifesaving first-aid measures until help arrives; 5) Train on the techniques responding officers use when deploying and responding to provide a better understanding of what is expected during a active shooter incident; and 6) Teach survival tactics school personnel that will help them survive until help arrives.
The Houston Police Department also requests City Council to authorize the Chief of Police or his designee to act as the City’s representative in the application process with the authority to apply for, accept and expend the grant funds as awarded, and apply for, accept and expend all subsequent awards, if any, to extend the budget period, and to authorize the Mayor to execute all related agreements with the approval of the City Attorney in connection with the grant not to exceed five years.
Fiscal Notes:
No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.
Funding for this item is included in the FY2020 Adopted Budget; therefore, no Fiscal Note is required as stated in the Financial Policy.
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Art Acevedo
Chief of Police