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 Office of the Governor Criminal Justice Division (CJD) for the FY 2021 Social Network Analysis Project. If awarded, CJD will provide $115,000.00 in grant funding. The grant period will begin October 1, 2020, and ends on September 30, 2021. City matching funds or in-kind contribution is not required.
HPD previously received grant funding to build a new software system developed by the United States Department of Defense to conduct in-depth analytical work. To utilize this software effectively, intelligence gathering is vitally important. If HPD receives this grant award from the CJD, HPD will utilize the grant to fund overtime for analysts and classified officers to conduct additional intelligence gathering required to identify and link crimes to criminal gangs, discover gang hierarchies and enhance prosecutions.
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 Note:
No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.
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Art Acevedo
Chief of Police