The Chief of Police for the Houston Police Department is requesting an ordinance be approved authorizing the submission of an electronic grant application and acceptance of funding from the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority (MVCPA) in support of the Houston Auto Crimes Task Force (HACTF). The grant amount is $1,251,130.00 with a City cash match of $384,097.00. If approved, this will be the 31st year of HPD receiving this grant funding which aids in the reduction of the auto theft rate in Houston and surrounding areas. The grant period is for one year from September 1, 2022 to August 31, 2023.
The Houston Auto Crimes Task Force (HACTF) consists of Houston Police Department personnel along with a task force officer from the Metropolitan Transit Authority Police (METRO) and a Harris County Assistant District Attorney. The Houston Auto Crimes Task Force strives to combat auto theft and vehicle burglaries in the Houston area by specializing in crime prevention, proactive crime reduction and motor vehicle fraud investigations. The Houston Auto Crimes Task Force (HACTF) partners with other auto theft task force's and agencies, such as Harris County Sherriff Office Auto Theft Task Force, Pasadena Auto Theft Task Force, Montgomery County Auto Theft Task Force, United States Customs and Border Patrol (USCB), National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), and the Federal Bureau of investigations, to address criminal organizations in Houston as well as across jurisdictional boundaries. One of the continued trends includes human trafficking which continues to be a major use of stolen vehicles. The task force is dedicated to effectively disrupt auto theft and vehicle burglaries by relying on intelligence, advanced technology and collaboration with other law enforcement agencies.
Grant funds will be used to cover the salaries of investigators on the Houston Auto Crimes Task Force. Grant funds will also be used for supplies, travel and contractual services.
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:
Funding for this item is included in the FY2023 Adopted Budget. Therefore, no Fiscal Note is required as stated in the Financial Policy.
No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.
_____________________________________
Troy Finner
Chief of Police