The Chief of Police for the Houston Police Department (HPD) recommends that City Council approve an ordinance authorizing an electronic application and acceptance of grant funds through the Office of the Governor Criminal Justice Division (CJD) for the FY2024 Explosive Detection K9 Strategic Utilization & Deterrence Initiative Grant. The grant period becomes effective October 1, 2023, and ends on September 30, 2024. CJD will provide $63,456.00 in grant funding. City matching funds or in-kind contribution is not required. This will be the city's first award under this program. HPD presented this item on April 20, 2023 to the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.
The purpose of the FY2024 Explosive Detection K9 Strategic Utilization & Deterrence Initiative Grant is to provide overtime funding for HPD's Explosive Detection Canine Unit. The Explosive Detection Canine Unit is comprised of 16 teams who are responsible for responding to threats within Southeast Texas. The priority areas are mass transit facilities, rail stations, airports, passenger terminals, seaports and surface carriers that affect public safety, transportation operations and critical infrastructure. The funds will be used for increasing canine utilization in high-risk areas such as schools, government facilities, high-profile events and other high risk locations across the greater Houston area.
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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Troy Finner
Chief of Police