HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 4.B 11/16/2015DATE:
TO:
FROM:
Agenda Item #4.B
November 16, 2015
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council through City Manager
E
Patrick Williams, Chief of Police "
SUBJECT: Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Accept Funding from the Northern
California Computer Crimes Task Force (NC3TF) in the Amount of $131,229.84
Per Year to Partially Fund an Additional Police Officer to be Assigned to the
NC3TF and Authorizing One Additional Police Officer Allocation in the FY 15-
16 Police Department Budget.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt the attached Resolution Authorizing the City
Manager to Accept Funding from the Northern California Computer Crimes Task Force (NC3TF)
in the Amount of $131,229.84 Per Year to Partially Fund an Additional Police Officer to be
Assigned to the NC3TF and Authorizing One Additional Police Officer Allocation in the FY 15-
16 Police Department Budget.
BACKGROUND
In 1999, the Northern California Computer Crimes Task Force (NC3TF) was created, along with
several other similar task forces across the state. The Task Force was originally funded by grant
money tied to the sales tax and administered by CalEMA. The Petaluma Police Department
regularly requests assistance from the NC3TF for forensic analysis of computerized evidence.
The NC3TF is comprised of eleven detectives from law enforcement agencies throughout
Northern California, and serves seven counties by providing forensic analysis of evidence, as
well as highly trained personnel to assist in the investigations of crimes such as homicide,
robbery, gang - related incidents, embezzlements, and identity theft. The task force was formed
based on the ever - changing and highly technical specialized training needed to perform forensic
analysis on computerized equipment. Because of the cost of training, as well as maintaining
current standards, many law enforcement agencies, including the Petaluma Police Department,
are unable to provide this service within their own agencies.
DISCUSSION
Currently, the State of California Governor's Office of Emergency Services funds NC3TF as a
line item and the Task Force is administered by the Attorney General's Office. The NC3TF
investigates, apprehends and recovers stolen property for the following crimes:
- Computer related crimes- major thefts, robberies, embezzlements of technical
hardware, software, and intellectual property
- Telecommunications fraud
Child pornography
- Gray market manufacturing, sales and possession of counterfeit technical products
- Money laundering when accomplished with the use of a computer or electronic
banking transfer
- Unlawful access, destruction of, or unauthorized entry into use of private, corporate
or government computer /networks
- Identity theft
Presentations to community groups
- Romance scams
The City of Petaluma has been approached by NC3TF and offered an opportunity to receive
funding of 75% of a full -time police officer (salary and benefits) to be assigned to this task force.
If the City accepts this funding, benefits to the community will include:
- Moving the investigative evidence from Petaluma cases to the forefront for
immediate analysis.
- Providing highly trained personnel to assist in the investigation of crimes such as
homicide, robbery, gang crimes, drugs, embezzlements and identity thefts.
- Providing a regional approach to criminal activity that does not recognize
jurisdictional borders.
- Providing highly technical training to a Petaluma Police Officer that can be brought
back to the agency through various in -house training opportunities.
- Alternative funding source for 75% of a Police Officer position plus a vehicle and
cellular telephone.
- Additional available time for detectives assigned within the Petaluma Police
Department to concentrate on other criminal investigations.
Funding for the position is ongoing. Enabling agencies (agencies that have contributed
personnel to the Task Force since its inception in 1999), continue to receive funding. In
addition, personnel assigned to the Task Force must agree to a Memorandum of Understanding,
agreeing to the mission of arresting and successfully prosecuting individuals engaged in
technology- related crimes to create a safer community for the San Francisco North Bay and
Northern California region.
Personnel assigned to the Task Force will fulfill a multitude of responsibilities specific to the
investigation and prosecution of technology- related crimes. The officer will be responsible for
all evidence seized by the Petaluma Police Department, in which the Task Force has been
requested for processing of such evidence. This includes, but is not limited to, forensic analysis
of cellular telephones, computers, and other equipment with data electronically stored.
The estimated timeline for filling the position assigned to the Northern California Computer
Crimes Task Force is approximately six to seven months (July 2016).
FINANCIAL IMPACTS
The total cost of assigning an officer to the Northern California Computer Crimes Task Force is
$174,973.12. The impact to the City is $43,743.28 which will be paid by asset seizure funds.
The current balance in the Asset Seizures fund is $222,929. From this balance, $120,417 is
budgeted to be spent in the current fiscal year. Revenues in the fund are budgeted at $180,759
for the year, but only $662 has been received year to date. The additional appropriation of
$43,743.28 from the Asset Seizures fund will be presented with the mid -year budget adjustments
in February. Currently, there is approximately $335,152.01 of monies that have been seized;
however, the investigations associated with those seizures have yet to have been adjudicated. A
percentage of these funds (approximately 60 %) is anticipated to be payable to the City of
Petaluma, once the investigations are complete, the cases are adjudicated, and the Asset Seizure
process is complete. In addition, NC3TF, has a history of increased contributions. For the past
several years, NC3TF has demonstrated, based on unused funding, the ability to pay contributing
agencies and additional 3% funding (if this were to occur, this would increase their contribution
to (78 %) $136. 479.03 and decrease the amount required by the City of Petaluma to (22 %)
$38, 494.09)
The balance of $131,229.84 (75 %) will be paid by the NC3TF.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution
E
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT FUNDING
FROM THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA COMPUTER CRIMES TASK FORCE
(NC3TF) IN THE AMOUNT OF $131,229.84 TO PARTIALLY FUND AN ADDITIONAL
POLICE OFFICER TO BE ASSIGNED TO THE NC3TF AND AUTHORIZING ONE
ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICER ALLOCATION IN THE FY 15 -16 POLICE
DEPARTMENT BUDGET
WHEREAS, in 1999, the Northern California Computer Crimes Task Force (NC3TF)
was created, along with several other similar task forces across the state. The Task Force was
originally funded by grant money tied to sales tax and administered by Cal EMA. Currently the
State of California Governor's Office of Emergency Services funds NC3TF as a line item and it
is administered by the Attorney General's Office; and
WHEREAS, the NC3TF investigates, apprehends and recovers stolen property for
computer related crimes, major thefts, robberies, embezzlements of technical hardware, software,
and intellectual property; and
WHEREAS, the NC3TF also investigates, apprehends and recovers stolen property
related to telecommunications fraud, child pornography, gray market manufacturing, sales and
possession of counterfeit technical products, money laundering when accomplished with the use
of a computer or electronic banking transfer, unlawful access, destruction of, or unauthorized
entry into use of private, corporate or government computer /networks, identity theft, and
romance scams; and,
WHEREAS, the benefits to Petaluma of having personnel assigned to this Task Force
include moving the investigative evidence from Petaluma cases to the forefront for immediate
analysis; providing highly trained personnel to assist in the investigation of crimes such as
homicide, robbery, gang crimes, drugs, embezzlements and identity thefts; providing a regional
approach to criminal activity that does not recognize jurisdictional borders; providing highly
technical training to a Petaluma Police Officer that can be brought back to the agency through
various in -house training opportunities; and,
WHEREAS, NC3TF will provide funding for 75% of the position plus a vehicle and
cellular telephone; and,
WHEREAS, taking advantage of this opportunity of an alternative funding source will
augment current staffing and will give detectives assigned within the Petaluma Police
Department more available time to concentrate on other criminal investigations.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of
Petaluma hereby:
1) Authorizes the City Manager to accept the $131,229.84 on a yearly basis from the NC3TF
to fund a 0.75 FTE police officer position; and,
2) Authorizes the remaining 0.25 FTE police officer to be funded with asset seizure funds;
and,
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3) Authorizes the allocation of one additional Police Officer position in the FY 15 -16 Police
Department budget.
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