Item #03 Approval to Expend and/or Grant Forfeiture Monies to Law Enforcement Related Uses and Charities 4,04Pr
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florida
AGENDA ITEM COVER SHEET
Meeting Date: February 17, 2015
Item #
Reviewed By:
Contact Name: Ted Silberstein Department Director: C. Br.i
Contact Number: 407 - 905 -3160 ext. 3032 City Manager: R. Frank rp /-
Subject: Approval to Expend and/ or Grant Forfeiture Monies to Law Enforcement Related Uses and Charities
Background Summary:
Per Florida State Statutes 932.7055 "...any local law enforcement agency that acquires at least $15,000 pursuant
to the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act within a fiscal year must expend or donate no less than fifteen (15)
percent of such proceeds for the support or operation of any drug treatment, drug abuse education, drug
prevention, crime prevention, safe neighborhood, or school resource officer program.
The Ocoee Police Department recommends expending monies from its forfeiture fund to law enforcement
related uses as follows: $750 to its Neighborhood Restorative Justice Program, which serves as a pretrial
diversion program for children who live in Ocoee and who have committed minor offenses; $1,000 to sponsor its
Citizen Police Academies, which educate Ocoee citizens and businesses about the Police Department; $2,500 to
purchase bicycle helmets to be distributed by the Department's Crime Prevention and School Resource Officer
unit to children in need at Ocoee schools and events; $2,500 to the Ocoee Police Explorers for uniforms,
equipment and events; $1000 to the YMCA Safe Start Infant Survival Swim Program; $5,500 for the City of
Ocoee Annual Spring Fling event. The Spring Fling showcases the City of Ocoee as well as other governmental
and non profit organization services with special focus on crime prevention and safety. Food and activities are
also provided free of charge to attendees.
Because of the services they provide to the Ocoee Police Department and to the community and because
duplication of these programs by the Police Department is not possible, the Police Department recommends
.granting monies from its forfeiture fund to the following non - profit organizations: $1,000 to Mothers Against
Drunk Driving, an organization which helps law enforcement in its DUI education and enforcement efforts;
$1,500 to the Orange County Sexual Assault Treatment Center, which provides rape examinations, evidence
collection, and counseling for victims of sexual assaults that occur in Ocoee; $1,500 to the Orange County
Victim Services Center, which provides assistance and counseling for victims of violent crimes that occur in
Ocoee; $3,000 to Spouse Abuse Inc. Harbor House, the domestic violence shelter and assistance center for
victims of domestic violence that occurs in Ocoee; $2,500 to Lakeside Behavioral Healthcare (aka Central
Florida Crisis Intervention Team), the facility that trains our police officers how to deal with people in mental
health crisis; and $2,500 to Crime Line, which provides crime solving tips to the Police Department, as well as
publicity and rewards to the public. Over the past several years, the Police Department has made a practice of
using these monies to help support programs and organizations that partner with the Police Department in its
crime prevention/ public safety mission and wishes to continue to do so.
Issue:
Should the Honorable Mayor and Board of City Commissioners authorize the Police Department to expend
and /or grant monies from the Police Forfeiture fund for various law enforcement related uses /charities?
Recommendations
It is recommended that the Honorable Mayor and Board of City Commissioners authorize the Police Department
to expend and /or grant monies from the Police forfeiture fund for various law enforcement related uses /charities.
Attachments:
None
Financial Impact:
A total of $25,250 from the Police Forfeiture fund. There is approximately $130,523 in this fund.
Type of Item: (please mark with an `x')
Public Hearing For Clerk's Dept Use:
Ordinance First Reading X Consent Agenda
Ordinance Second Reading Public Hearing
Resolution Regular Agenda
X Commission Approval
Discussion & Direction
Original Document/Contract Attached for Execution by City Clerk
Original Document/Contract Held by Department for Execution
Reviewed by City Attorney x N/A
Reviewed by Finance Dept. c N/A
Reviewed by () N/A
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