Title
Federal Law Enforcement Contraband Forfeiture Trust Fund (LECFTF) Funding for the Gainesville -Alachua County Drug Task Force (DTF), GPD Special Investigation Division for Verizon Wireless for FY16 (NB)
This is a request for City Commission approval for the appropriation of funds for cellular phones service for the Special Investigations Division for fiscal year 2016.
Explanation
On November 1, 2007, the Gainesville Police Department Special Investigations Division (GPD SID) combined with Alachua County Sheriff's Office Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit (ASO NOCU) and the University of Florida Police Department (UPD) to form the Gainesville-Alachua County Drug Task Force (DTF). The DTF is often involved in large scale operations with other federal, state and local organizations. The service that DTF used in the past is Verizon Wireless and this request is for continued funding for fiscal year 2016. It is important to keep this service active because in some cases this is the only means of communications between task force members and other federal and state organizations.
Fiscal Note
Funds for this expenditure in the amount of $11,000 are available in the Federal Law Enforcement Contraband Forfeiture Trust Fund (LECFTF) and are allowable per the U.S. Department of Justice "A Guide to Equitable Sharing of Federally Forfeited Property for State and Local Enforcement Agencies". The unreserved balance is $1,301,698 as of 8/31/15.
Recommendation
The City Commission approve the appropriation of $11,000 from the Federal Law Enforcement Contraband Forfeiture Trust Fund (LECFTF) to pay for the cellular services and any equipment needed to Verizon Wireless.