Explanation
BACKGROUND:
Need: The City of Columbus Division of Police was recently awarded Federal FY 2003 funding through the Project Exile Safe Streets and Neighborhoods Act of 2003.
The goal of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative is to decrease gun violence and aggressively prosecute those who commit crimes with firearms. The funding is for specialized Crime Lab equipment to perform analysis of firearms and to transfer information to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and to the U.S. Attorney's Office. In cooperation with these local federal agencies the Columbus Division of Police will seek federal prosecution of applicable crimes with firearms.
Emergency Designation: Emergency legislation is necessary to expedite making the funds available to purchase the specialized equipment at the earliest possible time.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no impact for the City General Fund Account. All expenditures will be reimbursed by the grant funds.
Title
To authorize the Mayor of the City of Columbus to accept a FY03 Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Award, to authorize an appropriation of $64,000.00 from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund to the Division of Police to cover the costs of Project Safe Neighborhoods (2004) and to declare an emergency. ($64,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus Division of Police was recently awarded a Federal FY03 Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus Division of Police will be working with local federal agencies to seek federal prosecution of crimes involving firearms; and
WHEREAS, recent increased firearms violence events have added to the workload and magnified the immediate need for additional specialized equipment for the analysis of firearms; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the daily operation of the Division of Police, Department of Public Safety, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Ma...
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