DEPARTMENT: Police
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Anthony Trevino, Interim Chief of Police
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
An ordinance authorizing the negotiation and execution of an Interagency Cooperation Contract between Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and San Antonio Police Department (SAPD).
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes the negotiation and execution of an Interagency Cooperation Contract not to exceed $202,634.59 in Year 1 between Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) effective September 1, 2015 to September 30, 2020.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
DWI is a pervasive problem in San Antonio and Bexar County. Each year the problem continues and citizens of San Antonio are struck with devastating tragedies as the numbers continue to grow. In 2008 SAPD began participating in no-refusal weekends during holidays and in 2011 SAPD moved to no-refusal every day. No-refusal refers to obtaining a blood specimen from the suspected driver who has refused a breath test.
In August 2013 a Master Interlocal Agreement between the City of San Antonio and Bexar County was approved for the Bexar County Medical Examiner and their subcontractor Integrated Forensic Laboratories (IFL) to complete blood testing for the San Antonio Police Department. Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office would be responsible for intoxication assault and intoxication manslaughter and their subcontractor IFL would be responsible for all other testing services such as the drug recognition evaluation (DRE), driving under the influence (DUI) and driving while intoxicated (DWI) specimens.
On March 16, 2015 the District Attorney's (DA) placed IFL's contract on hold therefore stopping the testing of blood alcohol and drug toxicology analysis submitted on behalf of the San Antonio Police Department. As a result over 1,200 blood samples are pending testing.
In the interim, the San Antonio Police Department ha...
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