DEPARTMENT: Police
DEPARTMENT HEAD: William P. McManus, Chief of Police
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City wide
SUBJECT:
An Ordinance authorizing the acceptance of a grant in an amount $208,715.00 from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, for the implementation of technology related to, and to participate in, the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN).
SUMMARY:
On January 30, 2017, the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) submitted a Special Category Grant Opportunity Submission Authorization Request to apply for a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Technology Innovation for Public Safety (TIPS) grant for the implementation of technology related to, and to participate in, the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The grant application was submitted to the DOJ/OJP on February 7, 2017, requesting $416,430.00 to purchase and install two complete NIBIN systems consisting of two workstations with all related equipment. The SAPD was notified on September 26, 2017, that it had been awarded $208,715.00 for the program which will allow for the purchase and installation of one complete NIBIN system/station.
The SAPD currently has access to one NIBIN system, which is on temporary loan from the ATF (Bureau for Alcohol, Drug, Firearms, and Explosives), and an MOU is in place with the ATF which provided the SAPD with the hardware and training to begin the implementation of a NIBIN program within the Department.
The NIBIN Program automates ballistics evaluations and provides actionable investigative leads in a timely manner. NIBIN is the only interstate automated ballistic imaging network in operation in the United States and is available to most major population centers in the United States.
Prior to the NIBIN Program, firearms examiners performed this process manually which was extremely labor intensive. To use NIBIN, firearms examiners or technicians enter cartridge casing evidence into the Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS). These images are correlated against the national and/or regional database. Law enforcement can search against evidence from their jurisdiction, neighboring ones, and others across the country. This program is one investigative tool accessed by law enforcement that allows each of us to share information and reinforce cooperation resulting in more effective case closures.
The program uses an integrated investigative approach that works in concert with other Federal, State, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies in combating firearms-related violence using ballistic imaging technology to compare images of ballistic evidence obtained from crime scenes and firearms. The mission of the program is to reduce firearms violence through aggressive targeting, investigation, and prosecution of shooters and their sources of crime guns.
Participation in this program is expressly restricted to the sharing of ballistic imaging of firearms data associated with crimes recovered by any law enforcement agency in the United States and international law enforcement partners who have entered into agreements with the ATF to share ballistic data. The ATF may work with international law enforcement partners to search their networks in an effort to identify a gun in their database against a crime gun in the ATF’s NIBIN network.
NIBIN systems may only be used for imaging of ballistic evidence and test fires of firearms illegally possessed, used in a crime, or suspected by law enforcement officials of having been used in a crime. Ballistics information and/or evidence from firearms taken into law enforcement custody through a Gun Buy Back Program, property damage crimes involving firearms, found or abandoned firearms and domestic disturbances are permitted for entry in the NIBIN database.
ISSUE:
The proposed ordinance continues the City Council's policy of seeking intergovernmental financial assistance for City crime prevention and enforcement programs addressing violent crime and gun crime.
ALTERNATIVES:
Other than the grant funds there is no other alternative funding source to purchase the necessary equipment to implement a NIBIN program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes acceptance of a grant in the amount of $208,715 from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, for the implementation of technology related to, and to participate in, the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). Acceptance of these grant funds will not impact the City’s General Fund.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends acceptance of the TIPS grant to establish a National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) system within the San Antonio Police Department.