DEPARTMENT: Police
DEPARTMENT HEAD: William P. McManus, Chief of Police
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Authorization of an Interlocal Cooperation Contract (ICC) between the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).
SUMMARY:
An ordinance authorizing the approval of an Interlocal Cooperation Contract (ICC) between the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) for the purpose of transitioning the Texas Anti-Gang (TAG) program Fiscal Agent responsibilities from SAPD to DPS. The agreement will commence upon execution and is for an amount not to exceed $970,890.00, reimbursable from DPS.
The Texas Anti-Gang Center in San Antonio (TAG) is a physical environment funded by the Texas Governor’s Office Criminal Justice Division and established to support strategic law enforcement partnership within the San Antonio metropolitan area to combat gang violence and organized crime associated to these criminal enterprises. This multidisciplinary approach of the TAG Center concentrates efforts through the coordination of gang prevention, intervention and suppression activities. The combined law enforcement resources and strategies are designed to effectively decrease the threat created by gang activities and positively disrupt the command and control of these criminal organizations which affect public safety in our communities and allows for uninhibited communication and de-confliction of intelligence and practices.
The following law enforcement agencies are co-located at the San Antonio area TAG Center: Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP); Department of Homeland Security Investigations (DHS)/Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); US Marshals Service (USMS); Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS); Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ)/Office of the Inspector General (OIG); Bexar County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO); and Bexar County District Attorney’s Office (DA). Currently, there are 91 assigned personnel at the TAG Center.
In 2018, the TAG Center primarily focused on identifying law enforcement partners, establishing a physical presence in our community, and establishing working relationships with each other to thwart violent gang activity in the Alamo area. The collaborative efforts and investigations conducted by the partnering agencies collectively at the TAG Center affected: 294 arrests of gang members (250 felony arrests and 44 misdemeanor arrests), 387 TXGANG entries for gang contacts, seizure of 360 weapons, seizure of $1,289,116.43 in currency, and significant drug seizures.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Office of the Governor (OOG) Criminal Justice Division (CJD) has transferred the Fiscal Agent responsibilities for the Texas Anti-Gang (TAG) program Fiscal Agent responsibilities from SAPD to DPS.
SAPD will continue to provide all current TAG program goods and services during the period needed to transition these responsibilities to DPS. This includes the lease on the real property for the TAG facility; Information Technology services to include, but not be limited to phone, television/cable services, and network services; equipment and supplies for the operation of the TAG; and contractual and COSA personnel associated with the TAG. SAPD will invoice the DPS on the monthly reimbursable amount for these costs.
During the transition period, DPS will pay COSA the monthly reimbursable amount based on COSA’s costs for these TAG services and goods.
The term of the ICC will be February 1, 2019 through August 31, 2020.
ISSUE:
This ordinance authorizes approval of an agreement with the Texas DPS for the purpose of transitioning the Texas Anti-Gang (TAG) program Fiscal Agent responsibilities from SAPD to DPS. Entering into this agreement and facilitating the transition of Fiscal Agent responsibility will allow for the TAG to continue operations without interruptions.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should this ICC not be approved, the transition of the Fiscal Agent responsibilities will be interrupted and this would negatively impact the continued and uninterrupted operation of the TAG.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes the approval of an Interlocal Cooperation Contract (ICC) between the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) for the purpose of transitioning the Texas Anti-Gang (TAG) program Fiscal Agent responsibilities from SAPD to DPS.
During the transition period, DPS will pay COSA the monthly reimbursable amount based on COSA’s costs for these TAG services and goods.
SAPD will continue to provide all current TAG program goods and services during the period needed to transition these responsibilities to DPS. This includes the lease on the real property for the TAG facility; Information Technology services to include, but not be limited to phone, television/cable services, and network services; equipment and supplies for the operation of the TAG; and contractual and COSA personnel associated with the TAG. SAPD will invoice the DPS on the monthly reimbursable amount for these costs.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the Interlocal Cooperation Contract (ICC) between the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) for the purpose of transitioning the Texas Anti-Gang (TAG) program Fiscal Agent responsibilities from SAPD to DPS.