2023 JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT
The City of Bradenton Proposed Plan for the Fiscal Year 2023
Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Formula Program
Public Comment & Plan Availability Period: July 25, 2023, to August 25, 2023
Posted to City’s Webpage: July 25, 2023
Governing Body Notified of Grant Opportunity June 30, 2023
Governing Body Consideration for Adoption: August 23, 2023
Application Submission: August 28, 2023
Application Submission: August 05, 2022
Table of Contents
Overview
The City of Bradenton Proposed Use of Funds
Program Narrative
Budget Narrative and Budget
Detail Budget
Review Narrative
Public Advertisement as to Plan Availability for Public Comment
Appendix
Overview
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to states and units of local government. Bureau of Justice
Assistance (BJA) will award JAG Program funds to eligible units of local government as described in this FY 2023 JAG Program Local Solicitation (BJA will issue a separate solicitation for states).
City of Bradenton Proposed Use of Funds
The City of Bradenton proposes to use its fiscal year 2023 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) formula program funds as a means to purchase one (1) Fisher Scientific TruNarc Handheld Narcotics Analyzer and one (1) TruNarc Solution Kit Type H.
Program Narrative
The City of Bradenton is located along the west-central coast of Florida. The Bradenton Police Department has an authorized police force of 123 officers dedicated to serving a community of approximately 64,000 residents, with an average of more than 3 million visitors to the Bradenton area each year.
The Bradenton Police Department proposes using the FY 2023 Local Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant funds to purchase one (1) Fisher Scientific TruNarc Handheld Narcotics Analyzer and one (1) TruNarc Solution Kit Type H. The Bradenton Police Department has responded to 624 labeled drug calls in 2021, 462 drug-related calls in 2022, and 251 drug-related calls in 2023 (as of July 20, 2023). So far, 2023 is on track to surpass 2022 and either meet or surpass 2021. The arrests and cases primarily take place in high-crime areas of the city that are plagued with violent crime. As studies have shown, there is a correlation between drugs and violent crimes, which affects residents of the community in several different ways.
Additionally, our community has been a victim of multiple overdoses of various drugs. In 2021, 193 people suffered overdoses with multiple drug-related deaths, and in 2022, 141 overdoses with multiple drug-related death. As of July 13, 2023, the City of Bradenton has had seventy-five (75) overdoses with multiple drug-related deaths during this calendar year.
The City of Bradenton has been working with community partners and surrounding agencies for several years to combat illegal drug use and sales. Since fentanyl has become a prominent drug in the area recently, our officers and civilian staff have been trying to find safer ways to deal with the influx of this dangerous drug and others. With the ability of fentanyl to be hidden within other drugs, and the dangers other illegal drugs present, field tests and additional tests are often done in less than favorable conditions, and have the potential for exposure and contamination. By utilizing the TruNarc Handheld Narcotics Analyzer, officers and civilians will be able to test for multiple illegal substances by eliminating the need to directly contact the substance and creating a safer environment when handling dangerous drugs.
Florida, and the City of Bradenton, has seen the population grow, and the department must possess the necessary resources to leverage emerging technology to direct such resources efficiently and effectively. The equipment listed in this proposal is essential to enhance the ability to identify dangerous, illegal drugs, protect staff, and lead to successful prosecutions. This technology will augment our ability to conduct criminal investigations and share information with our local law enforcement partners. The Bradenton Police Department will continue to work collaboratively with our community partners to strengthen community policing, reduce the fear and incidence of crime, and develop safe communities for our residents. The purchase and implementation of the
TruNarc Handheld Narcotics Analyzer will afford the police department the ability to analyze substances, preserve evidence of criminal behavior, and provide a safer environment for officers and civilian staff by reducing the direct handling of these drugs.
The goal of this grant proposal meets the JAG requirements by providing equipment to enhance law enforcement programs, aid in successful prosecution, target violent crime areas, and be a major part of drug enforcement programs.
After the program, data will be summarized, compared, and reported as required by the Department of Justice. The Bradenton Police Department is capable and confident in our ability to fulfill this proposal as we seek to reduce crime and raise the quality of life for our stakeholders.
Budget Narrative and Budget
Equipment
1. TruNarc Handheld Narcotics Analyzer
The City of Bradenton has been faced with increasing amounts of overdoses related to dangerous drugs and an increase in the intake of these items, both for criminal prosecution and destruction if there is no arrest.
The TruNarc Handheld Narcotics Analyzer tests for approximately 500 different substances, including narcotics stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, and analgesics. The use of the analyzer eliminates direct contact with the substance(s) to deliver a clear, real-time presumptive test of the evidence. The unit also provided an automated, tamper-proof record of the scan results to assist in prosecution.
Traditional presumptive tests require direct contact with the substance to remove a small amount for testing. Multiple tests may be required if the substance has not received a positive presumptive test, thereby using more of the evidence. In the event the substance is not identified, an arrest cannot be made and additional lab work is required. By using the TruNarc Handheld Narcotics Analyzer, officers will not only have the ability to test for hundreds of substances without repeated tests but the analyzer can also be used through the packaging in most cases. This allows officers in the field and civilian support staff safer environments when handling potentially lethal drugs.
We are requesting the use of funds to purchase a TruNarc Handheld Narcotics Analyzer to provide higher accuracy testing to aid in the successful prosecution.
The cost of the TruNarc Handheld Narcotics Analyzer is $32,302.31.
2. TruNarc Solution Kit
To work in conjunction with the Handheld Narcotics Analyzer, the funds will be used to purchase a TruNarc Type H Solution Kit. This kit allows the analyzer to properly function and scan for illegal substances.
The cost of the TruNarc Solution Kit H is $133.69.
Total JAG Fiscal Year 2023 Equipment Costs $32,436.00.
Detail Budget
Total JAG Allotment $32,436
Equipment
TruNarc Handheld Narcotics Analyzer $32,302.11
TruNarc Solution Kit Type H $133.69
Total Equipment Cost $32,436
Leveraged Funds
Total Fiscal Year 2023 JAG Budget $32,436.00
REVIEW NARRATIVE
The proposed plan was provided to the governing body for review on June 30, 2023, and will be considered by City Council on August 23, 2023. The application will be submitted on August 28, 2023, to the Department of Justice. Public comment will be allowed during the public hearing considering the plan adoption on August 23, 2023, during a regularly scheduled City Council meeting. The plan will be made available for public review and comment for 30 days before submission.
The following timeline will be followed during this application process:
Public Notice Advertisement: July 25, 2023
Public Comment & Plan Availability Period: July 25, 2023, to August 25, 2023
Posted to City’s Webpage: July 25, 2023
Governing Body Notified of Grant Opportunity June 30, 2023
Governing Body Consideration for Adoption: August 23, 2023
Application Submission: August 28, 2023
The proposed plan will be available to the public via the City's webpage, www.cityofbradenton.com, and is available at both City Hall and Bradenton Police Department.
Public comment will also be allowed during the public hearing considering the plan adoption on August 23, 2023, during a regularly scheduled City Council meeting. Any comments will be forwarded to the DOJ for review.
City of Bradenton
ADVERTISEMENT NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY & NOTICE OF CITIZEN COMMENT PERIOD
The City of Bradenton has received notice from the U.S. Department of Justice of its proposed allocation of the $32,436 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program (A maximum of 10% of the funds may be used for planning and administration).
The City's proposed plan identifying how it intends to use these funds will be available for public review at the following locations:
City of Bradenton webpage - www.cityofbradenton.com
City of Bradenton - 101 Old Main Street, Bradenton, FL 34205
Bradenton Police Department - 100 10th Street West, Bradenton, FL 34205
Bradenton Police Department webpage – www.bradentonpd.com
Citizen comments will be received from July 25, 2023, through close of business day, August 25, 2023. The City Council will conduct a public hearing and consider adopting the recommended application during the August 23, 2023, City Council meeting commencing at 8:30 AM. All comments received during the citizen input period will be forwarded with the grant application submittal to the Department of Justice.
City of Bradenton
C/O Captain Phillip E. Waller
2023 Justice Assistance Program
100 10th St West
Bradenton, Florida 34205
For more information, please contact Captain Phillip E. Waller at 941-932-9300.
Publish One Time on Tuesday, July 25, 2023
APPENDIX
Budget Detail Summary
Equipment Request: Federal: $32,436 Non-Federal: $0 Total: $32,436
Total Direct Costs: Federal: $32,436 Non-Federal: $0 Total: $32,436
Total Project Costs: Federal: $32,436 Non-Federal: $0 Total: $32,436
Total Federal Request: $32,436