Agenda

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City Council Regular Meeting

Meeting Date:

12/06/2022

BACKGROUND

The National defense Authorization Act authorizes the Secretary of Defense to transfer excess Department of Defense (DoD) personal property to Federal, state and local Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA) with special emphasis given to counterterrorism. The LESO Program allows LEAs to receive DoD excess property. There is over 13,000 local LEAs who have taken advantage of this unique program. The Schertz Police Department has participated in the LESO (Law Enforcement Support Office) Program for many years. Our current contract was executed in May 2021 and expires in May 2023.

There have been some additional changes to the LESO Program through Executive Order 14074 Section 12 (signed on May 25, 2022), which requires LEAs to execute and submit an Addendum (attached) and acknowledge and complete the Certification of Notification for Law Enforcement Agency to Potentially Acquire Controlled Property (attached). The Executive Order also requires the LESO Program contract and Notice of Certification to be executed annually. In essence, the Certification of Notification is completed by the CLEO (Chief Law Enforcement Officer) acknowledging that the public and the CGB (Civilian Governing Body, i.e., Mayor, City Council, and City Manager) have been notified and provided a comprehensive list of potential controlled property that the Schertz Police Department may request and acquire. Again, we presently have acquired the MRAP and rifles from LESO. The Schertz Police Department will post this on our webpage in English and Spanish no later than November 21, 2022. And, the Addendum's primary edit includes language that specialized equipment, specifically vehicles (MRAP), acquired through the LESO Program will be used exclusively for; disaster-related emergencies, active shooter scenarios, hostage or other search and rescue operations, or anti-terrorism preparedness, protection, prevention, response, recovery, or relief. The Addendum and Certification of Notification needs to be completed by the CLEO and CGB before January 1, 2023, or we must surrender all previously acquired equipment from the LESO Program.

GOAL

To enhance Schertz PD's response capability for a wide spectrum of incidents that occur from acts of nature or man-made.

COMMUNITY BENEFIT

Enhanced response capability that includes but not limited to, water rescue, active shooter, search and rescue, crowd control, and intelligence gathering, by providing Schertz PD access to specialzed and expensive equipment/weapons provided at no cost to the taxpayers.

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDED ACTION

Approval of this Resolution to authorize the City to enter into the Addendum of the LESO program and also to acknowledge the Certification of Notification to the public and City Council.

FISCAL IMPACT

Failure to approve the Addendum and verify the Certification of Notice will result in the mandatory return of any equipment acquired under the LESO program, which presently includes the MRAP and rifles.

RECOMMENDATION

Approval of Resolution 22-R-133.

Attachments
LESO Addendum
LESO Certification of Notificaiton
Resolution