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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPolice Department Drone Budget Amendment CzUpeeMbwpjfbu3;5:qn-Kbo21-3135 jfields 1.10.24 Approved Liz Strader via email 1.10.24 1-10-23 1/10/2024 2:23PM City of Meridian FY2024 Budget Amendment Form Total Amendment Cost-Lifetime Prior Year(s) Fiscal Year Fiscal Year Fiscal Year Fiscal Year Fiscal Year Department Name: Police Funding 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 Title: Police Drone Personnel $ - $ $ $ $ Instructions for submitting Budget Aenendiments: Operating $ 35,000 $ $ $ $ ➢ Department will send Amendment with Directors signature to Finance(Budget Manager)forreview Capital $ - ➢ Finance will send Amendment to Council Liaison for signature Total $ - $ 35,000 $ $ $ $ ➢Councii Liaison will send signed Amendment to Mayor Evaluation Questions Total Estimated Project Cost: $ 35,000 ➢ Mayorwill send signed Amendment to Finance(Budget Manager) will send approved cagy of Amendment to Department Please answer all Evaluation Questions using the financial data referenced above. ➢ Finance(Budget Manager)will add copy of Amendment to Council Agenda using Municode Agenda Manager r 1.,.Describe what is,beng requested?, This recent incident revealed that we do not have the adequate number of drones on hand to ensure consistent monitoring of a suspect and need to address this void immediately,as it gives suspects the opportunity to fortify or conceal their position,posing a potential threat to law enforcement,and/or continue their flight and evade law enforcement,which increases the potential risk to our community. With this officer safety gap in mind,the Meridian Police Department is requesting a budget amendment to purchase an additional large frame drone.This drone provides a more efficient battery system,increased battery life,and the ability to fly in inclement weather. This would give the police department a 3rd large frame option in inclement weather and 2. Why was this budget request not submitted during the current fiscal year budget cycle? Following a double homicide and a vehicle and foot pursuit of a homicide suspect on December 3rd,2023,the Meridian Police Department identified an officer safety gap involving our current Unmanned Aircraft System(Drone)field operations. 3. What is the explanation for not submitting this budget request during the next fiscal year budget cycle?, The estimated one-time cost of adding this equipment with these capabilities and the necessary accessories would be no more than$35,000.00. The police department strongly feels that waiting an additional year(during the next budget process)is simply too long given the risk at hand and relying on other agencies to fill this gap is not a solution. We respectfully request you 4.Describe the proposed method of funding? If funding is split between Funds(i.e. General,Enterprise,Grant),please include the percentage split. List the amounts and sources of anticipated additional revenue that will result from approval of this request. General fund 5.Does this request align with the Department/City's strategic plan? If not,please explain how this request was not included in the Department/City strategic plan? Yes-Officer&Public Safety 6 Does this request require resources to be provided by other departments? If yes,please describe the necessary resources to be provided by other departments. No i 7.Does this Amendment include any needed Equipment or Software that will utilize the Cit 's network? Yes or No No 8.Is the amendment going to result in the disposal of an asset?(Yes or No) No r 9.Any additional comments? See attached document Total Amendment Request $ 35,000 Every effort should be made to avoid reopening the budget for an amendment. Departments will need to provide backup and appear before the City Council to justify budget amendments. Budget amendments are intended for emergency or mandatory changes to the original balanced budget. Changes to the original balanced budget may cause a funding shortfall. City of Meridian FY2024 Budget Amendment Form Request to Purchase New Drone Following a double homicide and a vehicle and foot pursuit of a homicide suspect on December 3rd, 2023,the Meridian Police Department identified an officer safety gap involving our current Unmanned Aircraft System (Drone)field operations. We currently utilize two (2) large frame drones and two (2) small frame drones.These are all designed for exterior deployments, but we become limited as there are strict guidelines for flight in inclement weather such as cold,fog, rain, snow, and high winds. During a yard to yard search, as this operational deployment was, we utilized the drones to conduct stationary overwatch for officers to ensure they are not ambushed. We quickly exhausted the equipment we currently have on hand, especially when you take in to account equipment downed for maintenance, limitations because of weather, and down time for battery changes.This results in officers searching locations without the ability to first clear an area of potential threats and/or identify possible suspect locations using thermal imaging. Moving in to an unknown location,while searching for dangerous armed suspect puts our officer's safety at risk. Unfortunately, incidents of this nature regularly result in the application of force,specifically deadly force, as officers are ambushed from fortified or concealed positions causing serious injuries and/or death to the involved officers and suspects. While we understand there is inherent risk in law enforcement operations utilizing technology to mitigate that risk as much as possible for officers,the public, and suspects is the proper way to handle these types of situations. This recent incident revealed that we do not have the adequate number of drones on hand to ensure consistent monitoring of a suspect and need to address this void immediately, as it gives suspects the opportunity to fortify or conceal their position, posing a potential threat to law enforcement, and/or continue their flight and evade law enforcement,which increases the potential risk to our community. With this officer safety gap in mind, the Meridian Police Department is requesting a budget amendment to purchase an additional large frame drone. This drone provides a more efficient battery system, increased battery life, and the ability to fly in inclement weather. This would give the police department a 3rd large frame option in inclement weather and would grant us the ability to provide constant overwatch for officers,while utilizing other platforms to conduct an area search and/or provide coverage of officers assigned to a search team. The estimated one-time cost of adding this equipment with these capabilities and the necessary accessories would be no more than $35,000.00. The police department strongly feels that waiting an additional year(during the next budget process) is simply too long given the risk at hand and relying on other agencies to fill this gap is not a solution. We respectfully request you approve this budget amendment. Thank you