Report Prepared by: Joey Perez, Police Captain
Title
SUBJECT: Approval to Enter into a 3-Year Agreement with the Merced County District Attorney's Office to Share the Cost of One (1) Crime Analyst for the Merced County Violence Interruption and Prevention (VIPER) Program
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers approving a 3-year agreement with the Merced County District Attorney's Office to share the cost of One (1) Crime Analyst for the Merced County Violence Interruption and Prevention (VIPER) program.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Approving of a Memorandum of Understanding with Merced County District Attorney's Office to share the cost of one (1) VIPER Crime Analysts; and,
B. Authorizing the City Manager to execute the necessary documents.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommend by Staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to other than recommended by Staff; or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Refer to Staff for reconsideration of specific items; or,
5. Continue to a future meeting.
AUTHORITY
Merced City Charter, Section 200.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in the 2024/2025 adopted budget.
DISCUSSION
In 2016, looking for outside sources of revenue to combat escalating violence, The District Attorney's Office drafted a proposal for state funding to create an intelligence unit within the District Attorney's Office. Based on previous multi agency gang investigations in Merced County, law enforcement leaders had concluded that an essential part of a successful gang interdiction strategy was state of the art intelligence analysis. Assemblyman Adam Gray agreed to pursue the necessary funds through the state budget process. Assemblyman Gray succeeded in obtaining $4.5 million for a three-year Merced County pilot project nicknamed VIPER (Violence Interruption and Prevention Emergency Response.
In 2017, the VIPER program became operational. VIPER has continued to assist law enforcement with their efforts to reduce violent crime. The mission of the V...
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