Report Prepared by: Joey Perez, Police Captain
Title
SUBJECT: Approval of New Terms and Replacement of the Previously Approved 3-Year MOU 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 new terms and replacing the previously approved 3-year MOU 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 new terms and replacing the previously approved Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Merced County District Attorney's Office to share the cost of one (1) VIPER Crime Analyst; 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 and 2025/2026 adopted budgets.
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. Former Assemblyman Adam Gray agreed to pursue the necessary funds through the state budget process. The past Assembly Member succeeded in obtaining $4.5 million for a three-year Merced County pilot project nicknamed VIPER (Violence Interruption and Prevention Emergency Response).
In 201...
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