SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve the revised Electronic Surveillance Support Team Multi-Agency Voluntary Cooperation Mutual Aid Agreement for law enforcement services between The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the City of Clearwater, effective upon execution through February 28, 2019, and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. (consent)
Body
SUMMARY:
Council previously approved the Electronic Surveillance Support Team Multi-Agency Voluntary Cooperation Mutual Aid Agreement with an expiration date of February 28, 2019 in June 2015.
Mutual aid agreements among law enforcement agencies are authorized by Chapter 23, Florida Statutes, for rendering voluntary assistance of a routine law enforcement nature to one another across jurisdictional lines by and between such agencies to such lawful activities and to enter into an operational assistance agreement whereby each agency may request and render law enforcement assistance to the other law enforcement agencies during emergencies under Section 252.34, Florida Statutes.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and each agency party to this agreement has custody and control of technical equipment used for the analysis of electronic devices and video and audio enhancement, all of which is used to investigate and locate violent criminals or missing endangered persons.
Technical assistance is necessary for the deployment and effective use and operation of these technical assets; and certain requests for electronic surveillance support may require more resources, specially trained personnel or advanced technical equipment than a single agency can provide.
The parties have determined that they can make efficient use of their powers and resources, in certain criminal cases that may require specialized expertise and have the potential to cross jurisdictional lines, through coordination and sharing of specialized technical resources and personnel.
When engaged in Electronic Surveillance Support Team (ESST) operations that have been approved by and involve FDLE, as contemplated by the Mutual Aid Agreement, ESST members who do not otherwise have jurisdictional authority shall have full jurisdictional authority anywhere in the State of Florida with full power to enforce Florida laws and to avail themselves of the provisions of this Agreement.
Due to revisions in the terms and conditions of the previously approved agreement, as outlined below, it is necessary to come before Council for approval of the proposed revised agreement:
• The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) will discontinue reimbursement to the participating agency for vehicle fuel costs at the rate of 44.5 cents per mile for fuel used by personnel employed by the participating agency and operating a participating agency vehicle, while conducting investigative operations or training.
• Additionally, FDLE will discontinue reimbursement for registration, training costs, travel and per diem costs incurred in conjunction with investigations.
• The revised agreement increases the FDLE reimbursement from $5,000 up to but not exceeding $17,500 per individual task force personnel to work overtime while participating in investigative operations.
• If the monetary amount of state financial assistance provided to a participating agency is equal to or exceeds $750,000 in any fiscal year, the participant must have a state single audit for such fiscal year in accordance with Section 215.97, Florida State Statutes.
There is no budgetary impact associated with the ESST Mutual Aid Agreement.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
There is no budgetary impact associated with the ESST Mutual Aid Agreement.