From
Fred Bates, Jr.
Title
Resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding / Interlocal Agreement (MOU/ILA) among participating Local Governments for Criminal Justice Information (CJI) sharing via the Dallas County Techshare Prosecutor (TSP)
Presenter
Steve Dye, Chief of Police
Recommended Action
Approve
Analysis
The City of Grand Prairie covers 81.4 square miles, is the 5th largest city in the Dallas - Fort Worth region in land mass, and is situated in three counties (Dallas, Tarrant, and Ellis). The City has a growing population of over 185,000 residents and provides emergency response service for both citizens and visitors within its boundaries. Law Enforcement, particularly criminal investigations, often extends beyond the boundaries of the City limits. It is, therefore, important that local agencies mutually cooperate to effectively serve and protect their respective constituents.
Vernon’s Texas Statues and Codes Annotated (VTCA), Local Government Code 791, The Texas Interlocal Cooperation Act, provides that any one or more local governmental entities may contract with each other for the performance of governmental functions and for the joint use of facilities or services for police protection and for the promotion and protection of the health and welfare of the inhabitants of this State and the mutual benefit of the parties.
The Grand Prairie Police Department along with other local law enforcement agencies often generate and compile Criminal Justice Information (CJI) in the normal course of business on individuals suspected of committing a crime, and desires to provide the compiled CJI to the District Attorney’s Office for successful prosecution of criminal cases. The Department also regularly files criminal cases with the District Attorney’s office as a normal operating procedure.
Participating in this Memorandum of Understanding / Interlocal Agreement (MOU/ILA) will provide the Department continued access to CJI and a newly furnished ability to file criminal cases via electronic means, thus making the entire case filing system more efficient. The Grand Prairie Police Department, for the purposes of mutually cooperating and benefiting from this access, recommends the City enter the agreement to maintain compliance with the Information Exchange Agreement requirement of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Criminal Justice Information Services Security Policy version 5.3, as amended (CJIS Policy).
The Public Safety, Health and Environmental Committee will review this item on June 3, 2015, their next scheduled meeting.
Financial Consideration
None
Body
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING / INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT (MOU/ILA) AMONG PARTICIPATING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION (CJI) SHARING VIA THE DALLAS COUNTY TECHSHARE PROSECUTOR (TSP).
WHEREAS, Dallas County, Texas in conjunction with the Dallas County District Attorney operates TSP to assist local law enforcement agencies with electronic filing of criminal cases and Criminal Justice Information (CJI) through the local agency’s access to the Dallas County Techshare Prosecutor (TSP).
WHEREAS, the City of Grand Prairie, which is partially located within the boundaries of Dallas County, wishes to participate in a Memorandum of Understanding / Interlocal Agreement (MOU/ILA) with local governments via the Dallas County Techshare Prosecutor (TSP).
WHEREAS, the Vernon’s Texas Statues and Codes Annotated, Government Code, 791, the Texas Interlocal Cooperation Act, provides for such an agreement between two or more local governmental agencies for the joint use of facilities and services for police protection and the promotion and protection of the health and welfare of the inhabitants of the State of Texas and the mutual benefit of both parties;
WHEREAS, the City is not responsible for any cost associated with this mutual access and benefit.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas that:
SECTION 1: the City Council of the City of Grand Prairie, Texas, does hereby authorize the City Manager to enter into a mutual Memorandum of Understanding / Interlocal Agreement (MOU/ILA) with local governments for Criminal Justice Information (CJI) sharing via the Dallas County Techshare Prosecutor (TSP)
SECTION 2: this resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and approval in accordance with the Charter of the City of Grand Prairie and it is accordingly so resolved.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS, ON THIS THE 2ND DAY OF JUNE, 2015.