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August 13, 2024 <br /> <br />24 - 228 - Adoption of an ordinance accepting a grant in the amount of $1,067,316 <br />from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and appropriating said <br />funds in the FY 2025 Grants Fund to provide funding to the Portsmouth Sheriff’s <br />Office for the salaries and benefits of twelve full-time School Resource Officers. <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br /> The Portsmouth Sheriff’s Office pursued a grant from the Virginia Department of <br />Criminal Justice Services to fund twelve (12) full-time School Resource Officer positions. <br /> <br /> The purpose of the grant is to reduce violence involving school-age children by <br />placing SROs at all Portsmouth City Elementary, Middle, and High Schools. <br /> <br />Discussion: <br /> <br /> Portsmouth Sheriff’s Office deputies assigned to SRO positions will be required to <br /> <br />attend DCJS-approved SRO training. <br /> <br /> In addition to basic law enforcement training, SRO officers will be trained to <br />respond to active threat scenarios at schools, as well as how to effectively interact with <br /> <br />school staff and students. <br /> <br /> <br /> Deputies will; <br /> <br /> Build working relationships with school staff, students, and parent groups. <br />o <br /> <br /> Be positive role models. <br />o <br /> Provide law enforcement and security services to the school and school grounds <br />o <br /> <br />during regular school hours. <br /> <br /> Work closely with school administration to enforce state laws and local ordinances. <br />o <br /> <br /> Investigate criminal activity. <br />o <br /> <br /> Make appropriate referrals to juvenile authorities or other governmental agencies. <br />o <br /> Provide input regarding crime prevention programs, emergency crisis planning, <br />o <br /> <br />and building security. <br /> <br /> Provide training for school personnel in handling crisis situations. <br />o <br /> <br /> Conduct security inspections to deter criminal or delinquent activities. <br />o <br /> <br /> Ensure school administration safety by being present during school. <br />o <br /> <br />Financial Impact: <br /> <br /> <br /> This is year three of a four-year grant from the Virginia Department of Criminal <br />Justice Services. DCJS grant guidelines require localities to provide a local cash or in- <br />kind match from non-federal sources. The locality’s match is based on the Virginia <br />Department of Education’s 2024-2026 Composite Index of Local Ability-to-Pay. The City <br />of Portsmouth’s match requirement is 23.69% of the total project cost. The match for this <br />grant has been determined to be $210,098 in cash and $121,248 in-kind. The match will <br />be funded through funds previously appropriated in the Sheriff’s Office category of the <br />adopted FY 2025 General Fund Budget. <br /> <br />Recommended Action: <br /> <br /> <br /> Adoption of ordinance. <br /> <br />Next Steps Following Council Action: <br /> <br /> The Finance Department will make the necessary budgetary adjustments. <br /> <br />Motion by Mr. Hugel, and seconded by Mr. Barnes, to adopt the following <br />ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: <br /> <br />“ORDINANCE ACCEPTING A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,067,316 FROM THE <br />VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES AND APPROPRIATING <br />SAID FUNDS IN THE FY 2025 GRANTS FUND TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO THE <br />PORTSMOUTH SHERIFF’S OFFICE FOR THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS OF <br />TWELVE FULL-TIME SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS. <br />” <br /> <br />Ayes: Barnes, Hugel, Lucas-Burke, Tillage, Glover <br />Nays: None <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />