Bill Type and Number: Ordinance 2007-5

Sponsor: Council President at the request of the Mayor

Date of Introduction: January 9, 2007

Committee(s) of Reference: F, TEUS

Date of Analysis: January 12, 2007

Type of Action: Appropriation

Bill Summary: The bill appropriates a COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) grant of $691,060 from the U.S. Department of Justice to the Sheriff’s Office for the purchase and installation of security surveillance cameras in city correctional facilities and for the purchase of cell phone surveillance and triangulation equipment for criminal investigations.

Background Information: The grant will fund the purchase of 125 surveillance cameras to be installed at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility (41 cameras) and the Montgomery Correctional Center (84 cameras), plus associated computer monitoring and recording devices, to allow officers in a control room to constantly monitor the inmate housing areas, inmate processing areas, staff work areas and common areas of both correctional facilities. The cameras and monitoring system will replace a hodgepodge of existing cameras installed at various times over the past 20 years. The grant will also fund cell phone surveillance and triangulation equipment that will allow the JSO, with proper court approval, to track the physical location of particular cell phones that are associated with a criminal investigation to aid in the location and apprehension of suspects. The portable system can be deployed anywhere in the city, and can detect and record cell phone conversations and identify numbers called from the cell phone in question without having to seek records from the relevant telephone service providers.

Policy Impact Area: Public safety

Fiscal Impact: Appropriates a $691,060 federal grant

Analyst: Clements