Agenda Date: September 1, 2015
Subject:
Title
Resolution approving a Cooperative Agreement between the City of Littleton and the Arapahoe County Department of Human Services.
Body
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Presented By: |
Doug Stephens, Chief of Police |
POLICY QUESTION:
Does city council support a resolution authorizing a Cooperative Agreement between the Littleton Police Department (LPD) and the Arapahoe County Department of Human Services (ACDHS) to clarify the duties and responsibilities of agencies involved in reporting, responding to, and investigating reports regarding the mistreatment, exploitation and self-neglect of at-risk adults?
BACKGROUND:
The LPD has followed established protocols and procedures for coordinating a response to allegations of mistreatment, exploitation and self-neglect of at-risk adults. The protocols are verbally agreed upon and documented in the respective agencies policies and/or procedures.
In recent years, the ACDHS provides the investigations division reports of alleged mistreatment, exploitation and self-neglect of at-risk adults reported to their office. The reports are reviewed and police officers are assigned to respond, investigate and enforce crimes perpetrated against at-risk adults. Allegations of felony violations are assigned to a detective who coordinates the investigation with members of the appropriate district attorney’s office and human services department. In non-criminal instances, the police department provides information to ACDHS for intervention and disposition.
STAFF ANALYSIS:
In accordance with Colorado Revised Statute, Section 26-3.1-103(2): In each county department, law enforcement agency, district attorney’s office, other agency responsible under federal law or the laws of this state to investigate mistreatment, self-neglect or exploitation of at-risk adults shall develop and implement cooperative agreements to coordinate the investigative duties of such agencies. The focus of such agreement shall be to ensure the best protection for at-risk adults. The agreements shall provide for special requests by one agency for assistance from another agency and for joint investigations. The agreement shall further provide that each agency shall maintain the confidentiality of the information exchanged pursuant to such joint investigation.
The LPD supports the recommendations and procedures outlined in the cooperative agreement proposed by the ACDHS. LPD believes it is in the best interest of at-risk adults to work collaboratively with members of the district attorney’s office and the ACDHS to protect and meet the needs of the community.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
There is no fiscal impact related to the agreement.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the Cooperative Agreement between the City of Littleton on behalf of the Littleton Police Department and the Arapahoe County Department of Human Services be approved.
PROPOSED MOTION:
Proposed Motion
I move to approve the resolution approving the Cooperative Agreement between the City of Littleton and the Arapahoe County Department of Human Services.