Agenda Date: 10/04/2016
Subject:
Title
A resolution authorizing an intergovernmental agreement to participate in a multi-jurisdictional task force known as the Arapahoe County Narcotics Team
Body
|
Presented By: |
Doug Stephens, Chief of Police |
POLICY QUESTION:
Does city council support an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) authorizing the Littleton Police Department (LPD) to join in the creation of a narcotics-related investigative team?
BACKGROUND:
The LPD currently has an Intergovernmental Agreement relating to its participation in a multi-jurisdictional investigative unit, the Arapahoe County IMPACT team. The IMPACT team is comprised mainly of members of the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) however the Littleton Police Department, along with other nearby municipalities, has assigned personnel to this unit on a full-time basis. The primary purpose of IMPACT has been to concentrate investigative efforts on pattern crimes occurring throughout Arapahoe County. The benefit of participation with IMPACT has been the ability for Littleton to utilize the team to address similar crimes occurring within our jurisdiction. Over the past few years IMPACT operations have evolved to focus nearly exclusively on narcotics operations. This focus area had previously been handled primarily by the South Metro Drug Task Force but the task force disbanded in 2012. Understanding the negative impact narcotics has on our communities, contributing members to IMPACT began discussions with the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office to form a unit focused solely on narcotics investigations. The ACSO offered to split IMPACT into two distinct units, one focusing on non-narcotic pattern crimes, and one focusing exclusively on narcotics investigations (Arapahoe County Narcotics Team).
The experience gained through the LPD’s participation with IMPACT has been that narcotics-related investigations have the greatest benefit to the Littleton community since narcotics are tied to nearly all other crimes. The LPD is aware that narcotics law violations transcend jurisdictional and geographical boundaries. Therefore, the LPD desires to share and coordinate resources in the enforcement, intervention, and prevention of narcotics related activities within Arapahoe County by assigning investigations personnel to the newly formed Arapahoe County Narcotics Team. This assignment would replace the existing LPD personnel assignment to the IMPACT team. The IMPACT team will continue to operate within Arapahoe County but will be staffed solely by ACSO personnel at this time.
STAFF ANALYSIS:
The LPD has evaluated the staffing costs, practical expectations and intergovernmental cooperative effort created by the Arapahoe County Narcotics Team. Staff believes it provides an indispensable investigative framework to combat narcotics-related criminal activities. The LPD would like to participate in the creation of this program. This position would replace the existing position the LPD currently staffs with Arapahoe County IMPACT team and would require no new personnel.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
There are no fiscal impacts as this position has been previously budgeted and approved as the existing IMPACT assignment.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the resolution approving the IGA with the City of Englewood and the Arapahoe County Board of Commissioners for the Arapahoe County Narcotics Team be approved.
PROPOSED MOTION:
Proposed Motion
I move to approve the resolution authorizing an intergovernmental agreement to participate in a multi-jurisdictional task force known as the Arapahoe County Narcotics Team.