REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
December 6, 2018
FROM: JERRY P. DYER, Chief of Police
Police Department
BY: PATRICK FARMER, Deputy Police Chief
Investigations Division
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the 2018 National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) grant program, herein referred to as the SAKI grant
1. ***RESOLUTION - 3rd Amendment to Position Authorization Resolution (PAR) No. 2018-158, adding two Police Officer positions to the Fresno Police Department, effective October 1, 2018. (Subject to Mayor’s Veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council adopt the 3rd Amendment to Position Authorization Resolution No. 2018-158, adding two police officer positions to the Fresno Police Department. On November 29, 2018, Council approved the acceptance and appropriations for the Police Department’s 2018 National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. Grant funding will fund two police officer positions dedicated to the SAKI grant, creating a Sexual Assault Cold Case Unit within the Department’s Sexual Assault Unit (SAU).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno has been awarded grant funds of $1,000,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice, through the Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance to assist with the follow up investigation of sexual assault cases. The grant period is from October 1, 2018 to September 30, 2021.
BACKGROUND
In April 2015, an inventory was conducted on un-tested sexual assault kits (SAKs), resulting in the identification of 888 un-tested sexual assault kits related to sexual assaults; suspicious deaths; and homicides. In 2016, the California Department of Justice Bureau of Forensic Science (CA DOJ BFS) was awarded a grant from the District Attorney’s Office of New York (DANY) to provide funding to increase testing capacity for sexual assault kits. Due to our strong working relationship with the CA DOJ BFS and our partnership with the regional DOJ lab located at California State University, Fresno, we were able to submit the un-tested SAKs from the department’s Property & Evidence storage facility for testing. FPD, in conjunction with the CA DOJ BFS sent un-tested SAKs to two approved vendor labs for DNA testing utilizing DANY grant resources.
All previously un-tested SAKs have been examined by the vendor laboratories and follow up investigation is required for those yielding DNA evidence. From the original number of approximately 888 un-tested kits identified in 2015, we currently have 694 sexual assault cases needing further investigation due to recent DNA hits. The FPD SAU currently follows the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s model for un-tested SAKs and has implemented a tracking system which follows current State of California case protocols.
In September 2018, the Police Department was awarded the 2018 National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) grant from the U.S Department of Justice through the Bureau of Justice Assistance. On November 29, 2018, Council approved the acceptance of this grant along with authorization to enter into an MOU with RCS for advocacy services and appropriations within the Police Department’s budget for the remainder of FY 2019. With this grant funding we can dedicate two full time detectives to pursue all DNA hits and leads related to the cases being returned from lab testing. Rape Counseling Services of Fresno, will be receiving a portion of the funding to provide each victim with advocacy services and resources throughout the investigation and prosecution of their case.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This is not a “project” for the purposes of CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered because accepting grant funds does not include a bid or award of a construction or service contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
There will be no net impact to the general fund. The grant provides full cost recovery for all positions, operations, training and supplies for this program. Expenses will be claimed and reimbursed on a quarterly basis. By adding these positions, we can dedicate these two investigators to handle the identified SAKI related cases while keeping the current capacity of the Sexual Assault Unit fully staffed. This funding will enable the Fresno Police Department to enhance its current capabilities and response to sexual assault cold cases identified within the City of Fresno.
Attachment: 3rd Amendment to the Position Authorization Resolution No. 2018-158