Title
Resolution to enter into a Reciprocal Agreement that will establish a regional task force known as the Hampton Roads Peninsula Drug Initiative which will include a partnership with the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, the Hampton Police Division, Newport News Police Department and the Virginia State Police.
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
The HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) Program is a federal grant program administered by the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) which is a direct component of the Office of the United States President. This program provides resources to assist federal, state, local and tribal agencies in coordinating activities that address drug trafficking in specially designated areas of the United States. ONDCP designated the Washington/Baltimore HIDTA (W/B HIDTA) in 1994 and it remains only one of 28 HIDTAs throughout the country. The W/B HIDTA region includes: Loudoun, Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William, Alexandria, Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover, Prince George and Roanoke counties in Virginia as well as the cities of Richmond and Petersburg; Harford, Baltimore, Howard, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Prince Georges, Carroll, Charles and Wicomico Counties and the City of Baltimore in Maryland; Washington, DC; and Jefferson and Berkeley Counties in West Virginia. By execution of the Reciprocal Agreement with the Hampton Poilce Division (HPD), Newport News Police Division (NNPD) and the Virginia State Police (VSP), Hampton Roads Peninsula Drug Initiative (HRPDI) task force and the cities and agencies involved in this initiative will then join in the ranks of the other participating localities to become part of the W/B HIDTA task force.
HRPDI will be governed by a Command Board comprising of the Chiefs of Police for HPD and NNPD, and the VSP’s Division Commander of the Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI), Chesapeake Field Office. The U.S. Customs and Immigration Homeland Security Investigations Norfolk Office (ICE/HSI) will serve as the lead federal law enforcement partner/sponsor for HRPDI. ICE/HSI along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the Commonwealth Attorney’s Offices for the Cities of Hampton and Newport News will be active partners in this initiative as well.
Discussion:
The HRPDI task force will be replacing the now Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Task Force (PNETF) which is in the process of dissolving and closing out its current budget.
For the HRPDI, each participating Agency shall provide annually (July 1st) contributions to fund specific annual operating expenses of the Initiative as outlined in the Agreement which are similar guidelines by which the PNETF task force formerly operated. Those expenses include HPD agreeing to share with NNPD in the expenses that will pay salary, taxes and benefits for a Staff Assistant in addition to the salary and taxes for a Financial Analyst, subject to annual appropriations by each respective jurisdictions City Council. These positions are currently part of the PNETF budget and will be absorbed into the new HRPDI task force once this budget has been established.
However, pursuant to provisions of 31 USC 9703, the Treasury Forfeiture Fund Act of 1992, provides for reimbursement of certain expenses incurred by local, county and state law enforcement agencies during participation in joint operations and task forces. Subject to annual funding, ICE/HSI may appropriate funds for expenditures such as:
A. Rent: Up to $70,000 for office space for Initiative personnel. (ICE/HSI)
B. Overtime: Overtime expenses related to Initiative investigations. (ICE/HSI)
C. Operational Equipment: Radios, cameras, binoculars, video cameras. (ICE/HSI)
Therefore, in comparison to the dissolving PNETF, it is anticipated that the HRPDI partnership will provide a more advantageous level of resources, manpower and technical assets to participating agencies in the ever challenging fight against drug trafficking and money laundering crimes. In doing so, it is believed that suspects can be tracked and brought to prosecution more swiftly thereby strengthening the Police Division's commitment to keeping the City of Hampton's communities safe for citizens who live work and play within our city.
Impact:
With the establishment of the HRPDI task force it is anticipated that this partnership with area agencies together with the W/B HIDTA will provide a more advantageous level of resources, manpower and technical assets in the ever challenging fight against drug trafficking and money laundering crimes. In doing so, it is believed that suspects can be tracked and brought to prosecution more swiftly thereby strengthening our commitment to keeping our communities safe for citizens who live work and play within our city as well as our commitment to strengthening the Police Division's Community Policing efforts.
No budget increases are expected with the transition from the PNETF to the HRPDI task force.
Recommendation:
Rec
Approve the execution of the Reciprocal Agreement between the parties to establish the Hampton Roads Peninsula Drug Initiative (HRPDI) task force.
Body
WHEREAS, the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) is a federal grant program administered by the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) which is a direct component of the Office of the United States President; and
WHEREAS, this HIDTA program provides resources to assist federal, state, local and tribal agencies in coordinating activities that address drug trafficking in specially designated areas; and
WHEREAS, the Washington/Baltimore HIDTA (W/B HIDTA) was established in 1994 and is one of 28 other HIDTAs throughout the country; and
WHEREAS, the Hampton Police Division (HPD), Newport News Police Department (NNPD) and the Virginia State Police (VSP) (collectively the “Agencies”) have agreed to partner with the W/B HIDTA to combine resources with the intent to target Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Organizations (DTOs/MLOs) operating on the Virginia Peninsula; and
WHEREAS, the Agencies have agreed to dissolve the current Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Task Force (PNETF) to establish the HRPDI; and
WHEREAS, the Agencies have agreed that by creating the local HIDTA task force, which shall be known as the Hampton Roads Peninsula Drug Initiative (HRPDI), a greater plethora of resources, manpower and technical assets will be available to officers combating the DTOs and MLOs that continue to operate throughout the Peninsula.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HAMPTON, VIRGINIA as follows:
1. That the Hampton Roads Peninsula Drug Initiative (HRPDI) be established under the terms and conditions as outlined in the Reciprocal Agreement; and
2. That the City Manager or her authorized designee is authorized to sign said Agreement in support of establishing and funding said task force.
Adopted at the regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia held on May 11, 2016.