As part of the Police Department's ongoing endeavors to serve the residents of the City of Riviera Beach, and for the fourth consecutive year, the Police Department seeks funding to implement crime impact efforts, including but not limited to, G.R.E.A.T./SRO events, National Night Out Against Crime, Crime Impact Marketing Materials, training opportunities, and the Florida Attorney General's Preventing Crime Statewide Conference, appropriating funds from the Law Enforcement Trust Fund (LETF) consistent with applicable State and Federal Statutes. Previous years' events have been successful with positive impacts on Police Community Relations.
Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) is taught in all Riviera Beach elementary schools and funds will assist in purchasing educational materials.
National Night Out Against Crime is an annual and nationally recognized event used to educate citizens and business owners in Riviera Beach on crime impact strategies.
The Department produces various crime impact marketing materials each year that inform residents of successful crime impact initiatives and assist in community engagement and education. Some of the publications to be funded include the "Blotter" newsletter and the "End Game" crime alert.
Senior Management Development is essential to the mission of the Department. Over the past five years, the Department has increased the number of senior management personnel who have attended the two nationally recognized law enforcement executive management programs. Those programs are the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA and the Command Officer Development Course at the Southern Police Institute in Louisville, KY. Both institutions offer police organizations a unique opportunity not found in Palm Beach County. The Command Officer Development Course is a 400 hour Educational Program for Law Enforcement mid- to upper-level managers which provides a solid foundation for practical Law Enforcement administration and a comprehensive overview of management practices. This training is offered in five (5) two-week sessions over a period of five (5) months. Participants successfully completing the course will be able to:
- Assist in developing the strategic direction of an organization, including the mission, values, and goals
- Enhance internal communications within an organization
- Develop alternative solutions to specific problems
- Prepare a formal staff study
- Plan, implement, and evaluate focused policing strategies
- Develop rules, regulations, policies and procedures to meet needs, comply with law, and meet Accreditation standards
All organized training programs, in conjunction with promotional items to support crime impact efforts, will be supported with the use of the Law Enforcement Trust Fund dollars in the amount of $35,000.
The expenditure of Law Enforcement Trust Fund dollars is permissible for this effort and consistent with State and Federal Laws. This project can be funded using Law Enforcement Trust Fund dollars. These funds may be expended upon request by the Chief of Police to the governing body of the municipality, accompanied by a written certification that the request complies with the provisions of Florida Statute 932.7055.
The Florida State Statute provides that Law Enforcement Trust Funds shall be used for…”crime prevention, safe neighborhoods…prevention programs or for law enforcement purposes, which include defraying the cost of protracted or complex investigations, [and] providing additional equipment. The proceeds and interest may not be used to meet normal operating expenses of the law enforcement agency."
This item serves as written certification that this request complies with Florida Statute 932.7055.