TO: FROM: Honorable Mayor and City Commission Ambreen Bhatty, City Manager BY: Lieutenant Cary M. Marks, Acting District Chief CM12-024 DATE: July 17, 2012 SUBJECT: LAW ENFORCEMENT TRUST FUND PURCHASES I am requesting to utilize funding from the City s Law Enforcement Trust Fund to fund the purchase and utilization of LiveScan Electronic Fingerprint Equipment in accordance with Section 932.7055 of Florida Statues and the City of North Lauderdale purchasing policies. Background The Broward Sheriff s Office North Lauderdale District uses fingerprints as a valuable crime investigative tool and is also responsible for obtaining and submitting fingerprints to Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for background checks for various applicants for City of North Lauderdale employment and volunteer positions. These background checks are instrumental in determining who will be allowed to work in critical positions, especially those which interact with vulnerable populations such as juveniles and the elderly. Background checks are critical in employing personnel who would be working as Fire Fighters, counselors, and recreational staff, etc. Currently, the process includes submitting a hard copy applicant fingerprint card to FDLE. FDLE then submits the card to the FBI to query the national database (NCIC). The FBI will no longer be accepting hard copy fingerprint card submissions and is requiring fingerprints be submitted electronically to FDLE. Electronic submission means that the fingerprints are taken on a Live Scan device which transmits the fingerprints to FDLE. FDLE representatives have advised that most customers already submitting fingerprints by Live Scan systems find it easy and efficient. Results from fingerprint submissions will be received via e-mail within 2-3 business days, which is significantly faster then the current process. Program Overview The Live Scan system allows for more efficient processing of applicants when compared to traditional ink and card fingerprinting. The FBI is no longer accepting hard copy fingerprint
cards for employee background checks and now requires the fingerprints to be submitted electronically. The Live Scan system utilizes computer technology and software to scan applicant fingerprints, determines the quality of prints to be submitted, and stores each applicant s information electronically. The applicant s information and fingerprints can then be submitted electronically to FDLE and then to the FBI for checks against state and national databases. The Live Scan System is also portable, which allows its technology to be utilized to obtain elimination fingerprints from victims and witnesses at crime scenes throughout the city. Detectives and Investigative Aides will be able to respond to crime scenes and electronically capture prints. These prints can be printed and submitted along with potential suspect prints at the time of reporting, significantly reducing investigative time. This technology provides several benefits to the North Lauderdale District: The Live Scan System will allow the district to comply with the FBI s requirement to submit electronic fingerprints for background checks. The Live Scan System immediately determines the quality of the fingerprints. This eliminates the potential of the fingerprints being rejected by FDLE and having to repeat the fingerprint process days or weeks later. Fingerprints conducted by Deputies for City of North Lauderdale can be checked in an average of 48 hours. The Live Scan System is portable and can be utilized in other investigative endeavors. The time required for a deputy to fingerprint multiple applicants, witnesses, and victims, as well as the time saved in clean up, will be drastically reduced. This will be a new program for the North Lauderdale District and the equipment, software and all related costs will be funded through North Lauderdale L.E.T.F. The staff is proposing to piggy-back off of a Florida State Contract #680-370-07-1 to purchase this equipment. The total expenditure estimated is $14,856.16. The North Lauderdale L.E.T.F. has a sufficient fund balance available for this purchase. Recommendation The City Administration and the Broward Sheriff s Office are recommending Commission s consideration and approval of the attached resolution authorizing expenditure in an amount not to exceed $14,856.16 from the North Lauderdale Law Enforcement Trust Fund for the purchase of LiveScan Electronic Fingerprinting equipment.
RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF NORTH LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER OR HER DESIGNEE TO APPROVE AN APPLICATION BY THE BROWARD SHERIFF S OFFICE FOR THE RELEASE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TRUST FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $14,856.16 TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF LIVESCAN ELECTRONIC FINGERPRINTING EQUIPMENT, IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF NORTH LAUDERDALE AND THE BROWARD SHERIFF S OFFICE (BSO); PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the City of North Lauderdale currently contracts for police services with the Broward Sheriff s Office; and WHEREAS, the Broward Sheriff s Office wishes to continue to work cooperatively with the City of North Lauderdale to support the conduct of criminal background checks of employees and volunteers to the extent required and permitted by Florida Statutes; and WHEREAS, new legislation requires the digital transmission of fingerprints to FDLE and the national FBI databases for certain City employees and volunteers; and WHEREAS, the Broward Sheriff s Office will be able to use this equipment to obtain elimination fingerprints from victims and witnesses as crime scenes throughout the City significantly reducing positional investigative time; and WHEREAS, funds exist in the Law Enforcement Trust Funds which can be utilized to purchase this equipment which shall remain in the ownership of the City and earmarked for the North Lauderdale District s use within the confines of the City; and WHEREAS, in accordance with the requirement of the Agreement for police
services, the request shown as Exhibit A and Exhibit B has been determined to be in legal compliance with Florida Statute 932.7055(4) by the City Attorney and is accompanied by a written certification to that effect; and WHEREAS, the City Manager, the BSO Chief of the North Lauderdale District, and the Human Resources Manager recommend the acceptance of an application by BSO to allow for the release of $14,856.16 to purchase the LiveScan Electronic Fingerprint Equipment; and WHEREAS, the City Commission of the City of North Lauderdale, pursuant to Section 1.66.241 Florida Statutes, desires to budget and appropriate an amount not to exceed Fourteen Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty-Six Dollars and Sixteen Cents ($14,856.16) from the Law Enforcement Trust Fund (LETF). NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF NORTH LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA: Section 1: The foregoing WHEREAS clauses are hereby ratified and confirmed as being true and correct and are hereby made a specific part of this Resolution, All exhibits attached hereto are incorporated herein and made a specific part of this Resolution. Section 2: The appropriate City officials are hereby authorized and directed to approve the application by BSO, to allow for the release of $14,856.16 of Law Enforcement Trust Funds to purchase the LiveScan Electronic Fingerprint Equipment to be used in the City of North Lauderdale. Section 3: The amount of Fourteen Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty-Six Dollars and Sixteen Cents ($14,856.16) is hereby budgeted and appropriated, pursuant to Section 166.241, from LEFT funds. Section 4: Furthermore, the appropriate City officials are hereby authorized to execute a payment from the Law Enforcement Trust Fund, payable to BSO, in order for BSO to purchase the LiveScan Electronic Fingerprint equipment. Section 5: All resolutions or parts of resolutions in conflict herewith are hereby repealed
to the extent of such conflict. Section 6: If any clause, section, other part or application of this Resolution is held by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional or invalid, in part or application, it shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions or applications of the Resolution. Section 7: This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage and adoption. PASSED and ADOPTED by the City Commission of the City of North Lauderdale this 17 th day of July, 2012. APPROVED AS TO FORM: CITY ATTONEY SAMUEL S. GOREN MAYOR JACK BRADY ATTEST: VICE MAYOR DAVID G. HILTON CITY CLERK PATRICIA VANCHERI