Title
Authorization to Amend Ordinance for Intergovernmental Agreements with Arizona Law Enforcement Agencies through Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (Ordinance S-48814)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to amend the current Ordinance (S-45434) for Intergovernmental Agreements (IGAs) with Arizona law enforcement agencies to support the efforts of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Further request the City Controller to disburse funds associated with these IGAs. Authorization of the amendment would extend the current ordinance through June 30, 2022.
Report
Summary
The Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force is managed by the Phoenix Police Department (PPD) and establishes partnerships with law enforcement agencies statewide to combat cybercrimes involving children. Funding for this task force is provided through various funding sources including, but not limited to: the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the Arizona Attorney General's Office.
The ICAC Task Force assists state and local law enforcement agencies in responding to online child victimization and child pornography cases. The goal of the task force is to investigate, prosecute and deter the possession, production and distribution of unlawful images depicting the sexual exploitation of minors and the utilization of the internet to seek children as sexual victims. Through the various funding sources, the PPD is able to establish IGAs to partner with Arizona law enforcement agencies and provide financial assistance with forensic and investigative components, training and technical assistance and community education. The funding that the PPD has available annually to distribute to the law enforcement agencies through the IGAs has historically been approximately $100,000. The ICAC Task Force has conducted thousands of investigations resulting in the incarceration of hundreds of offenders. In addition, the ICAC Task Force has provided training presentations to children, parents, and community groups to educate them on how to protect children from internet crimes. Currently, the PPD has established IGAs with 24 law enforcement agencies statewide.
This extension is being requested because some of the law enforcement agencies were provided additional funds to spend through the end of this fiscal year but the Ordinance was set to expire. Extending the Ordinance will also better align the agreement with the fiscal year moving forward. An additional item will be brought to the City Council for new agreements starting July 2022.
Contract Term
Ordinance S-45434 authorized agreements with Arizona law enforcement agencies statewide for three years from date of execution. The amendment would extend agreements through June 30, 2022, all other items will remain unchanged.
Financial Impact
The cost to the City is in-kind resources only.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
Ordinance S-45434 was adopted by City Council on March 6, 2019.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays and the Police Department.