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Meeting Date:	04/14/2020
FY 2019 OPSG Grant Award Acceptance by the Webb Co. Sheriff's Office
Submitted for:	Martin Cuellar	Submitted By:	Anita Guerra
Department:	Sheriff

Subject:

Discussion and possible action to authorize the acceptance of a Fiscal Year 2019 Operation Stonegarden (OPSG) grant as prepared and submitted by the Webb County Sheriff’s Office in the amount of $2,277,567 from the Office of the Governor Homeland Security Grants Division (HSGD) for overtime, applicable fringe benefits, equipment/supplies, fuel, data services, maintenance/repair of OPSG acquired assets, and other operational costs related to homeland security border operations for the Webb County Sheriff’s Office, Constable Pct. 1, Constable Pct. 2, Constable Pct. 3, Constable Pct. 4, and County Attorney Investigators; and authorizing the County Judge to execute all relevant documents; and any other matters incident thereto. Furthermore, this grant does not require any type of match; and, thus, will have no impact to the general fund. All required documents were sent for review through the Economic Development Department and the solicitation is compliant with the Webb County Single Point of Contact (SPOC) procedures. [Requested by Martin Cuellar, Webb County Sheriff]

Issue: Complex and dynamic law enforcement challenges exist in the Southwest border area of the United States, including Laredo/Webb County. For example, transnational criminals seek to exploit existing law enforcement jurisdictional boundaries by conducting their illegal enterprises across traditional jurisdictional divisions. The 2014 Texas Gang Threat Assessment expounds, “Gang activity remains widespread throughout all regions of Texas…Gang activity is also prevalent in the Texas counties adjacent to Mexico and along the key smuggling corridors, since Texas-based gangs are used for cross-border smuggling and trafficking in the state. Many transnational gangs operating in Texas….engage in criminal activity in Mexico as well as in Texas and elsewhere” (Texas Department of Public Safety April 2014).

Solution: Grant award: (1) to ensure first responders are equipped with enhanced tools/equipment/resources needed to confront well-funded criminal organizations and (2) for the coordination of law enforcement efforts between various local and federal law enforcement agencies.

Result: Enhanced capabilities of local law enforcement responders; further coordination of response across local and federal jurisdictions.

Background:

The Operation Stonegarden (OPSG) grant provides funding to designated counties/localities to enhance cooperation and coordination between federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies in a joint mission to secure the U.S. borders along routes of ingress from international borders to include travel corridors in states bordering Mexico and Canada, as well as states and territories with International water borders. In conjunction with the Laredo Police Department, the Laredo Airport Police, the Offices of the Constables Pct. 1, 2, 3, 4, the Investigators from the Webb County Attorney's Office, and the U.S. Border Patrol-Laredo Sector, the Webb County Sheriff’s Office will utilize funding for border security operations, including law enforcement overtime (OT) operations and the purchase of needed law enforcement equipment.

Previous Court Action:

The submission and acceptance of this grant by the Webb County Sheriff's Office is approved by the Webb County Commissioners’ Court on a yearly basis.

Fiscal Impact

Budget Account Number:	2467
Funding Source:	Grant Revenue
Balance:	Various
Financial Impact:
$2,277,567 grant funds This agenda item concerns a grant. Thus, there is no impact on the general fund.