THE OFFICE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM.
Section 16.555, F.S., established requirements governing the Crime Stoppers Trust Fund and the disbursement of trust fund revenues to improve and support members of the Florida Association of Crime Stoppers, Inc., in their crime fighting programs within units of local government. This statute also provides for enhancing public awareness of crime prevention methods and training the public in personal safety principles, especially for citizens who live in, work at, or frequent locations having high crime rates. The Department of Legal Affairs makes grant funds available annually to carry out the purposes of this statute. Grants may only be awarded to counties that are served by an official member of the Florida Association of Crime Stoppers and may only be used to support Crime Stoppers and their crime fighting programs.
Crime Stoppers Council of Broward County, Inc. (Crime Stoppers), is a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is a registered charity with the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. The organization is dedicated to solving and preventing crime in Broward County. When a citizen calls in with a tip or information about a crime, Crime Stoppers disseminates that information to the appropriate law enforcement agency for immediate action.
Pursuant to Florida Administrative Code Rule 2A-9.002, in order to award a grant to an individual crime stopper organization, a letter of agreement or similar endorsement from the Board of County Commissioners must authorize the organization to act as the county's agent for the purpose of applying for, receiving, and expending Crime Stoppers grant funds. This letter remains in effect for a three-year period. The Board last provided Crime Stoppers with a letter of agreement on June 24, 2014, and this endorsement will expire unless renewed. This item will ensure Crime Stoppers remains eligible for grant funds through June 2020.
The proposed letter is attached as Exhibit 1.
|