City Council Agenda
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Memo to: |
Manteca City Council |
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From: |
Stephen Schluer, Chief of Police |
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Prepared by: |
Paul Carmona, Captain |
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Date: |
September 15, 2026 |
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Subject: |
Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program |
Recommendation:
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Adopt a resolution accepting a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program in the amount of $19,310 for Fiscal Year 2026-27; appropriating funds as listed in the fiscal impact section and authorizing the Chief of Police to take all necessary steps to effectuate the agreement, including any extensions or amendments.
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Background:
The U.S. Department of Justice, through the Office of Justice Programs, provides funding to assist State and local law enforcement to combat crime and to improve the functioning of their organizations. One of these programs is the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. The JAG formula allocates money to law enforcement agencies based on the population of the jurisdiction and the level of Part 1, violent and felony crimes occurring in the area policed by that agency. Based on that formula, the Manteca Police Department was entitled to a one-time grant of $19,310. Due to the nature of this grant, the Department recommends these funds be used for one-time expenditures that would normally be requested from the General Fund and not for on-going expenses.
The Manteca Police Department serves a jurisdiction currently experiencing unprecedented urban expansion. As the City of Manteca grows, the infrastructure is evolving at a rate that surpasses traditional geographical knowledge. New residential developments and commercial complexes are being established weekly, creating a complex web of brand-new streets that do not yet appear on standard departmental maps. This lack of updated navigation leads to increased response times, which can be life-threatening during Priority One (code 3) emergency calls where every second is critical.
Furthermore, the department faces significant tactical safety gaps. Currently, officers are required to manually deploy diversionary devices and chemical agents. This process forces personnel into the proverbial “fatal funnels" (unprotected areas such as doorways or hallways) where they are exposed to high-risk lines of sight and potential violence.
Finally, the department’s communication infrastructure is failing. We currently face a critical shortage of portable handheld radios, mainly by our tactical dispatchers. Our tactical dispatchers are forced to use old, outdated equipment that is well over ten years old. These legacy devices frequently malfunction, lose signal during indoor operations, or fail to hold a charge, creating a severe officer-safety risk during coordinated responses.
The "Departmental Safety and Technology Initiative" is designed to address these gaps through a three-pronged procurement and training strategy. First, we will procure and install twenty-two Garmin GPS units across the entire patrol fleet. These units provide real-time mapping updates, ensuring that even the newest streets are accessible to responding officers, thereby optimizing routes and reducing response times.
Second, the department will acquire a Vulcan II Munitions Pole. This tool allows for the remote deployment of diversionary devices from behind cover. By utilizing the Vulcan II, officers can introduce this tool into a structure without physically entering a fatal funnel, significantly reducing the likelihood of officer-involved shootings or injuries.
Lastly, we will procure at least two modern portable handheld radios. These portable radios will be used primarily by our tactical dispatchers during emergency operation situations. Currently they are using old, out-of-date radios with bad reception and limited battery life. Having reliable radios during emergencies is not only crucial, but it can also be lifesaving.
The Manteca Police Department has a proven track record of managing grant funds and maintaining high-tier tactical equipment. The project will be implemented and overseen by me, the Project Director.
Upon procurement of the equipment, our officers will undergo training on the proper use and care for the new equipment. This will include how to program and update the Garmin GPS coordinates, how to safely deploy and maintain the Vulcan II Munitions Pole and proper use of new radio features and emergency frequency protocols.
To ensure the effectiveness of this investment, the department will document and track analysis of response times to new developments before and after GPS installation. Documentation of all incidents resolved without entry using the Vulcan II pole and track radio hardware failures, with a target of zero malfunctions for new units.
All data will be compiled and submitted semi-annually through the JustGrants Performance Progress Reporting (PPR) module
Fiscal Impact:
Staff recommends accepting the grant from the U.S. Department of Justice in the amount of $19,310 and appropriating those funds in the FY2026-2027 Police Grant Fund (Fund 150) revenue and expenditure lines.
Documents Attached:
1. Attachment 1 - Resolution
2. Attachment 2 - AG Award Notification