Title
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Foundation Donation
Action
Action:
A. Authorize the City Manager to accept a donation from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Foundation in the amount of $374,594 for various Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department initiatives, and
B. Adopt a budget ordinance appropriating funds in the amount of $374,594 from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Foundation.
Body
Staff Resource(s):
Kerr Putney, Police
Vicki Foster, Police
Mike Campagna, Police
Explanation
§ The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Foundation is a non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to strengthening Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) services and promoting public safety in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area.
§ CMPD seeks City Council approval to accept a donation in the amount of $374,594 for the following initiatives:
NARCAN ($10,000)
§ NARCAN is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved emergency treatment for opioid overdose, which may be administered orally, intravenously, or as a nasal spray.
§ The funding will be used to supply 325 CMPD personnel with NARCAN nasal spray as a treatment should they come into contact with drugs laced with fentanyl.
§ Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid or painkiller that was developed in the 1960s, reportedly 100 times more powerful than morphine and between 30 to 50 times more powerful than heroin.
§ Because of the high potency of fentanyl and the numerous ways it can be introduced into the body both intentionally and accidentally, law enforcement agencies are seeking ways to provide extra protection for their police officers.
§ Across the country, there has been a rise in people overdosing on drugs such as heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine laced with fentanyl.
§ CMPD intends to administer NARCAN as a nasal spray when CMPD personnel are exposed to fentanyl, which seems easiest and the most effective manner to administer the drug.
Pistol Lights ($218,404)
§ CMPD plans to purchase 825 mounted flashlights for every police officer assigned to patrol on its second and third shifts.
§ The benefits for the police officers are increased accuracy over traditional flashlight techniques, the ability to assess threats in low light situations, and increased accuracy with pistol use due to the proper hand placement required to manipulate the light kit properly.
Vehicle Mitigation Barriers ($146,190)
§ Meridian anti-vehicle barriers are placed on the outer perimeter of large crowds at special events, sporting facilities, crowd management, and other public safety scenarios.
§ The barriers can be deployed quickly by two police officers and can be configured in different ways to protect all types of geography while not proving fatal to a driver as a result of a crash incident.
§ CMPD wishes to purchase 16 anti-vehicle barriers, two trailers, and all related hardware and equipment.
Fiscal Note
Funding: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Foundation
Attachments
Attachment(s)
Budget Ordinance