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Authorizing the Police Department to accept a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice distributed through the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, via the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) grant.
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WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul Police Department has been awarded the 2021 COPS LEMHWA grant from the U.S. Department of Justice distributed through the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, via the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) grant in the amount of $125,000; and
WHEREAS, the funding from this grant will be used to expand the SPPD’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP), specifically, to work with our trusted partners at Ellie Family Services to offer additional support sessions led by a clinician, and to expand the Peer Support networks for SPPD officers, civilians and their familes; and
WHEREAS, the 2021 special fund budget and activity budget need to be amended for this grant; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor pursuant to Section 10.07.1 of the Charter of the City of Saint Paul, does certify that there are available for appropriation funds of $125,000 in excess of those estimated in the 2021 budget and recommends the following changes; and
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the council accepts this grant and authorizes the City of Saint Paul to enter into, and Assistant Chief Robert Thomasser to implement the attached agreement with the State of Minnesota, Department of Public Safety and approves these changes to the 2021 budget.