HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 10 - SWAT Team ITEM # o
MEMO TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BRUNO RUMBELOW, CITY M
MEETING DATE: OCTOBER 16, 2012
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
WITH THE CITIES OF HURST, EULESS AND BEDFORD FOR
THE FORMATION OF THE NORTHEAST TARRANT COUNT
AREA SWAT TEAM
RECOMMENDATION:
City Council to consider authorizing the City Manager to sign a Memorandum of
Understanding with the Cities of Hurst, Euless and Bedford for the formation of the
Northeast Tarrant County Area SWAT Team.
FUNDING SOURCE:
Funding for the regional SWAT team currently exists in various operational accounts of
the Police Department. Future individual city expenditures will be reduced due to
efficiencies in the consolidated approach.
BACKGROUND:
The Police Department has maintained a fully functional SWAT team since 1981. The
team currently has 16 positions for operational team members and seven positions for
negotiators. The funding for this team is included in various accounts of the Police
Department operating budget and includes items such as training, equipment purchase
and replacement, and overtime.
The existence of a team to respond to critical incidents and to execute high risk warrants
is a necessary part of protecting our citizens. However, we are fortunate that the team's
use is infrequent in the City of Grapevine. The cities of Hurst, Euless and Bedford are
faced with the same dilemma in that full SWAT teams are expensive to maintain but a
requirement for a full service city. With this in mind the four cities have agreed to
consolidate their teams in an effort to reduce the expense and commitment required of
each city.
The formation of the Northeast Tarrant County Area SWAT Team (NETCAST) will allow
for the member cities to have the resources available for a full SWAT operation while
committing only half of the resources that are currently used to maintain a full team. The
manpower commitment from the City of Grapevine will be nine team member positions
October 12,2012(1:27PM)
and three negotiators. While this consolidation will reduce the expenses of each city, it
will also allow for more operational experience for the members. With more cities
involved there will be more opportunities for the team to be deployed. This will only
serve to hone the skills of each of the team members.
Staff recommends approval.
BS/ES
October 12,2012(1:27PM)