HomeMy WebLinkAboutFS 2008-06-03 Item 2C - Funds - Police Investigations Account
City of Tukwila
./lin Haggcltoll, il1ayor
David H< HaJllc.s~ Chic{ofPolicc
Pohce Department
An Accredited Agency
MElVIORANDUlVI
TO: Finance and Safety
FROM: Don Lincoln, Cmdr. Investigations Division
DATE: May 29,2008
SUBJECT: Investigations Account Increase
The purpose of this memorandum is to request an increase in accessible funds for the investigations
account from 5[000.00 to 10[000.00
Discussion:
The Investigations Division maintains an account for the purposes of facilitating criminal investigations.
Although available to the entire Investigations Division[ it is primarily used by the Tukwila Anti-Crime
Team to assist in the enforcement of narcotic laws. The account is typically used to purchase narcotics[
acquire surveillance locations and pay for informant services[ (paying for information). The last category
has seen a significant jump in recent history.
The challenge for investigations is to have funds available on a moment's notice[ without having to
transfer money from one detective to another or having to submit our account ledgers to finance for
reconciliation. This last process is typically done quarterly[ but can be done monthly. The problem of
monthly reconciliation is the time it takes to accomplish that task[ in other words[ the turn around time.
As mentioned above[ the funds are used to accomplish a wide variety of tasks[ including the purchase of
information. Although historically conducted by the Tukwila Anti-Crime Team (1 Sgt plus 4 detectives) it
is also done by other members of the division[ including the Major Crimes Unit[ (1 Sgt. Plus 9 detectives).
In factI the Investigations Division is currently in the midst of purchasing information beyond what we
have done in a decade. Additionally[ the policy of maintaining the sum of 5[000.00 at any given time
hasn't changed in at least 12 years.
Information[ or intelligence typically has a short shelf life. In order for any of the 15 members of the
Investigations Division to take advantage of information collected in this fashion, they need the resources
to do so. This request in no way changes the accountability of the use of this fundI the processes in
which the funds are used[ or time frames for reconciliation. It is not an increase in the budget amount or
a request to transfer between line items. It only changes the bottom line of the amount of money
available to conduct investigations.
Recommendation is to increase the investigations division account balance availability from 5[000.00 to
10[000.00
Respectfully submitted.
6200 Southcenter Blvd. . Tukwila, W A 98188 . Phone: - (206)433-1808 . Admin. Fax: - (206)244-6181 . Invest. Fax: - (206)431-3688