TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: Jonathan R. Lewis, ICMA-CM, City Manager
TITLE: Voluntary Cooperation Mutual Aid Agreement Between the Participating Agencies and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to Form a Fort Myers Regional Operations Center Child Abduction Response Team.
Recommended Action
Approve the Voluntary Cooperation Mutual Aid Agreement Between the Participating Agencies and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to Form a Fort Myers Regional Operations Center Child Abduction Response Team.
Background Information
Law enforcement agencies around the state of Florida have joined together in a multi-jurisdictional effort to rescue abducted children and under appropriate circumstances allocate their resources to missing/endangered children cases. This effort is known collectively as the Child Abduction Response Team (CART). The goal of the CART is to provide a pool of specialized investigators to focus dedicated and intensive investigative, preventative, and general law enforcement efforts primarily with regard to abducted children.
The participating agencies have authority under Part 1, Chapter 23, Florida Statutes, “The Florida Mutual Aid Act,” to enter into a voluntary agreement for cooperation and assistance of a routine law enforcement nature that crosses jurisdictional lines. The principal sites of CART activity shall be the following counties: Manatee, Sarasota, Desoto, Charlotte, Lee, Highlands, Okeechobee, Glades, Hendry, and Collier.
The police department previously participated in a Mutual Aid Agreement with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) in a regional Child Abduction Response Team (CART). This current agreement is scheduled to expire in December 31, 2016 and requires renewal. The purpose of this agreement is for law enforcement agencies to join together in a multi-jurisdictional effort to rescue abducted children and under appropriate circumstances allocate their resources to missing/endangered children cases.
The North Port Police Department has utilized such resources, which allowed for additional resources and trained investigators to assist with such an in depth and complex investigation. The Department has also participated in training exercises with the participating agencies to ensure proper response and training in the event activation is necessary within the region.
If approved, this Agreement shall be effective upon the date of execution through December 31, 2020.
This was reviewed and approved for legal content and form.
Strategic Plan
Financially Responsible City Providing Quality Municipal Services.
Financial Impact
N/A
Procurement
N/A
Attachments:
1. Voluntary Cooperation Mutual Aid Agreement Child Abduction Response Team
Prepared by: Jennifer Ayres
Department Director: Kevin Vespia