TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: Approve and Authorize the Mayor to Execute the Memorandum of Understanding Between the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution (“OSP”) and the City of North Port, on Behalf of the North Port Police Department Regarding Participation in the Statewide Cyber Fraud Task Force.
Recommended Action
Option 1: Approve and authorize the Mayor to execute the Memorandum of Understanding between the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution (“OSP”) and the City of North Port, on behalf of the North Port Police Department regarding participation in the Statewide Cyber Fraud Task Force.
City Commission Options
Option 1: Approve and authorize the Mayor to execute the Memorandum of Understanding between the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution (“OSP”) and the City of North Port, on behalf of the North Port Police Department regarding participation in the Statewide Cyber Fraud Task Force.
• Pros: Approving the Memorandum of Understanding would provide the North Port Police Department Task Force member(s) with access to specialized cybercrime training, statewide investigative resources, intelligence sharing, and partnerships with federal, state, and local agencies, enhancing the Department’s ability to investigate sophisticated cyber fraud and cryptocurrency-related crimes.
• Cons: Denying the Memorandum of Understanding will limit the availability of statewide resources for investigations and training for member(s).
Option 2: Deny the approval and authorization of the Mayor to execute the Memorandum of Understanding between the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution (“OSP”) and the City of North Port, on behalf of the North Port Police Department regarding participation in the Statewide Cyber Fraud Task Force.
• Pros: Denying the Memorandum of Understanding would allow the department to avoid staffing commitments that could be associated with participating in a statewide cybercrime task force.
• Cons: Denying the Memorandum of Understanding may limit the department’s access to specialized cybercrime training, statewide intelligence sharing, investigative resources, and potential monetary forfeitures associated with cryptocurrency-related investigations conducted in coordination with the Attorney General’s Office.
Background Information
The proposed Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) between the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution (“OSP”) and the North Port Police Department would establish participation in the Statewide Cyber Fraud Task Force to investigate and prosecute internet-enabled organized cybercrime groups pursuant to Florida Statutes Sections 16.56(3), 27.251, and 27.255.
The Task Force was created to combat large-scale cyber fraud and internet-based criminal activity occurring throughout the State of Florida. Under the agreement, the North Port Police Department would provide Special Investigators to assist with cybercrime investigations involving fraud, money laundering, cryptocurrency-related crimes, and other internet-facilitated offenses. Participation in the Task Force could also potentially lead to monetary forfeitures involving cryptocurrency assets in coordination with the Attorney General’s Office.
Participating Police Officers would serve as part-time Task Force members and receive specialized training in cybercrime investigations, digital forensics, cryptocurrency tracing, and intelligence gathering. Investigators would have statewide authority while remaining employees of the North Port Police Department and would assist with investigations, intelligence sharing, surveillance operations, search warrants, and arrests.
The Memorandum of Understanding further states that the North Port Police Department would remain responsible for personnel salaries, overtime, equipment, operational costs, reporting systems, evidence storage, and compliance with agency policies and procedures.
The Memorandum of Understanding between the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution (“OSP”) and the City of North Port, on Behalf of the North Port Police Department regarding participation in the Statewide Cyber Fraud Task Force has been reviewed by the City Attorney and is legally correct to form.
The Memorandum of Understanding between the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution (“OSP”) and the City of North Port, on Behalf of the North Port Police Department regarding participation in the Statewide Cyber Fraud Task Force was provided to the City Clerk’s Office on August 14, 2026, for signature, subject to City Commission approval.
Strategic Plan Pillar
Safe Community
Financial Impact
Participation in the task force will have an immaterial financial impact. Any investigative responsibilities assigned to participating officers will be managed within their current roles, with all related financial activity absorbed by the Police Departments general fund annual operating budget (001-2100-521).
Procurement
Not applicable.
Attachments:
1. Memorandum of Understanding
2. Florida Statutes Section 16.56(3)
3. Florida Statutes Section 27.251
4. Florida Statutes Section 27.255
Prepared by: Joseph Fussell, Captain, Investigations Bureau
Jason Selzer, Commander, Investigations Bureau
Jamie Ebershoff, Executive Assistant
Department Director: Todd R. Garrison, Chief of Police