The International Association of Chiefs of Police wants to showcase the Peoria Police Department’s “best practices and leadership in law enforcement” at its annual conference to be held in Orlando (Fla.) this year. They want to produce a five-minute video that will highlight Peoria’s Armadillo and ELITE programs and show it to an audience of “up to 15,000 police chiefs from around the world.” Peoria would be one of only ten to fifteen communities showcased.
There’s just one catch: It will cost us $19,500.
Yes, it turns out that they want to showcase us, but they want us to “offset the costs of the production and other expenses.” City staff is requesting that we pay it out of Federal Asset Forfeiture funds, which according to staff will have “no impact upon either the City’s operational or capital budget.”
How can this be? Do we have a fund that can only be used for video showcases? Can this money not be used to offset other expenses in the City’s budget? Are these funds not fungible?
According to the U.S. Department of Justice website, “The Attorney General is authorized to use the Assets Forfeiture Fund to pay any necessary expenses associated with forfeiture operations such as property seizure, detention, management, forfeiture, and disposal. The Fund may also be used to finance certain general investigative expenses. These authorized uses are enumerated in 28 U.S.C. ยง524(c).” Looking through the list of approved expenses, a couple things cross my mind: (a) there seem to be a lot of useful, crime-fighting expenses that could be paid with these funds, and (b) I don’t see where “showcase video” is an approved expenditure, although I’m sure it falls under “training” or some miscellaneous category.
I’m all for celebrating our successes, but we are looking at a $10+ million budget deficit and potentially more officer layoffs at a time when we’re on a record pace for murders. Perhaps this request is . . . ill-timed. While I grant that it’s a relatively small amount, the accumulation of “little” expenses can (and do) make a big contribution to the deficit.
It will no doubt be approved because there are more than 6 people on the Peoria city Council who think cheerleading is more important than essential city services.
$19,500 for a 5 minute video? What are they using, Red Cameras, or 3-D cameras? Give my agency $1,000 or so, we can produce that same video using high quality broadcast video, HD, or film format (Think Star Wars Episode 3). We have that technology! I do realize the $19,500 is for other expenses,
but geez. Buy local, City Council!
I suspect these charges to 10-15 communities will go a long way toward paying for the convention. Pass.
Wait… complain about $20 k but support the wasting of hundreds of thousands and millions by the school board… 150observer… what up?!
You solvin’ problems with the police department and city council?
You are right Charlie. I have supported the “wasting of hundreds of thousands and millions {sic} by the school board”. Have you been drinking in the morning again?
I agree with 150… smells like a beauty pageant, with the showcases footing the bill.
It is very difficult in already tight budgets to find places to save. Not paying $19,500 for a promotoional video to other chiefs of police looks like a fairly easy place to save. That said, there are 2 sides to every story and I would like to hear the case “for” the video.
Chances are, the film would make a $19,500 ass out of Peoria anyway.
Cameron
July 23, 2010 at 9:02 am
Chances are, the film would make a $19,500 ass out of Peoria anyway.
Why would that be?
If we had a hotel connected to the Civic Center, that police conference would be here in Peoria, not Orlando, I’m sure…
Well…whatever. As long as it doesn’t cut into the museum budget.
The name of the production company that will put this ‘film’ together? I hope this ‘short’ will be directed by Mel Gibson…..”The Passion of Mayor Ardis!”