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He presented the Chairman approximately 125 petitions signed <br />by residents of Gifford which read as follows: <br />Dear Commissioner, <br />I am addressing this letter to you in <br />reference to the Sheriff's request for one <br />more deputy for the Community Oriented Police <br />Enforcement unit via the federal grant. As a <br />member of this community and county I highly <br />endorse the Sheriff's effort with community <br />policing. <br />I am asking you to support his request <br />for one more deputy through the federal grant. <br />The addition of one more deputy to the COPE <br />unit would enhance an already successful <br />program. <br />Sincerely, <br />Sheriff Wheeler called on Sandy Shields, Planning & Research <br />Supervisor for Sheriff's Department, who detailed the chronology of <br />the two grants the Sheriff's Department had pursued in order to <br />fund the COPE program. <br />Ms. Shields recounted that the first Letter of Intent for <br />three deputies had originated in 1993. It had been passed over <br />three times, but was reaptivated in 1994, and came to fruition in <br />October. The Sheriff's office sent a Letter of Intent indicating <br />a desire to participate in a grant program, under the new crime <br />bill (COPS AHEAD). They were unaware at the time that BCC approval <br />was required. The request for approval, on the 11/22/94 BCC <br />agenda, was denied (3-1). Then the Department of Justice faxed an <br />additional form asking for demographic information and the deadline <br />was extended to mid-December. The status of the Letter of Intent <br />with the Department of Justice is still "pending" BCC approval and <br />now has a mid-January deadline. The program guidelines are still <br />being developed. The Letter of Intent would only show an intent to <br />participate in the grant application process and would not obligate <br />the County. The Sheriff's Department could proceed no further <br />without a budget amendment. <br />Ms. Shields emphasized that new businesses coming into the <br />county made a greater demand on all county departments, especially <br />law enforcement. Horizon Outlet Mall and the new Walmart have <br />produced sufficient calls, on an annualized basis, to require 2.9 <br />deputies to handle the additional workload. <br />27 <br />December 13, 1994 BOOK W FAA' L 948 <br />