HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-12-06; Update: Carlsbad PD Proposed Participation in Operation Stonegarden Grant Program through the San Diego Sheriff's Department (Districts - All); Calderwood, ChristieTo the members of the:
. 1ITY COUNCIL
Datel2 /~12--~cA _L_ cc ,/ / cM_~docM (3)~
December 6, 2024
Council Memorandum
To:
From:
Via:
Honorable Mayor Blackburn and Members of the City Council
Christie Calderwood, Chief of Polic~
{city of
Carlsbad
Memo ID# 2024086
Re:
Geoff Patnoe, Acting City Manager~
Update: Carlsbad Police Department Proposed Participation in Operation Stonegarden
Grant Program through the San Diego Sheriff's Department (Districts -All)
This memorandum serves as an update to the City Council regarding the Carlsbad Police
Department's intent to participate in the Operation Stonegarden (OPSG} grant process through
the San Diego Sheriff's Department. The San Diego Sheriff's Department has advised the Carlsbad
Police Department may be allocated $40,000 for OPSG. The funding process is currently still in
the application stage. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is projected to make
the final approval around May of 2025.
Background/Discussion
Once FEMA releases the final approval for fund allocations, the San Diego Sheriff's Office (SOSO}
will be routing the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA} for the Chief's signature and approval.
The Police Department desires to have the 2024 OPSG MOA fully executed by July of 2025 and
no later than August of 2025. As soon as the MOA is executed, 2024 OPSG funds may be
expended to pay overtime expenses for multi-disciplinary crime suppression operations related
to human trafficking, narcotics trafficking, weapons trafficking, and criminal gang activity. These
overtime operations will allow the Police Department to dedicate personnel for addressing these
significant areas of community concern.
The Carlsbad Police Department OPSG Representative, Lieutenant Gary Marshall, plans to provide
City Council with an updated staff report and Council presentation in June of 2025. The purpose of
the date is to keep Council informed at a time that is contemporaneous to the execution of the
MOA.
Operation Stonegarden was established by the United States Department of Homeland Security
in 2005. The intent of this grant is to enhance cooperation and coordination among federal,
state, tribal and local law enforcement in an effort to reduce border related state crimes. This is a
competitive grant sponsored by the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP} which is awarding
funding toward combating border violence in the San Diego Region. The Carlsbad Police
Department previously participated in Operation Stonegarden from 2009 until December of
2020.
Police Department
Administration
2560 Orion Way I Carlsbad, CA 92010 I 442-339-2100 t
Council Memo -Update: Carlsbad PD Proposed Participation in Operation Stonegarden Grant
December 6, 2024
Page 2
The Stonegarden grant is designed to address crime and is not immigration enforcement related.
The Carlsbad Police Department shall comply with the California Values Act (SB 54) and
department policy section 428 (departmental guidelines relating to limitations on interactions
with federal immigration officials) when conducting Stonegarden Operations. The California
Values Act (SB 54) was signed into law on October 5, 2017, and went into effect January 1, 2018.
On August 15, 2024, the Carlsbad Police Department submitted a Council Memorandum
outlining OPSG, previous levels of Carlsbad Police Department participation in the operation, the
intention to reengage the partnership with the Department of Homeland Security, and the next
steps for continuing the process.
Attachment: A. Council Memorandum dated August 15, 2024
cc: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Cindie McMahon, City Attorney
Reid Shipley, Assistant Chief of Police
To the members of the:
CITY COUNCIL
Date 'ti/ Lt;l2t\CA ✓ CC ~ CM~/DCM(3)
August 15, 2024
Honorable Mayor Blackb.u i embers of the City Council
Chris~ie Calderwood, Chief , ice
Scott Chadwick, City Manl er
To:
From:
Via:
ATTACHMENT A
{city of
Carlsbad
Memo ID# 2024059
Re: Carlsbad Police Department Proposed Participation in Operation Stonegarden
(Districts -All)
This memorandum notifies the City Council of the Carlsbad Police Department's desire to
participate in the Operation Stonegarden grant program through the San Diego Sheriff's
Department. If approved, the Carlsbad Police Department would secure these grant funds from
the California Office of Emergency Services through the County of San Diego.
The department will use grant funds to pay overtime expenses for multi-disciplinary crime
suppression operations related to human trafficking, narcotics trafficking, weapons trafficking,
and criminal gang activity. These overtime operations will allow the department to dedicate
personnel toward addressing these areas of significant community concerns.
Background
Operation Stonegarden was established by the United States Department of Homeland Security
in 2005 and is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This federal grant
program intends to enhance cooperation and coordination among federal, state, tribal, and local
law enforcement to reduce border-related state crimes. This competitive grant, sponsored by the
State Homeland Security Program, awards funding toward combating border violence in the San
Diego Region. The Carlsbad Police Department previously participated in Operation Stonegarden
from 2009 through 2020.
The Operation Stonegarden grant is designed to help reduce criminal activity associated with
transnational criminal organizations. The grant funds may not be used to enforce or aid in
enforcing immigration laws on behalf of the Border Patrol. The Carlsbad Police Department will
continue to comply with the California Values Act (SB 54)1 and Department Policy Section 428
(departmental guidelines relating to limitations on interactions with federal immigration officials)
when conducting Stonegarden Operations.
1 SB 54 was signed into law on October 5, 2017, and went into effect January 1, 2018. SB 54 limits how local
and state law enforcement can collaborate with federal immigration agencies and provides additional measures for
more transparency and accountability when these agencies partner with federal immigration agencies.
Police Department
Administration
2560 Oriol') Way I Carlsbad, CA 92010 I 442-339-2100 t
Council Memo -Carlsbad Police Department Proposed Participation in Operation Stonegarden
August 15, 2024
Page 2
According to Border Patrol, during fiscal year 2023-24, Carlsbad had twelve documented
maritime incidents (potential Human Trafficking and Drug Smuggling) on our beaches. The most
notable was on April 13, 2024, which garnered nationwide media attention. During this incident,
a motorized boat traveling at a high rate of speed drove onto the shore of Carlsbad city beach
near surfers and beachgoers. Numerous persons were observed exiting the boat, some carrying
bags and some appearing to be minors. The individuals were observed fleeing into nearby
residential areas and vehicles. These types of maritime incidents in Carlsbad have also resulted
in the seizure of hundreds of pounds of illicit narcotics, including fentanyl, and firearms.
Discussion
Carlsbad has seven miles of coastline and a major freeway with multiple on-and-off ramps. The
coastline and freeway transportation corridors could bring border-related crime (i.e. drug
smuggling and human trafficking) into the surrounding areas, including Carlsbad.
The Carlsbad Police Department's mission during Operation Stonegarden would be to preserve
life by ensuring safety at sea, to deter narcotics smuggling through vigilant patrols and
enforcement, and to rescue victims of human trafficking. By leveraging federal funding and
resources, the Carlsbad Police Department will bolster its capacity to respond swiftly to maritime
incidents, ensuring the safety of coastal communities while upholding humanitarian principles in
protecting vulnerable populations from exploitation and harm.
This grant would allow personnel from the Carlsbad Police Department to work with other law
enforcement entities throughout San Diego County on reimbursable overtime to address border-
related criminal activity. The coordinated operations will occur within Carlsbad and Carlsbad
personnel will focus their efforts on the north coastal areas. Most other San Diego County police
agencies participate with the San Diego Sheriff's Department on this grant.
Agencies across the county currently participating in the Operation Stonegarden grant program
include: San Diego County Sheriff's Department, San Diego Harbor Police, Chula Vista Police
Department, Escondido Police Department, La Mesa Police Department, El Cajon Police
Department and the Oceanside Police Department.
Staffing Operation Stonegarden will be on an overtime basis only and will not affect the normal
daily operations within the Police Department. On grant overtime, Carlsbad Police personnel
would generally work with the Sherrif's Department and other allied local, state, and federal
agency personnel conducting activities similar to:
• High-visibility enforcement and traffic stop activity in high-intensity drug trafficking areas
along the beaches and land borders.
• Offer ground support for aerial flights during the day and night.
• High visibility criminal interdiction and covert interdiction operations.
• Specific operations targeting urban and rural border areas of San Diego County.
Council Memo -Carlsbad Police Department Proposed Participation in Operation Stonegarden
August 15, 2024
Page 3
This grant process involves each local agency submitting overtime requests to the San Diego
Sheriff's Department. The Sheriff's Department will forward the San Diego County request to the
State Administrative Agency, which will then submit the reimbursement request to the Federal
Emergency Management Agency.
Next Steps
Unless directed otherwise, the Carlsbad Police Department will continue the preliminary grant
application process for the Operation Stonegarden program. The department will seek City
Council approval before committing to any formal agreement or securing grant funds.
cc: Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager
Cindie McMahon, City Attorney
Reid Shipley, Assistant Chief of Police