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Memo 002-2013 Proposed Gun Buy-Back Program MIAMIBEACH MEMO # 002 -2013 MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the City Commission FROM: Kathie G. Brooks, Interim City Manager T DATE: January 15, 2013 SUBJECT: Proposed Gun Buy -Back Program This memorandum is in response to a number of inquiries received regarding the proposed Community Gun Buy -Back Program. Attached, please find additional information regarding this matter. Should you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you. KGB /CG F: \cmgr \$ALL \MEMOS \Memo Proposed Gun Buyback Program 1- 15- 13.docx m MIAMI BEACH ' MIAMI BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM TO: Kathie G. Brooks, Interim City Manager FROM: Raymond A. Martinez, Chief of Police DATE: January 15, 2013 SUBJECT: Proposed Community Gun Buy -Back Program This memorandum concerns the January 16, 2013 City Commission discussion item regarding the establishment of a Community Gun Buy -Back Program. In an effort to assess the feasibility of implementing a Community Gun Buy -Back Program, the Miami Beach Police Department has researched local and nationwide police agency gun - buy -back programs. Following are recommendations on implementation of a similar program for the City of Miami Beach. The intent of this program is to remove guns from the streets by exchanging firearms for financial incentives, which can be provided in various forms including, gift cards or cash, or some combination thereof. The Miami Beach Police Department (MBPD) would have full control and responsibility for the administration of this program. Funding for these types of programs is established through government funding (state and /or local), private donations, or a combination of both. Proposed funding for this program would. come from State confiscated funds in the Law Enforcement Trust Fund, which is statutorily permitted under Florida Statute Chapter 932. In order to encourage community participation, a public information campaign utilizing print and electronic media must be established. The gun buy -back would need to take place at a City facility, such as the Miami Beach Convention. Center, which could accommodate a number of participants, provide adequate parking and allow for the logistics required in receiving the firearms. The (MBPD) is suggesting that this program be held in March 2013. Similar to other programs, a process would be established to manage the intake of the firearms, ensure their security and place a value on the major types of firearms such as revolvers, semi - automatic handguns, rifles and assault rifles. It would be the policy of the program that participants are not required to provide their name or address in order to neither exchange the firearms nor explain the circumstances as to how they came in to possession of the firearm. As part of MBPD's due diligence, similar programs at the following jurisdictions have been reviewed: Los Angeles, CA; Camden, NJ; Oakland, CA; San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA; New York, NY; Opa Locka, FL; and Miami -Dade County, FL. Gun Buy -Back programs remove guns from the street that could have otherwise been used to commit a crime or injure someone accidentally. The success of a Gun Buy -Back program is often quantified by the number of firearms taken off the streets. We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work, and play in our vibrant, tropical, historic community. Below is a table that represents the performance of similar programs in other jurisdictions: Agency Number of Firearms Funding Exchange Recovered New York City Police 85 Government Cash Department fundin Opa Locka Police Event #1 — 55 Government Cash Department Event #2 —103 fundin Seattle Police 1,700 1992 event Gift cards Department funded by the Centers for Disease Control 2013 event funded through p rivate donations Camden Police 1,137 State funding Cash Department Los Angeles Police 2,037 Private donation Gift cards Department Bridgeport Police 104 Government Cash and gift Department funding and cards private sector donations Oakland Police 400 Private donation Cash Department The most recent local police agency Gun - Buy -Back program was conducted by the Opa- Locka Police Department in December 2012. Their program, which has had two recent events, has netted 158 firearms. In addition, the City of Miami Police Department (MPD) has recently announced that they will be holding three (3) events as part of their Gun Buy - Back program, to be held on January, 19, 26 and February 2, 2013, at various locations throughout the City of Miami. The City of Miami will be giving out gift certificates in exchange for the firearms. Based on the experience of other agencies, we expect that a single event may yield approximately 50 to 75 firearms, with a value of $50 -$300 for each firearm (depending on the type of firearm). As a result, it is recommended that $10,000 be set aside for the City of Miami Beach Gun - Buy -Back program to cover all contingencies. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. C: Mayor Matti Bower and Members of the Miami Beach City Commission RAM /MNO /DM /MG We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work, and play in our vibrant, tropical, historic community.