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Leon County
Board of County Commissioners Agenda Item#4 January 27, 2026 |
| To: | Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board |
| From: | Vincent S. Long, County Administrator |
| Title: | Acceptance of Multiple Grants for the Leon County Sheriff’s Office |
| Review and Approval: | Vincent S. Long, County Administrator |
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Department/Division Review and Approval: |
Ken Morris, Assistant County Administrator Roshaunda Bradley, Director, Office of Management & Budget |
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Lead Staff/ Project Team: |
Eryn Calabro, Principal Budget and Grants Coordinator |
Statement of Issue:
This item seeks Board acceptance of eight grants totaling $1,382,935 on behalf of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) to support various law enforcement operations.
Fiscal Impact:
This item has a fiscal impact. This item realizes eight grants totaling $1,382,935 on behalf of LCSO. As fiscal agent, the County must authorize LCSO to realize and spend the $1,382,935 in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Justice, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida Department of Transportation, the Protecting Children’s Innocence Task Force and the State Board of Immigration Enforcement.
Staff Recommendation:
Provided on the following page.
Staff Recommendation:
Option #1: Accept the U.S. Department of Justice, Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant, through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, in the amount of $26,368 for crime scene equipment, and authorize the County Administrator to execute the Grant Agreement (Attachment #1), including any future modifications, subject to legal review by the County Attorney.
Option #2: Approve the Resolution and Budget Amendment to realize $26,368 in grant funds into the FY 2026 budget (Attachment #2).
Option #3: Authorize the Leon County Sheriff’s Office to realize and spend $250,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Policing, to support salaries for two deputies for patrol activities in Leon County (Attachment #3).
Option #4: Authorize the Leon County Sheriff’s Office to realize and spend $174,996 from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Policing, for development of a targeted initiative to combat violent crime and human trafficking through proactive investigations into illicit massage businesses (Attachment #4).
Option #5: Authorize the Leon County Sheriff’s Office to realize and spend $111,048 pass-through funding from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime, through the Office of the Attorney General of Florida, toward salaries for Agency Victim Advocates (Attachment #5).
Option #6: Authorize the Leon County Sheriff’s Office to realize and spend $110,000 from the Florida Department of Transportation, for continued focused enforcement and education efforts regarding speeding and aggressive driving to reduce crashes, particularly those crashes resulting in serious injuries and fatalities (Attachment #6).
Option #7: Authorize the Leon County Sheriff’s Office to realize and spend $210,000 from the Protecting Children’s Innocence Task Force to jointly address threats posed by individuals and groups engaged in child exploitation and trafficking (Attachment #7).
Option #8: Authorize the Leon County Sheriff’s Office to realize and spend grant funds from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for the Electronic Surveillance Support Team and Cyber High Tech Task Force to provide technical and investigative assistance (Attachment #8).
Option #9: Authorize the Leon County Sheriff’s Office to realize and spend $499,523 from the State Board of Immigration Enforcement for reimbursement of costs for immigration enforcement that are incurred during normal law enforcement activities (Attachment #9).
Report and Discussion
Background:
This item seeks Board acceptance of eight grants totaling $1,382,935 on behalf of LCSO to support various law enforcement operations. As fiscal agent, the County must authorize LCSO to realize and spend the grant funding in their FY 2026 Budget. Additional information on each grant is provided in the Analysis section of the item.
Analysis:
Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) through Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) (Attachment #1)
In 2025, the County applied for FDLE’s JAG Grant Program on behalf of LCSO since eligible applicants were limited to units of local government such as cities and counties. On November 4, 2025, the County was notified that FDLE had approved the JAG grant application in the amount of $26,368 on behalf of the Sheriff to purchase crime scene equipment. This equipment will enhance LCSO’s ability to document, collect, and preserve evidence crucial for solving crimes in Leon County. A Resolution and Budget Amendment (Attachment #2) is provided to appropriate the $26,368 into the FY 2026 budget.
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Community Policing (COPS) Hiring Program Grant (Attachment #3)
The COPS Office was established through the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. Its primary mission is to enhance community policing by providing resources, training and grants to state, local, territorial, and tribal law enforcement agencies. On October 10, 2025, LCSO was notified of the grant award in the amount of $250,000 that provides funding to law enforcement agencies to hire and/or rehire additional career law enforcement officers in an effort to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. LCSO will use the grant funds over the next three years (FY 2026 – FY 2028) to offset salary costs for two of the four new Uniform Patrol Division deputies approved in the FY 2026 budget. The required grant match will be provided from the Sheriff’s existing personnel budget for the positions.
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Policing FY25 Microgrant (Attachment #4)
On October 10, 2025, LCSO was awarded a Community Policing Microgrant for $174,996 to develop a targeted initiative to combat violent crime and human trafficking through proactive investigations into illicit massage businesses (IMBs). This project will use a task force model and community policing strategies to identify, investigate, and dismantle IMBs operating in Tallahassee and the surrounding region. LCSO will work in partnership with Homeland Security Investigations and the Capital City Human Trafficking Task Force. Activities will include the development of actionable intelligence, deployment of undercover operations, and collaboration with code enforcement, victim service providers, and other stakeholders.
U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime, Department, Office of the Attorney General of Florida (OAG), the pass-through agency for the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Grant (Attachment #5)
The VOCA program offers formula grants to support funding for local community-based organizations and public agencies that provide services directly to crime victims. Funding was awarded in the amount of $111,048 to support the salaries of LCSO’s three victim advocates who directly provide services to the victims of crime.
Florida Department of Transportation Speeding & Aggressive Driving Grant (Attachment #6)
The Florida Department of Transportation offers grants aimed at combating speeding and aggressive driving in Florida. These grants are part of the state’s efforts to improve traffic safety and reduce crashes, serious injuries, and fatalities. LCSO was awarded a total of $110,000 in grant funding which includes $75,000 for deputy overtime costs to support high-visibility enforcement activities and $35,000 to purchase speed measurement devices necessary for program implementation. This is the third consecutive year that LCSO has received this grant award.
Protecting Children’s Innocence Task Force (PCI-TF) Grant (Attachment #7)
The Protecting Children’s Innocence Task Force (PCI-TF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is a collaborative initiative aimed at combating child exploitation and abuse. The task force partners with law enforcement to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse by providing advanced technologies, operational support, and performance optimization. LCSO was awarded a total of $210,000 in grant funding to support salary costs for an Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) detective, training for seven detectives/supervisors, one vehicle (one time purchase), and technology-related costs to support these initiatives.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Electronic Surveillance Support Team and Cyber High Tech Task Force (ESST) (Attachment #8)
The ESST program is a statutory program that provides reimbursement to local law enforcement agencies for participation in regional Electronic Surveillance Support Teams. Members of ESST may provide resources, equipment, and the personnel for operations in Florida upon request by any law enforcement agency within the state; however, program activities must be approved by the FDLE task force leaders. The assistance provided by ESST participants may include the following activities: camera placement and operation, vehicle tracking device installation and monitoring, video and audio surveillance operations, cellular locating and tracking, audio and video enhancement, and other similar technical support as requests.
FDLE has received an appropriation of $300,000 for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to reimburse participating agencies who have entered into a Multi-Agency Voluntary Cooperation Mutual Aid Agreement with FDLE, for allowable costs incurred while performing authorized activities for the ESST. The initial allocation for LCSO is $1,000, however, the actual amount of grant funding may increase or decrease depending on the participation of each agency and the availability of funds. This item seeks authorization for the Sheriff to realize and spend all FDLE grant reimbursements for the program.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement, State Board of Immigration Enforcement (SBIE) Local Law Enforcement Immigration Grant (Attachment #9)
In early 2025, the Florida Legislature convened three special sessions on illegal immigration in search of common ground between Governor DeSantis and legislative leaders, and in support of President Trump’s goal to secure the U.S. border and seek greater cooperation from state and local law enforcement agencies to combat illegal immigration. The final illegal immigration package adopted by the Legislature and approved by the Governor expanded the role of the state in enforcing immigration laws and required the collection and reporting of data in cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
The special session legislation created the State Immigration Enforcement Council (Council) to advise the Governor and Cabinet, serving as State Board of Immigration Enforcement (SBIE), on the efforts of local law enforcement agencies related to the enforcement of federal immigration laws and provide recommendations on the financial resources necessary to aid local law enforcement agencies. On July 22, 2025, the SBIE approved a resolution establishing uniform statewide data-collection requirements and procedures. Since that time, the SBIE has taken the following actions:
Notified all Florida law enforcement agencies of their statutory obligations under section 908.1031, Florida Statutes, for immigration enforcement data collection and reporting.
Issued implementation guidance to state agencies, local governments, and law enforcement organizations to ensure consistent use of the standardized framework for statewide collection.
Offered multiple online training courses through FDLE on immigration enforcement and data collection requirements.
Pursuant to Section 908.11, Florida Statutes, Sheriffs operating a county detention facility must enter into a written agreement with the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to participate in the immigration program established under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Under the agreement, LCSO agreed to enforce immigration violations as part of their routine duties and allow ICE to train, certify, and authorize local law enforcement to serve and execute administrative warrants in their jails.
Section 908.1033, Florida Statutes, establishes the Local Law Enforcement Immigration Grant Program within the State Board of Immigration Enforcement to award grants to support local law enforcement agencies and county detention facilities in their cooperation and coordination with federal immigration agencies in the enforcement of federal immigration laws. A $250,000,000 appropriation was authorized for the SBIE to pass through to local law enforcement agencies and county detention facilities in support of the grant program.
LCSO has been awarded up to $499,523 for the reimbursement of costs incurred between February 17, 2025, until June 30, 2026. Expenses that LCSO may be reimbursed for include the following: overtime and training for designated officers; subleasing detention beds to ICE; transportation on behalf of ICE between local, state, and federal facilities; payments to personnel performing designated enforcement duties; and equipment, hardware, and software to meet reporting requirements for the grant program. All reimbursable costs will be incurred while carrying out normal law enforcement duties.
Options:
Accept the U.S. Department of Justice, Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant, through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, in the amount of $26,368 for crime scene equipment, and authorize the County Administrator to execute the Grant Agreement (Attachment #1), including any future modifications, subject to legal review by the County Attorney.
Approve the Resolution and Budget Amendment to realize $26,368 in grant funds into the FY 2026 budget (Attachment #2).
Authorize the Leon County Sheriff’s Office to realize and spend $250,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Policing, to support salaries for two deputies for patrol activities in Leon County (Attachment #3).
Authorize the Leon County Sheriff’s Office to realize and spend $174,996 from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Policing, for development of a targeted initiative to combat violent crime and human trafficking through proactive investigations into illicit massage businesses (Attachment #4).
Authorize the Leon County Sheriff’s Office to realize and spend $111,048 pass-through funding from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime, through the Office of the Attorney General of Florida, toward salaries for Agency Victim Advocates (Attachment #5).
Authorize the Leon County Sheriff’s Office to realize and spend $110,000 from the Florida Department of Transportation, for continued focused enforcement and education efforts regarding speeding and aggressive driving to reduce crashes, particularly those crashes resulting in serious injuries and fatalities (Attachment #6).
Authorize the Leon County Sheriff’s Office to realize and spend $210,000 from the Protecting Children’s Innocence Task Force to jointly address threats posed by individuals and groups engaged in child exploitation and trafficking (Attachment #7).
Authorize the Leon County Sheriff’s Office to realize and spend grant funds from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for the Electronic Surveillance Support Team and Cyber High Tech Task Force to provide technical and investigative assistance (Attachment #8).
Authorize the Leon County Sheriff’s Office to realize and spend $499,523 from the State Board of Immigration Enforcement for reimbursement of costs for immigration enforcement that are incurred during normal law enforcement activities (Attachment #9).
10. Board direction.
Recommendation:
Options #1 through #9
Attachments: