Title
Approving an interlocal agreement for Pflugerville Police Department connectivity to Austin Police Department Automated Palm and Fingerprint Identification System (APFIS) and authorizing the City Manager to execute same.
Summary
Since 2003 the Austin Police Department (APD) has operated a local Automated Palm and Fingerprint database. This database is being populated from the processing of all arrestees in the Travis County Jail. Currently there are over 1 million records in the database. The system allows for searching crime scene prints and prints of individuals who refuse to identify themselves through a remote workstation. Currently Travis County, Round Rock, Hays County, and Williamson County are connected to this system. The request for an inter-local agreement with Austin Police Department (APD) is to add a remote workstation at our Police Department.
The department now has staff qualified to perform latent print examinations and operate the system. A series of Pflugerville cases have been searched in the APD system at Travis County Sheriff's Office and results prove that this is a positive proactive step for the Pflugerville department to take. The test resulted in the identification in 6 cases, with 3 other cases being connected and cleared as a result of the APFIS work. The hit rate is 26%, so more than 1 out of every 4 cases have investigative leads generated as a result of APFIS searches.
The goal of this project is to:
1. Search all suitable crime scene prints in the system.
2. Complete identifications on those that result in a APFIS candidate being generated.
3. Produce a report that goes to investigators within days for investigative follow up.
Many of the cases will be property crime. The ability to expeditiously produce leads will result in the offender being removed from the community quicker, thus preventing further property crimes by that individual. Currently the Department utilizes the Texas Department of Public Safety to perform these searches. The turnaround time is 6 months to a year. It is anticipated that PPD will be able to turn these cases around in two weeks.
The estimated timeline to install is June 2018.
This agreement has been reviewed and approved as to form by the City Attorney's Office.
Deadline for City Council Action
Action is requested on March 27, 2018.
Fiscal Impact
$46,700 for equipment and set up costs to be taken from Police special funds.
Staff Recommendation
Approve the agreement.
Drafter
Jessica Robledo
Police Chief