Staff Report.SCCSET MOU Agreement
PREPARED BY: CLINTON TADA
POLICE CAPTAIN
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, Police Chief, and Finance
Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 08/03/2021 ITEM NO: 17
DATE: July 22, 2021
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Authorize the Town Manager to Execute a Joint Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) Agreement with Santa Clara County Law Enforcement
Agencies for Participation and Services Provided by the Santa Clara County
Specialized Enforcement Team (SCCSET) Task Force from July 1, 2021 TO June
30, 2031.
RECOMMENDATION:
Authorize the Town Manager to execute a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
agreement with Santa Clara County Law Enforcement Agencies for participation and services
provided by the Santa Clara County Specialized Enforcement Team (SCCSET) task force from
July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2031.
BACKGROUND:
The SCCSET task force is a multi-agency task force comprised of law enforcement officers from
different agencies within the Santa Clara County. Investigators assigned to SCCSET assist
participating jurisdictions in the investigation of complex major criminal investigations.
The mission of SCCSET is to promote interagency collaboration to prevent, suppress, and
combat the impact of violent and career criminals, Post Release Community Supervision
(PRCS)/AB109 offenders, major narcotic offenders, human trafficking offenders, criminal
organizations, gangs, firearms traffickers, and other significant crimes to increase public safety
in Santa Clara County.
PAGE 2 OF 3 SUBJECT: Authorize the Town Manager to Execute a Joint Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) Agreement with Santa Clara County Law Enforcement Agencies for
Participation and Services Provided by the Santa Clara County Specialized
Enforcement Team (SCCSET) Task Force from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2031 DATE: July 22, 2021
BACKGROUND (continued):
Historically, the Police Department participated in SCCSET with the contribution of an Officer
assigned to the task force. Although, due to staffing constraints and vacancies, the Police
Department has not assigned an officer to SCCSET full-time since 2018. Over the past twenty
years, SCCSET has been a valuable resource for the Police Department and Town, aiding with
the investigation and successful prosecution of a multitude of major complex criminal
investigations and tactical operations. In addition, participation in the task force has provided
an opportunity for employee professional growth and development, providing experience in
multi-faceted investigations, as well as tactical and covert operations that Department
members would likely not get otherwise.
The SCCSET task force has been in existence for over twenty years with participating
representatives from all law enforcement agencies within the County. Initially SCCSET was
overseen by the State of California Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement (BNE). In 2015, the State
disbanded BNE and rather than lose a valuable County-wide asset, the Santa Clara County
Police Chiefs’ Association voted to maintain SCCSET as a self-funded task force with the City of
Campbell and Campbell Police Department as the host agency. In July 2021, Campbell Police
Department developed a formal MOU for the SCCSET task force and all participating agencies
within the Santa Clara County.
DISCUSSION:
Approval of this item would include Los Gatos in a new MOU agreement for Santa Clara County
Law Enforcement Agencies related to the services, responsibilities, costs, and provisions
between the SCCSET Task Force and individual participating law enforcement agencies.
On March 11, 2021 the Santa Clara County Police Chiefs’ Association (SCCPCA) voted in favor of
creating a funding source for SCCSET. The County Chiefs approved that Participating Agencies
who participate in the Task Force by assigning a minimum of one personnel would contribute
$5,000 annually, and those Participating Agencies who do not assign a minimum of one
personnel to the Task Force would contribute $10,000 annually. These funds paid by the
Participating Agencies to the City of Campbell would be used to offset the cost of SCCSET
operational expenses. The following agencies are participating agencies in the new SCCSET task
force MOU:
City of Campbell City of Santa Clara
City of San Jose City of Mountain View
PAGE 3 OF 3 SUBJECT: Authorize the Town Manager to Execute a Joint Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) Agreement with Santa Clara County Law Enforcement Agencies for
Participation and Services Provided by the Santa Clara County Specialized
Enforcement Team (SCCSET) Task Force from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2031 DATE: July 22, 2021
DISCUSSION (continued):
City of Sunnyvale City of Milpitas
City of Gilroy City of Palo Alto
City of Los Altos City of Morgan Hill
Santa Clara County Sheriff Santa Clara County District Attorney
Santa Clara County Probation CA State Alcohol Beverage Control
CA State Parole CA Highway Patrol
San Jose State University Police
Agencies that do not participate with SCCSET task force may jeopardize their ability to obtain
additional support efforts by the SCCSET task force when necessary.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends the Town Council authorize the Town Manager to execute a joint
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement with all Santa Clara County Law
Enforcement Agencies for participation and services provided by the Santa Clara County
Specialized Enforcement Team (SCCSET) task force from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2031. As a
participating agency of this MOU, staff will determine the assignment or non-assignment of
personnel to SCCSET based on staffing levels.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The fiscal impact may vary year to year or in total for the duration of this MOU, based on the
participation and/or assignment of an Officer at the SCCSET task force. Annual costs for
participating agencies with an Officer assigned to SCCSSET is $5,000 annually, and participating
agencies without an officer assigned to SCCSET is $10,000 annually. There are sufficient funds
pre-programmed in the Police Department FY 2021/22 Operating Expenditures Budget to offset
these annual costs. At this time the Town would pay the $10,000 fee for FY 2021/22 given
current staffing and anticipated retirements later this year.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachment:
1. Santa Clara County Specialized Enforcement Team (SCCSET) Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) Agreement