CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing the execution of an intergovernmental police service assistance agreement to join the DuPage Metropolitan Emergency Response and Investigation Team (MERIT).
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DEPARTMENT: Police Department
SUBMITTED BY: Jason R. Arres, Deputy Chief of Police
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A.
BACKGROUND:
Since 1999, there have been two task force operations working independently within DuPage County, the Felony Investigative Assistance Team (FIAT), which covered the southeast corner of the County, and the DuPage County Major Crimes Task Force (DCMTF), which covered the northwest portion of the county. The Naperville Police Department was one of the original members of the DCMTF and have contributed personnel to this team that focused on homicide and officer involved shooting investigations.
In 2018, the leadership of FIAT and DCMTF, in coordination with the DuPage County Association of Chiefs of Police and DuPage County State's Attorney's office recognized the benefit of consolidating both task force entities into a single countywide task force that includes the DuPage County Sheriff's Police. The pooling of resources into a combined countywide entity will lead to the expedient solution of serious crimes, critical incidents and other successful outcomes to a variety of law enforcement endeavors.
The Naperville Police Department currently has four members assigned to the former DCMTF and would participate in MERIT on the investigative team. Additionally, one officer would be assigned to the Crash Investigation Team, which would provide assistance with major crash investigations, including the investigation of officer involved crashes that are death or serious personal injury related. Personnel assigned to MERIT will receive specialized training and respond to incidents, as needed, with supervisor approval.
DISCUSSION:
The consolidation of the two DuPage County task forces into MERIT requ...
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