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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
REQUESTING A MEETING OF THE COOK COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND REGIONAL SECURITY COMMITTEE TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE FROM THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND REGIONAL SECURITY
WHEREAS, The Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security ("EMRS") enhances the safety and security of Cook County and its residents by working to build capacity to prevent, protect against, mitigate the effects of, respond to, and recover from all incidents, both human-caused and natural. EMRS is responsible for coordinating the County's response to a large-scale emergency or disaster. On a day-to-day basis, EMRS supports municipalities by providing guidance and coordinating resources as needed, including to suburban law enforcement partners; and
WHEREAS, EMRS is not a law enforcement entity, the Department has limited authority and ability to assist with responding to violence and crime specifically. If local law enforcement requests assistance from EMRS, it would typically be in the form of equipment requests such as light towers and jersey barriers. In a rapidly evolving and complex incident, such as an active shooter scenario, local law enforcement may request the use of EMRS' Unified Command Post/Vehicle, which is equipped with technology allowing for enhanced incident coordination; and
WHEREAS, EMRS maintains strong relationships with municipal law enforcement partners, which may potentially be leveraged to support violence prevention programs. Additionally, EMRS has also served as the County fiscal agent of Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program funds, which provides federal funding for criminal justice projects, including violence prevention programs. Over the past several years, EMRS made a concerted effort to increase the awards to community-based organizations working with justice-impacted populations, including a pre-apprentice carpentry program with the Chicagoland Pris...
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