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MEMORANDUM
To:
From:
Subject:
Date~
Mayor, City Council, City Manager
Mark T. sokolow City Attorney ~ ~
P. R. No. 12088; Council Meeting of February 18,
February 12, 2003
2003
Attached is P. R. No. 12088 authorizing the execution of the
Houston Joint Terrorism Task Force Memorandum Agreement.
MTS/jb
Attachment
P. R. No. ~2088
02/~/03 ~b
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF THE
HOUSTON JOINT TERRORISM TASK FORCE MEMORANDUM
OF AGREEMENT BY THE POLICE CHIEF OR HIS
DESIGNEE
WHEREAS, the City of Port Arthur desires to enter into a
Memorandum of Agreement with the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) in order to outline a cooperative effort to combat terrorism;
and
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to authorize John Tyler,
Police Chief, Port Arthur Police Department to execute this
Memorandum of Agreement in substantially the same form as Exhibit
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF PORT ARTHUR:
Section 1. That the facts and opinions in the preamble are
true and correct.
Section 2. That the City Council hereby authorizes the
Police Chief or his designee to execute the Memorandum of Agreement
in substantially the same form as Exhibit "A".
Section 3. That a copy of the caption of this Resolution
be spread upon the Minutes of the City Council.
READ, ADOPTED AND APPROVED on this __ day of ,
A.D., 2003, at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City
of Port Arthur, Texas, by the following vote: AYES:
Mayor , City Council ,
z.pr12088
NOES:
OSCAR ORTIZ, MAYOR
ATTEST:
EVANGELINE GREEN, CITY SECRETARY
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
MARK ~T. SOKOLOW, CITY ATTORNE
APPROVED FOR ADMINISTRATION:
STEVE FITZGIBBONS, CITY MANAGER
EXHIBIT "A"
HOUSTON
JOINT TERRORISM TASK FORCE
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT
PREAMBLE
This Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is entered into by the
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBIi and the Fort Arthur
Police Dcpaztmont (PAPD) ~nd outlines @ cooperative effort to
combat terrorism.
ARTICLE ONE:
PurDos~.of MOA
This MOA establishes and delineates the mission and
struat~re of th~ ~otl~ton Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTk')
addressing the complex problem of terrorism affecting
Southeast Texas.
in
The purpose of ~his MOA is to set out a common
undersL~,d~r~g of the poli. cies a~d procedures Izhe PAPD and the
FBI will follow in providing law enforceme~t service to the
citizens of Texas and the United States of ~erican.
ARTICLE TWO:
The JTTF will investigate terrorist or'gsmizsliions
planning or carrying out terrorist acts occurrlng in or
affecting the State of Texas and will apprehend individuals
committing such violations. The organizations to be
investigated will be specifically identified and agreed upon
be£oreb~fld by JTTF ~embe~ ~gencJ. e~. All parties agree to
abide by the Attorney General's Guidelines o~ Get, oral Crimes,
Racketeering Enterprise, and Domestic Security/Terrorism
investigations (AG Guidelines) and the Attorney Guidelines for
FBI Foreign Intelligence Collection and Fozeiun
Counterintelligence Investigations as they pertain to
International Tec'~'o~i~ matte£s. In addition, it is
understood that personnel of the PAPD shall be requirRd to
utilize only those investigative techniques consistent with
their given standards and procedures.
ARTICLE THREE:
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURR AND MANAGEMENT OF THE TASK FORCE
The JTTF shall consist of a combines body of
investigators from each participating agency.
B. IDENTIFICATION OF OBJECTIVES
The Special Agent in Chazge (SAC) of thc FBI and the
Chief of the PAPD or their designees, shall identify, agree
upon, and articulate specific organizations and investiqatiYe
objectives or matters assigned to the JTTF.
C. D.IRECTION OF JTTF AND RESQURCE CONTROL
Responsibility for the overall policy and direction of
the JTTF shall rest with an A.ssi. stant Special Agent In Charqe
{ASAC) uf the FBI, who will closely coordinate with the Chief
of I. he PAPD or Uheir desiqnces, on matters of mutual concern
relati, ng to such p~,licy and direction, thus ensuring the
abscnce of conflict.
Specific control over their JTTV resources and the
continued dedication of these resources to the jTTF shall be
retai[~ed by the participating agency heads, who will be kept
f;j].ly apprised cf all investigative developments by their
respective subordinates-
SUPERVISION OF JTTF
Day-to-day supervision for masters assigned to thc JTTF
snell be the responsibility of the designated FBI Senior
Supervisory Special Agent (SS~) of the Beaumont Resident
Agencv in conjunction with the PAPD. Respons. bility for the
conduct of the JTTF members shall remain w~th the respective
~gency heads. Ail JTTF personnel will keep their respective
superiors completelv informed cf pertinent developments.
pHYSICA/~ LOC~TION AND SUPPORT
subjec~ to availability, the FBI will provide office
space for a]~ JTTF members and support staff. In addition,
the f~I w~ll provid~ all necessary secretarial, clerical,
automation, and technical support for the JTTF.
F. COMMITMENT OF PERSONNEL
The FBi wi~ assign an sSRA (1) and three (3) Special
Agents. ?APD will assign one (1) Investigator from the PAFD.
All members of thc JTTF will be assigned fuji-time to the
JTTF. Continued assignment o~ members wi]] be made at ~l]e
discretion of their respective agencies consistent with FBI
and PAPD guidelines.
ARTICLE FOUR:
VEHICLES
The JTTF agrees to provide the PAPD t=~k force me~,ber
with a vehicle. The purpose of these vehicles is for
surveillance, case management, and investigat4on, in
connection with any JTTF investigation. The vehicle provided
by the FBI can be used for official usc only in conn¢ctior~
with matters investigated by the JTTF.
In furtherance of the mission of the JTTF and in
compliance with existinw FBI policy for operation of U.S.
Gover~ent vehicles, the FBI hereby agrees and authorizes
meIabers of the PAPD in the JTTF to operate vehicles owned or
leased by the FBI.
The PAPD agrees to be ze~ponsible for ~_ortious acts or
omissions on the part of the PAPD or their employees, and for
any liabilitv resulting from use of F~7 owned oz leased
vehicles utilized by the PAPD Task Yorce member, and for any
damage to said vehicles as a result of any action or omission
on the part of the PAPD or their employees.
ARTICLE FIVE:
RECORDS AND REPORTS
Ail JTTF investigative ~ecords will be maintained at the
Beaumont Resident Agency o~ the FBI. investigative reports
will. be prepared on FRI forms. Decisions for placement of all
or part of said investigative records into PAPD files or data
bases shall rest with supervisory personnel of the FBI and the
PAPD in compliance with applicable standaIds and procedures
governing the Iespective partie~. Classified information
shall not be placed i~ files.
/G~TICLE SIX:
SECURITY CLEARANCE/DEPUTATION
Due to various United states, Department ~ Custice (DOJ)
regulations and laws regarding classifi, ed information,
prospective mel~srs of the JTTF who do not possess Top Secret
clearances previously granted by the FSi/DOJ will be subjected
to full background investigation(s) with assignment contingsnt
upon receipt of 8ppropriate security clear~nce(s) . Ail non-
FBI personnel will be sworn in as Special Deputy U.S.
Marshals. Security clearances will be granted for any
applicable and relevant PAPD m~uagers or Supervisors ~p to,
and including the Chief of Police. Investigative
restrictions imposed by the PAPD shall no~ be voided Dy
depl:tation of their respective personnel. All mer~bers of the
J?TF s~all agree not to disclose shy classi, fied or sensitive
information to no~i-JTTF mes~ers without the express pe~'mission
of the FBI and shsll agree to execute any applicable
nondisc]osure agreements, as may bc necessary or required by
the FBI.
ARTICLE SEVEN:
INVESTIGATIVE EXCLUSIVITY
It is agreed that matters designated to be handled bv the
JTTF will no~ knowingly be subpect to non-JTTF law enforcement
efforts. Reaognizing the amount of specialized entities
within each member agency, it is incumbent upon each agency to
make proper internal notification regar~Jing JTTF existcnce,
including its arcas of concern. All information developed by
the individual mer~ber age~cy, in the course of investigations
prior to the JTTF, will be referred to the JTTF for review sod
coordination, with approval of the command staff of e~ch
member agency. The non-specialized entities of each member
agency handle a myriad of diffeient law vJolations; therefore,
JTTF.members should make an effort to keep abreast of ].aw
enforcement developments within their respective agencies, to
ensure information Jr~volving JTTF me~crs is referred Lo the
JTTF.
It is also agreed there shall be ~',o unilateral action
taken on the part of any participating agency relating to JTTF
investigations. All law e~forcement actions will bc
coordinated and cooperatively carried out.
ARTICLE EIGHT:
SALARY~COMPENSATION
Salari. es of JTTF members will be paid by their respective
8gencies. Overtime incurred in the performance of JTTF
responsibilities, when allowsble under federal law and to the
extent that federal funding is availablo for such purposes,
will be rein~u~sed by th~ FBI So long as a sepaz'ate over'rime
agreeme~h is executed between the parties. 0therw~e,
overtime shall be compensated in accordance with applicable
PAPD overtime provisions and shall be subject to th.e prior
8pproval of appropriate personnel.
The FBI shall report to the PAPD supervisor all payments
made to non-FBI JTTF members including but not limited to
overtime.
ARTICLE NINE:
PROSECUTION
JTTF investigations will conform to the requi, reme~nts of
federal prosecution rules and regulations and will generally
be prosecuted in federal courts. I~ is recognized, howevez,
that specific circumstances may, on a base-by-case basis,
indicate that prosecution should be in a state court. The
trite'c-ia for making such decisions will focus upon achieving
the greatest overall benefit to law enforcement a~d the
public, and effecting the greatest impact on terrorism.
ARTICLE TEN:
INFORMANTS/EXPENSES
The JT?F wi31 abide by the Att~ney General's Guidelines
on the Use of Informants and Confidential Sources. To the
extent that PAPD standards and procedures impose any greater
restrictions upon the use o~ their informants and cooperating
witnesses, such Dersonnel shall be bound by those
restrictions. Subject to appropriate FBI approvals, the FBI
agrees to pay any reasonable and necessary e~penses incurred
by the JTTF'. The P.%PD agrees that prior tc incurring-such
expenses, %t will consult wit]', the FBi's designated
representative to ensure a~ticlDated expenses will be in
furthcrance of JTTF goals and objectives.
ARTICLE ELEVEN:
FORFE I TURE
~y forfeiture realized as a result of cascs worked bv
the JTTF will be handled in a~.:cordar~ce with applicable fedSral
law add FBI guidelines. FBi g~.lidelines will govern the
sharing of scized and/or forfeited assets.
ARTICLE TWELVE:
M]~DIA
No members of the JTTF will discuss or otherwise £'evea]
information relating to JTTF investigations, or other FBI
related investigations known to them, to any media
representatives. All R~edia releases on JTTF matter, s will bc
mutually agreed upon and coordinated Jointlv.
ARTICLE THIRTEEN:
LI3%BILIT¥
I3nless specifically addressed by the ~erms oS this MOA,
the parties agree to be responsible for the negligent or
wrongful acts or omissions of their respective employees.
Legal representations by the U.S. is determined bv t]'~e ~)OJ on
a case-by-case basis. The FBI cannot guarantee r. fle ~..~. will
provide ~.egal representation to any Federa or State taw
enforcement officer or employee.
Congress has pz'ovided that the e×cluslve remedy for the
negligent or wrongful act or omission of an emplovee o£ the
U.S. Go'verD_ment, acting within the scope of his/hez
employment, shall be an action against the u.s. under the
Fedez.al '£ort Claims Act (FTCP~) 28 USC, Section ..~6 (b), and
Sections 2671-2680.
Per the limited puz'pose of defending claims arisin9 out
of JTTF activity, state officers who have been specifical, ly
deputized and who are acting withi]% Lhe cou%'$e and scope of
their official duties and assignmenu~ pursuant to this }{OU,
may be considered an "employee" of the U.S. Gover~unent as
defined in 28, USC, Sectio}~ 2671. See b USC, Section 337,:
(2) . --
Under the Federal Employees Liability Reform and Tort
Compensation, Act of 1~98 (coImlonly knowr~ as the Westfall
Act), 28 USC, Section 2679 (b) (1), the Attorney General or
his/her designee may certify that an individual dcfenda;lt
acted within the scope of his employment at the time of the
incident giving ~'ise to the suit. id., 28 USC, Section 2679
(d) (2). The U.S. can then be substituted for the employee as
the sole defendant with respect to any tort claims. 28 USC,
Section 26'/9 (d) (2). If the U.S. is substituted as
defendant, the individual e~ployee is thereby protected from
suits in his official capacity.
If the Attorney General declines to certify that an
employee was acting within thc scope of emplo}fment, "thc
employee may at any time before trial, petition the court to
find and certify that the em[:loyee was acting within the
scope of his office or employment..' 28 USC Section 26779
(d) (3). -
Liability for any negligent or willfu.], acts of
mefabers, undertaken outside the terms of this ~4OU will be the
Sole responsibility of the respective emp].oyee and agency
~nvolvcd. Liability for violations of federal constitutional
law rests with the individual federal agent c~c o~'ficer
pursuant to ~i_ven~ v. Six Unknown Named Aqent. s of thn
~Urcau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (]971) or pursuant to
USC, Section 1983 for state officers or cross-deputized
federal officers.
Both state and federal officers enjoy qualified immunity
from suit for const'~.tutional torts, "insofac. as their conduot
does not violate clearly established st. atutory or
consLitutJonal rights of which a reasonabl~ person would bare
known." Narlow v. zt~ 457 U,S. 800 (1982).
JTTF officers may request reprcser~tatio~ by the U-S. DOJ
ior civil suits against them in their ind~.~zidual capacities
for actions taken within the scope of employment 28 C.F.R.
Sections 50.15, 50.16. - - '
~,n employee may be provided representations "When the
actions for which representation is requested reasonably
appear to have been performed within the scope of the
employee's employment and the Attorney -' ~
oen_ral, or his/her
designee, detern~ines that providing representation would
otherwise be in the into!est of. the U.S." 20 C.F.R. SecSion
50.15 (a).
A JTTF o£fice~"s written request for r~preser~ta~lon
should be directed to the Attorney General end provided to the
Chief Division Counsel (CDC) of the FBi d4. vision coordinating
the task f'orce. The CDc wall t},en forward the representation
request to the FBI's Office of General Counsel (OGC) together
with a Letterhead Memorandum concerninq the factual basis for
the lawsuit. FBI/oGC will then forward the req~lest to thc
Civil Division of DOJ =ogether wi~h an agency recommendation
concerning scope of employment and Department representation.
28 C.F.R. Section S0.1S (a) (3).
If a JTTF o£fice~ is found to be liable for a
constitutional tort, he/she may request il~demnif~catio~ from
DOJ to satisfy an adverse judgement rendered against the
employee in his/her individual capac'i, ty. 28 C.F.R. Section
50.15 (c) (4). The criteria for payment are substantially
simllar to those Used to determin~ whether a federal employee
is entitled to DOJ representation under 28 C.F.R. Section
50,15 (a). '
ARTICLE FOURTEEN:
pURATION OF THE TASK FORCE
The JTTF will continue for an indefinite period but
participation may be terminated at any time upon the written
notice of either party to this Memorandum of Agreement.
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (PAPD) and outlines a
cooperstive effort to comba~ terrorism.
ARTICLE FOURTEEN:
DURATION OF THE TASK FORCE
Thc JTTF will continue for an indefinite per~od but
participation may be terminated at any time ~Jpon the written
~lotice of either party to this Memorand m o~ Agreement.
SIGNATORIES:
Richard T. Garcia
SPECIAL AGENT IN CFJ~RGE
Federal Bureou o£ Investigation
Chief John Tyler
POrt Arthl3r Police Department
Officer of the Chief ConEracting Officcr
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Washington, D.C.
~ 001
FBI FACSIMILE
COVER SHEET
PRECEDENCE
CLASSIFICATION
[] Immediate [] Tap Secret
[] Priority [] Secret
[~ Roufim: [] Confid~atial
[] Unclassified
Time 'lYansm kted:
S~nd~"s Initials:
Number of Pages:
(including cover
To: Port Arthur Police Department
Name of Office
Facsimile N amber: (409)983-8621
Attn: Chief Tyte~
(409)983-8600
Room Telephone
Date: 02/'11/2003
Subject:
FBI-Beaumont RA
Memorandum of Agreement
Spet4slHandliagln~truetions: Deliver to Chandra. .[ will be at vo~r office on
02/.18/2003. Need Chief's signature on original.
Originator's Nam*:
Origirm~.or's FacsimfleNumber:
Approved:
Brief Description of Communication PaYed:
SA P~ob5 n L. Goodson
(409)833-6549
Telephone: (409) 832-8571
WAP,.N'ING
Ini'orm~tion agached to thc cover sheet ts U.S. Government'Property. It'ynu ~z¢ not '~he intended r~cipient of thi~
inCnrmation, disclosure, roproductlon, di.~lribut/on, or sst of this i~formation i~ prohibited 18.USC, {~ 641). Plcus¢ notify thc
nrigin~Cor or the local FBI Office iB~mcdiaL[:ly to arrange for proper difpositioa.