Title
[Grant] Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Safer Outcomes: Enhancing De-Escalation and Crisis Response Training for Law Enforcement
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FileID
File ID: 2026-00863
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Location
Location: Citywide
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Recommendation
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager or designee to: 1) accept the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Safer Outcomes: Enhancing De-Escalation and Crisis Response Training for Law Enforcement grant in the amount of $500,000; 2) establish the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Safer Outcomes: Enhancing De-Escalation and Crisis Response Training for Law Enforcement operating grant (G11019200); and 3) adjust operating grant revenue and expense budgets by $500,000.
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Contact
Contact: Vance Chandler, Police Captain, (916) 808-0197, vchandler@pd.cityofsacramento.org, Police Department
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Presenter
Presenter: None
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Attachments
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Award Package
3-Resolution
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Description/Analysis
IssueDetail
Issue Detail: The Sacramento Police Department has been awarded $500,000 in federal funding from the US Department of Justice’s (US DOJ) FY25 Safer Outcomes: Enhancing De-Escalation and Crisis Response Training for Law Enforcement grant program. To accept the grant award, US DOJ requires acceptance and certification from the Chief of Police and City Manager.
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PolicyConsiderations
Policy Considerations: The recommendations contained in this report are consistent with: 1) City Council Resolution 2025-0162, Section 11, which requires City Council authorization to establish an operating grant of $250,000 or more; and 2) Sacramento City Code 3.04.010, which limits the City Manager’s authority to execute contracts valued at $250,000 or greater, thereby requiring City Council authorization for contracts meeting or exceeding this threshold.
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EconomicImpacts
Economic Impacts: None
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EnvironmentalConsiderations
Environmental Considerations:
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): No environmental review is necessary because the recommendations contained in this report involve the administrative activity of accepting grant funding and are not considered to be a project in accordance with Section 15378(b)(2) of the CEQA guidelines.
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Sustainability
Sustainability: Not applicable.
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Commission/Committee Action
Commission/Committee Action: None.
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RationaleforRecommendation
Rationale for Recommendation: The grant funding will support SPD’s launch of the De-Escalation and Results in Virtual Reality (DRIVR) initiative, which is designed to enhance officer training and strengthen community engagement through immersive virtual reality (VR) experiences.
The DRIVR program is designed to address three core objectives:
1) Enhanced Officer Preparedness: SPD will significantly expand access to VR-based training scenarios that simulate high-stakes, real-world incidents such as active shooter responses, mental health crises, and rapid decision-making under pressure. These simulations allow officers to build critical muscle memory and de-escalation skills in a safe, controlled environment, accelerating the development of judgment and restraint typically gained through years of field experience.
2) Community Engagement and Understanding: Community members will be invited to participate in the same VR scenarios, offering them a firsthand perspective on the complex and often split-second decisions officers must make. This shared experience is intended to foster empathy, transparency, and constructive dialogue between SPD and the community it serves.
3) Cost-Effective, Scalable Innovation: By leveraging VR technology, SPD can deliver high-quality, repeatable training without the logistical and financial burdens of traditional live-action simulations. The program eliminates the need for additional personnel or physical infrastructure, making it a sustainable and scalable solution.
To ensure continuous improvement, the program will also engage a professional consultant to monitor implementation, conduct research, and support iterative refinement of training content and community engagement strategies.
The DRIVR program represents a forward-thinking investment in public safety, officer readiness, and community trust, aligning with SPD’s broader commitment to innovation, accountability, and service.
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FinancialConsiderations
Financial Considerations: This report recommends accepting the $500,000 grant award. No matching funds are required for this grant and there is no impact on the General Fund (Fund 1001).
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LocalBusinessEnterprise
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.
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