REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
October 7, 2025
FROM
SHANNON D. DICUS, Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Award for the 2024 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Accept grant award from the California Office of Emergency Services in the amount of $79,159, for the 2024 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Program (State Award No. CQ24027701), to provide training for the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator’s Crime Lab personnel, from April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026.
2. Authorize the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector to post adjustments to the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator’s 2025-26 budget, as detailed in the Financial Impact section (Four votes required).
(Presenter: Carolina Mendoza, Chief Deputy Director, 387-0640)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). This grant award from the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) in the amount of $79,159 will provide funding to the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator (Department) for tuition, transportation, meals, and lodging for its Crime Lab personnel to attend specified training. No matching funds are required.
The Department requests the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector post the following adjustments to the 2025-26 budget, as detailed below:
|
Fund Center |
Commitment Item |
Description |
Action |
Amount |
|
4438001000 |
52942941 |
Conference/Training/Seminar Fees |
Increase |
$79,159 |
|
4438001000 |
40509094 |
Federal-Grants |
Increase |
$79,159 |
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Cal OES received federal funds for the 2024 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Program (Grant) to improve the quality, timeliness, and credibility of forensic science and medical examiner services. Funds are allocated to the State’s accredited forensic laboratories based upon established criteria.
On January 28, 2025 (Item No. 60), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the submission of the grant application to Cal OES. Cal OES required the County to designate an “Authorized Agent” to execute the grant award documents online. The Board authorized the Chief Executive Officer, the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator, or the assigned Financial Officer to execute and submit the application electronically.
The grant award was released without notification on May 27, 2025, and posted by Cal OES to their newly implemented online Grants Central System. The Department was not aware of the grant award’s release until September 1, 2025, and is now presenting the matter to the Board on the first date available for presentation following the required operational, fiscal and legal reviews.
The grant term is April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026. The Department’s allocation of $79,159 will be used to supplement the Crime Lab’s operational training budget. This grant will fund training in eight disciplines: 1) forensic biology; 2) firearms; 3) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network; 4) trace evidence; 5) blood alcohol; 6) controlled substances; 7) crime scene investigations; and 8) Ten Prints/Latent Comparisons. The additional training will increase the knowledge of the laboratory’s staff with the goal of increased efficiency and faster turn-around time in analyzing evidence. The Department can submit claims for reimbursement retroactively from April 1, 2025.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Grace B. Parsons, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on September 9, 2025; Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector (Charlene Huang, Auditor-Controller Manager, 382-7022) on September 10, 2025; and County Finance and Administration (Erika Rodarte, Administrative Analyst, 387-4919) on September 18, 2025.