From
Fred Bates, Jr.
Title
Ordinance amending the FY 2015/2016 Crime Tax Budget and ratification of an emergency purchase of ballistic body armor in the amount of $204,829.78.
Presenter
Steve Dye, Chief of Police
Recommended Action
Approve
Analysis
The City of Grand Prairie has established a Police Department to provide the citizens of Grand Prairie with a first class public safety response to police emergencies and calls for service based on a Community Policing philosophy. Although the Department remains committed to the professional advancement of the Community Policing philosophy, Staff must also weigh the responsibility to remain vigilant in planning for officer safety initiatives in this rapidly changing social climate.
Historically, law enforcement tactics and equipment have gone through several evolutionary phases as a result of shifting trends in social and criminal behavior. The recent events in Dallas, Texas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana have called for an administrative review of the safety equipment provided to officers as they may potentially encounter life-threatening situations more frequently. One trend that has increased exponentially in the recent years comes in the form of violent individuals utilizing high powered assault rifles with ammunition capable of defeating the soft ballistic vests that are currently worn of sworn personnel. The most recent shootings in Dallas and Baton Rouge, where the suspects used high-powered assault rifles, proved that soft body armor currently utilized is no match for the high powered rounds that penetrated the vest with ease.
To best protect the officers of the Grand Prairie Police Department in ultra risk situations, staff is recommending the emergency purchase of heavy body armor (ballistic plates and ballistic helmets) that is rated to stop multiple strikes from rifle rounds and even one strike from an armor-piercing rifle round. Due to the extreme weight of this equipment, it could not be worn regularly but would be available when the officers are responding to a potentially life-threatening situation similar to those in Dallas and Baton Rouge.
After researching available equipment on the market, the requested items were determined sufficient to meet the needs of the Department. The preferred equipment is proprietary to First Spear, LLC. It was found to be in demand by numerous law enforcement agencies around the country and limited in supply. Due to the urgent nature of this purchase, the Police Department did not pursue routine bidding process but selected this vendor as a public safety purchase from a sole source.
Equipment will be purchased from the following vendors:
|
First Spear, LLC |
Body Armor, Gear Bags |
$139,559.78 |
|
Boydd Products, Inc. |
Helmets, Face Shields |
$65,270.00 |
|
|
|
$204,829.78 |
The Public Safety, Health and Environmental Committee supports this item and recommends it be forwarded to the City Council for approval.
The Finance and Government Committee reviewed this item on August 2, 2016 and recommended that it be forwarded to the City Council for approval.
Financial Consideration
Funding in the total amount of $204,729.78 is available by approving an ordinance transferring and appropriating from the unobligated fund balance in the Crime Tax Fund (286110).
Body
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS, AMENDING THE FY 2015/2016 CRIME TAX BUDGET BY TRANSFERRING AND APPROPRIATING $204,829.78 FROM THE UNOBLIGATED FUND BALANCE IN THE CRIME TAX FUND (286110)
WHEREAS, The Grand Prairie Police Department continues to balance its primary philosophy of Community Based Policing with the necessity of considering officer safety,
WHEREAS, recent local and national events have placed a higher responsibility upon the Department’s Administration to consider heavier body armor (ballistic plates and ballistic helmets) to counteract a recent trend of high powered assault rifle use against police officers,
WHEREAS, an emergency purchase of heavier body armor (ballistic plates and ballistic helmets) for use against potential threats against police officers is needed for the highest level of protection currently available.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS:
SECTION 1. That the FY 2015/2016 Crime Tax Budget be amended by transferring and appropriating $204,829.78 from the unobligated fund balance in the Crime Tax Fund (286110).
SECTION 2. That this ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and approval.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS, ON THIS THE 2ND DAY OF AUGUST, 2016.