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 b...
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