HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 11c - Budget Appropriation for the Purchase of Police Safety EquipmentDATE: October 18, 2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Roy Nakamura, Chief of Police
By: Amber Abeyta, Management Analyst
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NO. 7466 AMENDING FISCAL YEAR 2022-23 GENERAL
FUND, AUTHORIZING A BUDGET APPROPRIATION FOR THE
PURCHASE OF RIFLE RATED BALLISTIC SHIELDS AND KINETIC
BREACHING TOOL KITS IN THE AMOUNT OF $57,750, OFFSET BY A
REDUCTION IN THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE; AND APPROVING
THE PURCHASE OF THE KINETIC BREACHING TOOL KITS THROUGH
THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES' CALIFORNIA
1122 PROGRAM IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $32,490
Recommendation: Adopt and Approve
SUMMARY
In response to learning lessons from an after-action analysis and report stemming from a
recent officer-involved shooting incident, the Police Department is requesting to purchase
equipment for safer responses to similar incidents in the future. It is recommended that
the City Council adopt Resolution No. 7466 amending Fiscal Year 2022-23 General Fund,
authorizing a budget appropriation for the purchase of rifle rated ballistic shields and
kinetic breaching tool kits in the amount of $57,750, offset by a reduction in the General
Fund Reserve; and approving the purchase of the kinetic breaching tool kits through the
Governor’s Office of Emergency Services’ California 1122 Program in an amount not to
exceed $32,490.
BACKGROUND
The Police Department recently experienced an active shooter incident that resulted in
the injury of a Police Officer and civilians. This incident and the increase of gun violence
nationwide prompted the Department to evaluate certain safety equipment for possible
upgrades. It was determined that, although the Department’s safety equipment meets the
basic industry standards of protection, there is better-quality safety equipment available
that will provide Officers and citizens with enhanced protection and safety.
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October 18, 2022
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The safety equipment evaluated included ballistic shields. Ballistic shields are most
frequently deployed on calls involving building searches, shots-fired investigations, armed
subjects, and other patrol calls. Making ballistic shields available to patrol officers creates
a much safer working environment for those Officers and civilians. The Department’s
current ballistic shields that are used at the patrol level provide the basic level of
protection. However, there are some safety concerns with the current ballistic shields. For
example, the level of ballistic protection will not stop a rifle round from piercing through
the shield. In addition, the current ballistic shields provide limited coverage above the
neckline; however, the are other ballistic shields that provide fuller coverage.
The other safety equipment evaluated was breaching equipment. Breaching equipment
tools are designed to provide law enforcement with rapid entry into a building or through
a secured doorway. These tools may be mechanical in nature (a battering ram), ballistic
(slugs), or explosive. Currently, the Department utilizes two breaching tools: a pry tool
(“pick”) and a battering ram (“ram”). This has been the standard breaching equipment for
many years. This equipment is effective; however, it can be time consuming if Officers
encounter a heavily fortified door. Furthermore, a standard pick and ram are inadequate
when dealing with metal commercial doors, the same type Officers commonly encounter
in school settings.
DISCUSSION
The Police Department researched the type of safety equipment that is utilized by other
law enforcement agencies to determine what options are available to provide essential
protection for Officers and the public. The Los Angeles Police Department (“LAPD”) and
the Santa Ana Police Department (“SAPD”) in Orange County were considered for
ballistic shields. These agencies were chosen because of their size and frequent use of
ballistic shields in patrol settings. It was discovered that these agencies use rifle caliber
ammunition rated shields. These shields are deployed in patrol settings to ensure officers
have the highest level of protection possible. However, in some situations these shields
are not being deployed in every patrol unit, but in supervisor vehicles due to the cost of
the shield. The best shield currently being offered is the Paracelete/Point Blank Vanguard
Level III Shield with a ballistic viewport. Some of the benefits of this shield are as follows:
Offers super ballistic protection for the Officer holding the shield
Measures 20” wide by 30” long and weighs only 16.1 pounds, making it
comfortable for Officers smaller in stature
Viewport allows the Officer holding the shield to keep their head behind cover while
still being able to see where they are navigating
In addition, LAPD recently purchased 150 of these shields and SAPD purchased shields
to deploy in their supervisor’s vehicles. Based on this information, the Department would
like to purchase three Parcelete/Point Blank Vanguard Level III Shields with a ballistic
viewport. One shield will be provided to the Department’s SWAT Team and the other two
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October 18, 2022
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shields will be outfitted in two supervisor patrol vehicles. The total cost including sales tax
for all three shields is $25,243.94. Since the total cost is under $30,000 the purchase only
requires a Small/Informal Bid process and does not require City Council’s approval.
Next, the Department researched upgrading breaching equipment. The breaching
equipment that is being considered is the Kinetic Breaching Tool (“KBT”). This tool
provides a piece of breaching equipment that greatly speeds up the breaching process
and can be utilized on almost any type of door or door frame. This tool is deployed with
agencies throughout the nation. Locally, the Glendale Police Department has these tools
stored in various vehicles for use by patrol officers. Having a tool like this accessible to
officers and supervisors that arrive first on scene to a dynamic situation can make a huge
difference in ensuring the safety of citizens. Some of the benefits of this tool are as
follows:
Can be faster and safer than traditional breaching methods
No explosive team or complicated breaching set-up required
Is operated by just one Officer
Fits tight quarters – the KBT is 36” with no backswing required
Ergonomic design enables Officers to maintain tight formation behind cover during
the breaching process
High impact – delivers up to 1,000 ft./lbs. of force
Control breaching technique with customizable loads and rams
Rapid cartridge reload enables multiple assaults
Furthermore, the Department’s SWAT team witnessed a demonstration involving this tool
and can attest to its effectiveness and functionality. The Department would like to
purchase three KBT kits. Two of the tools will be placed in the Field Supervisor’s patrol
units and one will be given to the SWAT Team. The total cost for the three KBT kits is
$32,487.38, which includes $570 for freight and $2,967.38 for sales tax.
The Department would like to purchase the KBT kits through the California 1122 Public
Safety Procurement Program (“1122 Program”), which is led by Cal OES. This is the
program that was recently utilized to purchase the Armored Rescue Vehicle. This
program provides the authority for State and local government entities to purchase
equipment from specific Federal sources, resulting in significant cost savings estimated
to be 50-85%. The 1122 Program establishes sources for non-IT commodities that have
been competitively assessed, negotiated, or bid by the Federal General Services
Administration (“GSA”). The advantage of utilizing the 1122 Program is it provides the
City access to the Federal Government’s large purchasing power, which generally means
bigger discounts than otherwise would be available to the City. In addition, the
Department is certified to participate in the 1122 Program.
For the purchase of the KBT kit, the Police Department has inquired with Aardvark, a
1122 Program vendor and the sole source distributor for Kinetic Breaching Technology,
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October 18, 2022
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LLC who manufactures the KBT kits. In addition, Aardvark is authorized through the GSA
schedule to represent and quote KBT kits and on behalf of Kinetic Breaching Technology,
LLC. Therefore, the Department would like to purchase the KBT kits from Aardvark
utilizing the 1122 Program which will satisfy the City’s purchasing requirement.
It should be noted that the purchase of the Kinetic Breaching equipment is also made in
compliance with City Ordinance No. 2387, Military Equipment Use Policy adopted
pursuant to Assembly Bill 481. The KBT kits will be added to the Military Equipment Use
Policy inventory list, which is published on the City’s website.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental
Quality Act (“CEQA”), based on Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, as it can
be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the environment. Thus, this matter is
exempt under CEQA.
FISCAL IMPACT
The one-time expenditure of approximately $57,750 was not budgeted as part of the
General Fund budget for Fiscal Year 2022-23; therefore, a budget appropriation from the
General Fund Reserve balance in the amount of $57,750 is requested for the purchase
of the three-rifle rated ballistic shields and three-Kinetic Breaching Tool kits.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council determine that this action does not constitute a
project and is, therefore, exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act
(“CEQA”); and adopt Resolution No. 7466 amending Fiscal Year 2022-23 General Fund,
authorizing a budget appropriation for the purchase of rifle rated ballistic shields and
Kinetic Breaching Tool kits in the amount of $57,750, offset by a reduction in the General
Fund Reserve; and approving the purchase of the Kinetic Breaching Tool kits through the
Governor's Office of Emergency Services' California 1122 Program in an amount not to
exceed $32,490.
Attachment: Resolution No. 7466