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DATE: |
November 15, 2022 |
03 |
SUBJECT
Title
Title
SHERIFF - REQUEST APPROVAL TO SEEK URBAN AREAS SECURITY INITIATIVE GRANT FUNDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE COMPACT ARMORED TRACK VEHICLE (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
The Sheriff's Department currently has several armored vehicles used for various public safety and rescue missions. Often during the rescue missions, there are vehicles, barricaded structures, fencing, or debris blocking the path of the armored vehicles which prevents first responders from getting closer to dangerous areas to rescue persons or provide additional resources. Increased access to dangerous areas during critical incidents creates more options for first responders. The Sheriff's Department seeks to purchase a Compact Armored Track Vehicle (CATV) that expands response capabilities by allowing for mobility, agility, safety, and multi-mission ability. The CATV is a rugged, versatile and highly maneuverable vehicle, and with the addition of armor plating, ballistic glass and variety of attachments, makes for a highly useful rescue vehicle. The ability to navigate terrain, rearrange, and remove obstacles is something that is not possible with the current fleet of armored vehicles.
Currently, no law enforcement agencies in San Diego County have this piece of equipment. By acquiring this equipment, the department would have it available for mutual aid requests. Owning this equipment in San Diego County reduces response times and increases the likelihood of a successful outcome of a critical incident in San Diego County. Considering that this equipment will benefit the safety of the region's first responders, the Sheriff’s Department is seeking funding for the purchase of this equipment through the Fiscal Year 2023 Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) grant for the project period September 1, 2023 to December 31, 2026.
This request is to approve and authorize the Sheriff's Department to apply for and accept Fiscal Year 2023 UASI grant funding from the Urban Area Working Group, the executive body that decides which regional projects are funded with UASI grant funds, for the purchase of a Compact Armored Track Vehicle.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
SHERIFF
1. Waive Board Policy B-29, Fees, Grants, Revenue Contracts - Department Responsibility for Cost Recovery, which requires full cost recovery for grants and revenue contracts, as these grant and revenue programs do not recover full cost.
2. Approve and authorize the Sheriff's Department to apply for and accept Fiscal Year 2023 UASI grant funding for the purchase of a Compact Armored Track Vehicle.
3. Authorize Sheriff to execute all required grant documents, including any annual extensions, amendments, and/or revisions thereto that do not materially impact or alter the services or funding level.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
Public safety encompasses more than just the enforcement of the law. Public safety includes engagement, involvement and connection to communities. The Sheriff's Department provides law enforcement services that aim to protect everyone's human right to life, liberty and security of person. The purpose and benefit to the acquisition and use of a compact armored track vehicle is public safety and the safety of first responders. This type of vehicle gives first responders access and engagement opportunities during highly critical incidents to enhance the delivery of de-escalation, negotiations, and rescue approaches.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The proposed action to seek grant funding to acquire specific special equipment for public safety purposes contributes to County of San Diego Sustainability Goal of providing just and equitable access. By acquiring equipment that will be available for use by any agency delivering services related to public safety, the proposed action will benefit all San Diego County residents, particularly those residing in areas affected by access constraints by law enforcement. This equipment will benefit the region's first responder safety response by increasing access to safety equipment and shortening timelines for delivery of public safety and emergency services.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for this request are not included in the Fiscal Year 2022-23 Operational Plan for the Sheriff's Department. If the grant is awarded, this will result in future costs and revenue of approximately up to $436,000. The funding source is the Urban Area Initiative Grant for the project period September 1, 2023 to December 31, 2026. Staff will return to the Board of Supervisors to appropriate funds in a future Operational Plan for the Sheriff’s Department. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff. A waiver of Board Policy B-29 is requested as this revenue partially recovers Sheriff’s Department direct costs but does not reimburse all costs associated with administrative overhead and support.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
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Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
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BACKGROUND
The Sheriff's Department currently has several armored vehicles used for various public safety and rescue missions. The current inventory of armored vehicles are versions of armored personnel carriers designed to simply transport people on rescue missions. These armored vehicles all have their individual advantageous features and limitations. Among the common limitations of the armored vehicle platforms are that their large size reduces maneuverability in urban environments, and their lack of tools does not allow them to remove obstacles or debris. Often during rescue missions, there are vehicles, barricaded structures, fencing, or debris blocking the path of the armored vehicles which prevents first responders from getting closer to dangerous areas to rescue persons or provide additional resources. Increased access to dangerous areas during critical incidents creates more options for first responders to safely resolve critical incidents through the use of de-escalation techniques and negotiation efforts. The Sheriff’s Department’s fleet of armored vehicles currently lacks the ability to navigate difficult terrain and rearrange or remove obstacles.
The Sheriff's Emergency Services Division has completed research on the companies that manufacture CATVs. The first company "Tacfab" manufactures a small compact track vehicle named the "Tac-Cat." The second company "Ring Power" manufactures a small compact track vehicle named the "Rook." Both the Tac-Cat and Rook vehicles have dense armor plating and are built on commercially available skid steer loaders similar to a "bobcat" or "caterpillar" type construction equipment. They are operated by one person, have 360-degree armor plated coverage, are small enough to operate between residences in suburban neighborhoods, and have options for attachments to remove, clear, or rearrange obstacles. There are also other attachments that allow for lifting first responders to second story locations for rescue or lifting and towing vehicles out of the way.
By all accounts, this is a rugged, versatile and highly maneuverable vehicle commonly used for construction tasks. With the addition of armor plating, ballistic glass and variety of attachments, it makes for a highly useful rescue vehicle. Due to their skid-steer traction being on tracks, they are much more versatile and operate on a variety of surfaces such as snow, mud, and soft surfaces.
This piece of equipment is meant to expand on the response capabilities of the Sheriff's Department's emergency armored vehicle fleet. There is no other piece of equipment that allows for the mobility, agility, safety and multi-mission ability that this vehicle offers. Depending on the company and attachments included, the estimated price is between approximately $300,000 and $436,000.
Peer review and research with law enforcement agencies that own CATVs have stated that this is an invaluable piece of equipment to have access to during highly critical incidents in which traditional methods of de-escalation, negotiations and rescue have failed or were unavailable to delivery by first responders. At least 60 law enforcement agencies nationwide have purchased this asset from one of the two companies offering the CATV. Below is a list of Law Enforcement Agencies in Southern California that have this piece of equipment as part of their armored fleet:
• Los Angeles Sheriff's Department
• Los Angeles Police Department
• Riverside Sheriff's Department
• Fontana Police Department
• Ontario Police Department
Currently, no law enforcement agencies in San Diego have this piece of equipment. If a need was identified and mutual aid was granted, it could take up to two hours to have one delivered from an out of county agency, if it would be even available for use. Considering that this equipment will benefit the region's first responder safety response, funding for the purchase of this equipment is being sought through the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant. The request for this purchase is submitted to the San Diego Urban Area Working Group (UAWG), which is the lead group for establishing the San Diego Urban Area policy and program, developing the annual UASI grant application and allocating UASI funding. The San Diego Urban Area consists of the County of San Diego and the 18 incorporated cities within the county.
A recent incident with San Diego Police Department (SDPD) exemplifies the need for a Compact Armored Track Vehicle (CATV) when they were faced with an armed and barricaded subject who was shooting at the public and at officers. The subject barricaded himself inside his residence which was surrounded by thick vegetation, two fences and complicated floor plan. The suspect had intimate knowledge of his home and positions of advantage. The location was in a residential neighborhood with adjacent houses to the property in close proximity to the house and multiple vehicles on the street. This setting made it impossible to place armored vehicles in advantageous positions. The SDPD SWAT team attempted every traditional de-escalation method to safely resolve the situation and was on scene for over 24 hours before concluding that they had run out of local options to bring the incident to a safe resolution.
It was at this point that SDPD SWAT learned the Riverside Sheriff's Department had a unique piece of equipment that could help remove obstacles to create a path to a desired location. SDPD requested Riverside Sheriff's CATV for assistance. Using this CATV, SDPD was able to remove objects, vegetation, fences, walls, and rearrange the terrain to their advantage all while providing the safety of ballistic armor to first responders. This allowed SDPD to contain the subject to a small bathroom in his residence thus limiting his opportunities to assault officers and the public. As SDPD condensed the subject's area of movement, they were able to develop more plans and safely take the subject into custody. Without this piece of equipment, this incident could have developed into an officer involved shooting.
Today's action is to approve and authorize the Sheriff's Department to seek apply for and accept Fiscal Year 2023 UASI grant funding from the Urban Area Working Group (UAWG), the executive body that decides which regional projects are funded with UASI grant funds, for the purchase of a Compact Armored Track Vehicle. A waiver of Board Policy B-29 is requested as this revenue partially recovers Sheriff’s Department direct costs but does not reimburse all costs associated with administrative overhead and support.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today's proposed action is for the Sheriff’s Department to seek federal grant funds for the purchase of a compact armored track vehicle which supports the Equity and Justice Strategic Initiatives in the County of San Diego's 2022-2027 Strategic Plan by allowing for the provision of life-saving rescue and safety services by first responders that benefits communities in San Diego County.
Respectfully submitted,
ANTHONY C. RAY
Sheriff
ATTACHMENT(S)
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