Title
Consider a memorandum/resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a grant agreement with the Texas Office of the Governor for the purpose of purchasing bullet-resistant shields for the Killeen Police Department, and authorizing the purchase of said equipment from Armor Research Company, in an amount not to exceed $157,092.60.
Summary
DATE: March 7, 2023
TO: Kent Cagle, City Manager
FROM: Charles F. Kimble, Chief of Police
SUBJECT: Purchase of bullet-resistant shields for Police Department
BACKGROUND AND FINDINGS:
The City has long recognized the need to outfit first responders with equipment that will adequately protect them and mitigate threats. First responders also place a high priority on the protection of innocents during critical incidents. While the Police Department issues ballistic "soft" body armor and supplemental rifle resistant body armor to sworn officers, these options do not provide full-body ballistic protection. They also offer no practical ability to afford citizens ballistic protection during active shooter incidents, hostage rescues, casualty extraction/evacuation, etc. Bullet-resistant shields are vetted pieces of equipment that provide such supplemental protection. These can be used in a variety of contexts, and are currently used by the Killeen PD Tactical Response Unit operations.
The Department set a goal to purchase bullet-resistant shields and accessories, to make them more available to the first responders in the Patrol Division. These officers are likely to be on the ground at critical incidents long before the Tactical Response Unit or other resources have the opportunity to assemble. Making this resource available to them early in their response to these incidents provide greater protection for officers and the involved citizens.
The Department applied for and was awarded a grant from the Texas Office of the Governor, in an amount of $157,092.60. No matching funds are required from the City reg...
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