Title
Staff Report for a 1) Presentation to and Comments from the City Council on the Rescue Vehicle Policy and 2) Review and Approval of a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Accept Grant Funds in the Amount of $200,000, Appropriate $50,000 from Asset Forfeiture Funds, and Execute a Reimbursement Agreement between the City of San Leandro and the City of Fremont to Purchase the MedEvac Armored Rescue Vehicle
Staffreport
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends:
1. The purchase of a LENCO MedEvac armored rescue vehicle and associated equipment; and
2. That the City Council accept a grant in the amount of $200,000 from the State Homeland Security Agency;
3. That the City Council authorize the appropriation and use of up to $50,000 of asset forfeiture funds; and
4. That the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a reimbursement agreement between the City of San Leandro and the City of Fremont for a $50,000 financial contribution towards the MedEvac armored rescue vehicle purchase.
BACKGROUND
The San Leandro Police Department has a public safety need for a contemporary armored MedEvac vehicle to provide a rescue resource for officers in managing critical incidents where there is an objective risk to officers or public safety. The rescue vehicle policy directs how the vehicle may be used including the deploying procedures and that its deployment requires supervisory approval.
The vehicle will allow the police department to:
· Safely assist and rescue community members who are under duress, including active shooter, barricaded subjects, and hostage situations.
· Provide adequate protection to police, fire and medical staff during a rescue from an incident involving an armed person(s).
· Safely transport and deploy public safety and emergency medical response personnel to situations where public safety is jeopardized.
· Provide mutual aid to other public safety agencies such as the Alameda County Fire Department, Paramedics Plus and neighboring public agencies.
The LENCO MedEvac vehicle is built on a Ford F-550 chassis weighing approximately 17,000 lbs. It has 0.5 inch thick steel armored bodywork built to withstand 7.62 AP (Armor-Piercing)/.50 Cal BMG (Browning Machine Gun). On board, it is equipped with oxygen tanks, lighted work stations and compartments for medical supplies and other equipment.
Currently the San Leandro Police Department does not have this type of equipment to safely conduct rescues. The Department borrowed similar vehicles from neighboring agencies when the need arose. The availability of this type of protective equipment varies due to the needs of other agencies and time of day. Having a Department dedicated rescue vehicle, which will be stored at the San Leandro Police Department, will decrease response time to critical incidents, rather than relying on neighboring agencies. This is important during critical incidents, such as an active shooter incident, where every second counts.
Alameda County and other Bay Area police departments have armored vehicles that are primarily used and designed for transporting personnel and providing a protected platform from which to work. The LENCO MedEvac vehicle is designed and equipped to facilitate rescues with emergency medical personnel. It can also be used as a protective platform for staff during critical incidents such as those involving barricaded armed subjects. The closest MedEvac vehicle is located in Southern California, and San Leandro's purchase of this vehicle will provide a regional asset to the Bay Area.
The Police Department has obtained confirmed specifications and pricing for a new armored vehicle (MedEvac) from LENCO Company, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts in the amount of approximately $284,110.00. Additional outfitting costs for radios and other equipment will range from $10,000- $15,890.
Staff is recommending a sole source purchase. The purchase and pricing is in association with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) pricing agreement because the LENCO MedEvac is the only tactical and rescue vehicle available that is capable of enduring .50 caliber weapon fire, providing running boards to support tactical positioning of personnel for insertion and extraction purposes, supporting the movement of 10-12 personnel in the vehicle interior, providing for a fully armored hood to protect the engine components from weapon fire, and providing for a non-commercial vehicle body of mil-spec steel that does not degrade after taking on weapon fire to provide for repeated use.
LENCO is the Sole Manufacturer for the LENCO MedEvac Rescue Vehicle, and is the only manufacturer, distributor, and authorized dealer/supplier of this product.
Analysis
The proposed MedEvac rescue vehicle will be manufactured specifically to enable First Responders to conduct rescue operations and to treat injuredpersons. It will also provide a secure platform for staff to handle certain critical incidents such as barricaded armed subjects or mentally ill subjects armed with a weapon. There are countless examples of public safety agencies around the nation using similar vehicles to rescue parties and to de-escalate volatile situations without having to use lethal force. Attached to this report is a detailed Fact Sheet that lists incidents in which an armored vehicle was used by the San Leandro Police Department and borrowed from another agency.
Fiscal Impact
The following is a breakdown on proposed funding:
State Homeland Security Grant $200,000
SLPD Asset Forfeiture #146-21-017 $50,000*
City of Fremont $50,000*
Total $300,000
* The projected use of $50,000 of Asset Forfeiture funds is contingent on the negotiation of a $50,000 financial contribution from the City of Fremont.
ATTACHMENTS
· Regional MedEvac Fact Sheet
· Active Shooter Incidents Study - FBI
· Rescue Vehicle Policy
PREPARED BY: Edward Tracey, Police Captain, Police Department