ATTACHMENT B
Impact Report
Mobile Command Center
(1) Description:
A. Background
The Oakland Police Department owns 1 Mobile Command Vehicles (MCV). Our MCV was built in conjunction with the Oakland Fire and Oakland Police Department as unified command vehicle but can also alternate between fire specific and police specific missions. The vehicle was custom built by Lynch Diversified Vehicles (Freightliner MT-55, 30,000-lb GVWR) with rear air ride suspension and air brake. Our MCV was converted into a MCC by adding desktop workstations, police radios and emergency lighting. The MCV is 30” long. The MCV has been used in conjunction with the Oakland Fire Department during past Oakland Raider Football Games, Golden State Warrior Basketball Games, Oakland A’s Baseball Games, GSW Parades, most notably. The MCV was also deployed during the aftermath of the Ghost Ship (2016) Fire to support Fire and Police operations.
The Oakland Police Department owns 3 Community Resource Vehicle (CRV), was purchased to be used in the community to prevent the spread of, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The vehicle will also serve as a community resource center during critical incidents, distribute sanitation supplies, public engagement, and dissemination of emergency health supplies in a disaster. The vehicle was custom built by Lynch Diversified Vehicles (LDV Model #30MCC-34769-20), 2022 Freightliner MT-55 forward control chassis. 26,000-lb. GVWR with air ride rear suspension and hydraulic brakes.
B. Quantity:
The Oakland Police Department owns 1 MCV and 3 CRV.
C. Capability:
The MCV and CRV can serve as mobile offices that supply shelter and may be used as a mobile command and communication center.
D. Lifespan:
The MCV MT-55 is 13yrs old and is at the tail end of its serviceable lifespan. All emergency vehicles need to be completely dependable, and vehicles of this age start to lose dependability as old parts start to fail without warning. The communications equipment has a service life cycle of only 7-10 years. This is because technology evolves very rapidly. The modern versions of this type of vehicle are typically converted motorhomes.
The CRV is a brand-new vehicle, recently added to the fleet, and many years of service ahead.
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E. Use:
Vehicles can serve as mobile command posts for small to large-scale events.
F. How it works:
This vehicle runs and drives like other vehicles.
(2) Purpose:
The larger MCV vehicle was purchased jointly for use by the Oakland Police Department and Oakland Fire Department, to be used as a mobile command post for any large scale events, where the Oakland Fire Department, City Leaders can work from one central location. The MCV can act as a communications center in the event the communications center in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Building is inoperable, or there is a loss of power at the Communications Center (COMM) or power is loss in the City during a natural disaster such as an earthquake or large fire. Some other examples of large-scale events include protests, critical incidents, community events, and major sporting events to include parades.
Both the MCV and CRV can offer Victim Assistance at the scenes of Violent Crimes, Missing Persons, School Shootings, and Homicide Scenes. Generally, both the MCV and CRV can offer a place for privacy for grieving families, where a Chaplain is present to comfort families. Victim Assistance Specialists can assist families with services needed for relocation, funeral and burial costs, and provide much needed information regarding the loss of a loved one.
The CRV was purchased to be used in the community to prevent the spread of, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The vehicle will also serve as a community resource center during critical incidents, distribute sanitation supplies, public engagement, and dissemination of emergency health supplies in a disaster. The CRV will be deployed to areas in the community to provide high visibility violence deterrence after significant violent activity, missing persons investigations, and homicide scenes where a chaplain has been called out, and Department of Violence Prevention staff are present to comfort families affected by the violence and to provide needed resource information.
(3) Fiscal Cost:
A. Initial Cost:
The initial cost of the MCV (2009 Freightliner MT55) was $599,563.15. The initial cost of the CRV (LDV Model #30MCC-34769-20) was $302,088.41. The initial cost of the CRV (LDV Model #MCC-34923-20)(2) was $305,164.81.
B. Cost of Use:
The cost of use is the cost of fuel from the City Corporation Yard.
C. Cost of Potential Adverse Effects:
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Adverse effects of improper use of either the MCV or CRV are not calculable but is the same as improper use of any vehicles. The improper use could result in civil liabilities.
D. Annual and Ongoing Costs:
The estimated annual cost for maintenance is $3,122 for Labor conducted by the City of Oakland Corporation Yard. The estimated annual cost of Parts is $3,074. The estimated annual cost for commercial charges for any work completed at a vendor or off-site repair is $974.00. The primary maintenance of the vehicle is conducted by the City of Oakland Corporation Yard.
E. Overtime Costs: Deployments of either MCC shall be tracked by I-Codes and reported on the “Military Equipment” notification tracking form.
F. Training Costs:
Training is conducted in-house by Oakland Police personnel who are trained in the operation of the vehicle. The training cost is staff time, generally the training is conducted during normal work hours, any overtime costs will be tracked through Fiscal Services using tracking codes. The estimated costs of training for the MCV is staff time regular hours, approximately 40 hours of driver training. The Class B license must be renewed every two years, with a current updated medical clearance.
No additional training is required for driving the CRV, only a Class C drivers license.
G. Maintenance and Storage Costs:
The estimated annual cost for maintenance is $3,122 for conducted by the City of Oakland Corporation Yard. There are no storage costs
H. Upgrade Cost:
The MCV is 13 years old, and upgrades would involve replacing various parts of the vehicle. This work would be conducted by the City of Oakland’s Corporation Yard.
The cost would be staff time plus the cost of any necessary parts. In 2020, OPD did review upgrading the AV Systems in the MCV, to include flat panel displays, exterior cameras, HD Tuners, HD Satellite tuner, video switching and control system. At the time the estimated cost of upgrading the AV Systems were $97,566.
(4) Impact:
The MCV and CRV can be used as a command post for any small to large, scaled events.
Both vehicles can work as a mobile central location where resources can stage and be deployed from. It provides the police department with on-site command, supplying a control and communications hub that is needed for large community events, or critical incidents such as natural disasters to support public safety.
The MCV has been used numerous times at many different events, from experience, the MCV has always been well received by community members at the sporting events, parades, and the MCV has proved useful to other law enforcement agencies including the Oakland Fire Department. Citizens have generally walked up the MCV, knocked on the door and requested medical assistance, asked questions, report crimes while the MCV was in service at numerous events. The RV design and appearance, which is common in the public, allows citizens to more freely approach the vehicle.
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Lastly, the MCV and CRV, while being utilized in the community to act as deterrent with police presence, adapt an open-door policy where citizens can make contact with uniformed police officers, to ask questions concerning how to stay safe, make crime reports, and provide resource information to citizens who normally would not have access to transportation, internet or phone capabilities.
The deployment or appearance of certain armored vehicles may escalate tension, provoke fear, prevent clear communication, or increase distrust.
(5) Mitigation:
The MCV and CRV shall only be used by trained personnel that have demonstrated ability in the operations of this vehicle per Oakland Police Department Policy.
(6) Alternatives:
There are limited alternatives or asset available to accomplish the same goal as the MCV and CRV. The Oakland Police Department considered other vehicles, based on costs, size of vehicle, maneuverability, accessibility to a wider group of operators, and mobility options. Based on the size and complexity of a Mobile Command Center, the annual life- cycle cost is typically 10%-20% of the capital investment. Costs of new Mobile Command Centers similar to the MCV MT-55 have risen.
(7) Third Party Dependence:
Primary maintenance is completed through the City of Oakland Corporation Yard so there is no dependence on a third party.