Agenda Item
City Council
Item #: 3.6. 3/28/2023 File #: 23-0119
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THRU: Tom Kisela, City Manager
FROM: Dan Adams, Chief of Police
1. SUBJECT
Authorize purchase of police AR-15 rifles, exterior vest plate carriers, and equipment from ProForce Law Enforcement.
2. SUMMARY
Purchase of 95 AR-15 rifles, 43 vest plate carriers, and equipment to enhance officer response during emergency situations for a total amount of $213,171.
3. RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Approve the purchase of AR-15 rifles, exterior vest plate carriers, and equipment from ProForce Law Enforcement for a total amount of $213,171.
2. Authorize the appropriation of $213,171 from Federal Asset Forfeiture unreserved fund balance into expenditure account number 355.4021.55131.00000, Federal Asset Forfeiture - Equipment.
4. FISCAL IMPACT
The total expenditure for this purchase is $213,171 and will be funded through Federal Asset Forfeiture Fund (355).
5. STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
Goal 1: Provide for a safe community
a: Provide staffing and resources to deliver services that ensure public safety.
6. DISCUSSION AND BACKGROUND
The Police Department currently uses the Colt M4 AR-15 rifle as a department issued firearm. These firearms are assigned to patrol officers and supplement the officer’shandgun. The AR-15 platform provides officers with a high level of accuracy at a greater distance, is versatile, and reliable.
Additionally, the department also assigns exterior vest plate carriers to each officer in patrol. These plate carriers are in addition to the standard ballistic vest and are equipped with steel armor plates that provide protection against rifle rounds fired from assault rifles.
As officers rotate out of patrol, they must relinquish their assigned AR-15 rifle and exterior vest plate carrier to officers in a patrol assignment. Assigning rifles and plate carriers exclusively to patrol officers puts a strain on inventory levels. As a result, the department is proposing to purchase 95 additional Colt M4 AR-15 rifles and 43 exterior vest plate carriers to expand existing inventory. This City of Orange Printed on 3/22/2023Page 1 of 2
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Item #: 3.6. 3/28/2023 File #: 23-0119
additional Colt M4 AR-15 rifles and 43 exterior vest plate carriers to expand existing inventory. This purchase will allow the department to issue every sergeant and officer a rifle and plate carrier, which will remain assigned to them throughout their career. This will also eliminate the need to transfer equipment between officers and sergeants as they move or promote within the department. Five of the AR-15 rifles, requested in the purchase, will be assigned to the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT), and will include additional mounts and optics equipment.
Also included in the purchase is the replacement of 25 weapon mounted handgun lights for officers assigned to SWAT. Current handgun lights are over twelve years old and have exceeded the manufactures recommended service life. The purchase of 25 Surefire weapon mounted lights will provide SWAT officers with a high-performance LED lighting system that will offer better target identification and increased officer safety.
Orange Municipal Code Section 3.08.290 provides for a waiver of competitive bidding procedures for materials, supplies, equipment, and public projects based upon specified grounds. In this case, the Police Department, in conjunction with the approval of the City Manager, asserts that a single source vendor is required because, although other vendors can supply the requested supplies at comparable prices, only one vendor is able to supply all equipment within a reasonable time frame, for a cost and under the terms and conditions, that reasonably meet the needs of the Police Department.
The Department is proposing the purchase of AR-15 rifles, exterior vest plate carriers, and equipment from ProForce Law Enforcement for a total amount of $213,171. An appropriation of $213,171 from the Federal Asset Forfeiture unreserved fund balance is necessary to cover the cost of rifles, vests, and equipment.
Specialized firearms, including assault weapons are deemed “military equipment” by AB 481. The Colt M4 AR-15 rifle is an approved equipment item on the Military Equipment Inventory List. The increase in inventory will be reflected in the annual report presented to Council in May 2023.
7. ATTACHMENTS
· ProForce Law Enforcement Quote
City of Orange Printed on 3/22/2023Page 2 of 2
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