April 16, 2024
Police Department
DATE: April 16, 2024
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Bisa French, Chief of Police
Subject:
Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Communication
Headsets for Richmond Police Department Officers
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The proposed expenditure of $30,500 is included within the approved Police Department Budget for Fiscal Year
2023-2024 (01191021-400603).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
n/a
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The Police Department SWAT (Special Weapons and
Tactics) Team is requesting approval to purchase
communication headsets for effective and safe
communication during high-stress, critical incidents.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE the purchase of communication headsets
from Pack-n-Tape, in an amount not to exceed $30,500,
which includes a contingency to account for taxes and
shipping costs – Police Department (Chief Bisa French
510-621-1802).
DISCUSSION:
It is imperative for members of the Richmond Police Department (RPD) Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team to be able to communicate with each other (and AGENDA
REPORT
April 16, 2024
incident commanders) while protecting their hearing from loud noises that occur during critical incidents.
The use of communication headsets by police SWAT team members offers several advantages, including:
1. Communication: Communication headsets enable clear and effective communication among team members in high-stress situations. In SWAT operations, effective communication is crucial for coordinating movements, sharing information, and ensuring the safety of everyone involved.
2. Noise Reduction: SWAT teams often operate in environments with loud noises, such as gunfire, explosions, or sirens. Communication headsets provide noise reduction or attenuation, helping to protect team members' ears from potential hearing damage and allowing them to maintain situational awareness without being overwhelmed by loud sounds.
3. Tactical Advantage: By using hearing protection, SWAT team members can maintain a tactical advantage. They can communicate quietly using radios or other communication devices without giving away their position to potential threats.
4. Concentration: Loud noises can be distracting and cause stress, potentially affecting decision-making and performance in high-pressure situations.
Communication headsets help maintain focus and concentration by reducing the impact of loud ambient noises.
5. Prevention of Auditory Fatigue: In prolonged SWAT operations, exposure to continuous loud noises can lead to auditory fatigue, reducing the ability to hear and process important sounds. Hearing protection helps prevent fatigue, ensuring that team members can stay alert and responsive throughout the mission.
6. Protection from Flash-Bang Grenades: SWAT teams often use flash-bang grenades as a tactical tool to disorient and surprise suspects. Communication headsets provide protection against the loud blast of these devices, minimizing the risk of temporary or permanent hearing damage.
7. Health and Safety: Protecting the hearing of SWAT team members contributes to their long-term health and safety. Exposure to loud noises without proper protection can lead to hearing loss, and the use of communication headsets helps mitigate this risk.
The RPD SWAT Team has used headset style hearing protection and communication sets for over a decade. Prior to being issued communication headsets, members of the SWAT Team sustained hearing damage from being exposed to live gun fire and explosions at close proximity.
The communication/hearing protection sets current being utilized by RPD SWAT Team members have outlived their service life and are failing. Most of the SWAT Team
April 16, 2024
members are using components of the headsets that were originally purchased over a decade ago. Some of these headsets have deteriorated to the point that some SWAT Team members are not able to communicate over the police radio. The current state of this equipment is of serious concern and poses significant safety issues for officers and the community.
RPD staff recommends the approval of this purchase as it is necessary to provide members of the SWAT Team reliable communication and hearing protection in order for them to do their job effectively and safely during high-stress, critical incidents. RPD Staff is including an approximate 12 percent contingency because the quote does not include any California sales tax or shipping costs.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Quote Package
Attachment 2 – Quote Matrix