March 17, 2026
Police Department
DATE: March 17, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Tim Simmons, Chief of Police
Subject:
Purchase Ballistic Helmets from Adamson Police
Products
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The proposed $46,232.20 estimated expenditure is partially funded with 2023 Justice Assistance Grant
Funds ($44,105.90) and the balance ($2,216.30) is
included in within the approved fiscal year 2025-2026
Police Department – Patrol budget (Account Strings:
10691021-400603-19G03, 01192021-400603).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The Richmond Police Department maintains a
specialized team that responds to the City’s highest-risk incidents, search warrants and critical incident situations where there is a credible threat of serious violence and where delaying action can put community members,
victims, and first responders at greater risk. Ballistic helmets are required protective equipment for these
operations because head injuries can be catastrophic.
The Department needs to replace the currently expired
safety helmets for members of the Special Weapons and
Tactics (SWAT) team.
AGENDA
REPORT
March 17, 2026
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE the purchase of Ops-Core FAST ballistic
helmets from Adamson Police Products for the Richmond
Police Department SWAT Team in an amount not to
exceed $46,232.20 – Police Department (Chief Tim
Simmons 510-621-1802).
DISCUSSION:
The Richmond Police Department maintains a specialized team that responds to the City’s highest-risk incidents, search warrants and critical incident situations where there is a credible threat of serious violence and where delaying action can put community members, victims, and first responders at greater risk. Ballistic helmets are required protective equipment for these operations because head injuries can be catastrophic.
The Department needs to replace the currently expired safety helmets for members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team.
The purpose is to protect police officers from potentially fatal head injuries and to ensure equipment reliability during the City’s most dangerous responses.
High-risk incidents require a planned, coordinated response, and it is often important to take a suspect into custody promptly to stop ongoing danger, prevent escalation, and protect victims and the public. Standardizing reliable protective helmets reduces the risk of serious injury, supports operational readiness, and helps ensure that City staff can respond effectively when minutes matter.
1. Meaningful head protection against real-world threats These helmets are designed for ballistic protection and are built to defeat common handgun threats and other hazards such as fragmentation and impacts.
Additionally, SWAT officers face blunt impacts from debris, thrown objects, or physical altercations. Ballistic helmets absorb and distribute impact energy, reducing the risk of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
2. Compatibility with communications, hearing protection, and night-vision High-cut helmets are selected because they better accommodate hearing protection and communication headsets and allow stable use of night-vision mounting systems.
The Richmond Police Department (RPD) solicited quotes from three vendors for the purchase of Ops-Core ballistic helmet systems. Quotes were received from Adamson Police Products, Atomic Defense, and ArmorLite. After reviewing the submissions, RPD determined that the quote from Adamson Police Products was the lowest responsive quote at a total cost of $46,232.20 including tax. The other quotes received were $49,962.32 from ArmorLite and $54,250.00 from Atomic Defense. Accordingly, City staff
March 17, 2026
recommend that the City Council authorize the purchase from Adamson Police Products as the lowest responsive bidder.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Quote from Adamson
Attachment 2 – Quote from Atomic defense
Attachment 3 – Quote from ArmorLite