CONSENT CALENDAR
City of San Bernardino
Request for Council Action
Date: March 4, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Darren Goodman, Chief of Police
Department: Police
Subject: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute An Agreement For The Acceptance Of $100,000
From The San Bernardino County Board Of Supervisors
To Assist The San Bernardino Police Department With The Purchase Of A Tactical Robot (All Wards)
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, adopt Resolution No. 2026-017 authorizing:
1. The City Manager to execute an agreement with the County of San Bernardino for the acceptance of $100,000 from the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors to assist the San Bernardino Police Department with the purchase of a Robotic Police K9 and;
2. The Director of Finance and Management Services to amend the applicable fiscal year operating budget in the amount of $100,000 in both revenue and expenditures.
City Manager's Comments
The City Manager recommends approval.
Executive Summary
The City of San Bernardino Police Department seeks approval to accept $100,000 in external funding from the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, specifically Supervisor Joe Baca, to assist with the purchase of a Robotic Police K9. This advanced public safety technology will enhance officer and public safety by allowing officers to remotely assess high-risk environments during critical incidents, including searches for armed suspects, barricaded individuals, and potential explosive devices.
The Robotic Police K9 will be deployed citywide and used during high-risk calls for service to provide real-time situational awareness before officers are required to enter potentially dangerous locations. This capability improves tactical decision-making, reduces risk to personnel, and supports safer outcomes for the community.
Background
The San Bernardino Police Department regularly responds to high-risk calls for service, including building searches for armed suspects, barricaded individuals, and incidents involving potential explosive or hazardous devices. These situations often require officers to enter unknown environments where the presence of threats cannot be immediately confirmed.
Law enforcement agencies nationwide have increasingly adopted robotic technologies to enhance safety during critical incidents. Robotic Police K9 systems are designed to provide real-time video, audio, and environmental data, allowing officers to remotely assess conditions before committing personnel to potentially dangerous situations.
Discussion
Law enforcement agencies nationwide are increasingly leveraging advanced technologies to reduce the inherent risks associated with high-risk calls for service while maintaining effective public safety operations. Staffing challenges, call-for- service volumes, and the complexity of modern critical incidents have accelerated the adoption of tools that allow officers to assess threats remotely before committing personnel into potentially dangerous environments.
Robotic Police K9 systems are one such technology that has gained acceptance across the law enforcement profession as a means of enhancing officer safety, improving situational awareness, and supporting informed tactical decision-making.
These systems are specifically designed to be deployed during high-risk incidents, including armed suspect searches, barricaded subjects, and incidents involving potential explosive or hazardous devices.
Robotic Police K9s are capable of entering buildings and confined spaces, navigating hallways and stairwells, opening doors, and operating in low-visibility environments, all while transmitting real-time video and audio back to officers and incident commanders.
This allows law enforcement personnel to visually assess interior conditions, identify potential threats, and determine appropriate response strategies without immediately placing officers in harm’s way.
The ability to remotely clear rooms, check structures, and locate suspects significantly reduces the need for officers to conduct blind entries into unknown environments. This technology enhances operational safety by providing critical intelligence prior to officer deployment, allowing command staff to deploy resources more strategically and reduce unnecessary exposure to risk.
In addition to officer safety benefits, the use of robotic platforms supports more controlled and deliberate responses during critical incidents, often resulting in improved outcomes for all involved parties. By slowing down the decision-making process and providing accurate, real-time information, the Robotic Police K9 helps de-escalate volatile situations and promotes safer resolutions.
The acquisition of a Robotic Police K9 represents a proactive investment in modern policing practices and aligns with broader law enforcement trends focused on innovation, risk mitigation, and responsible use of technology. The acceptance of $100,000 in funding from the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors will assist the San Bernardino Police Department in enhancing its operational capabilities while continuing to prioritize the safety of officers and the community.
While this external funding will not cover the full cost of the Robotic Police K9, the Police Department has identified additional funding sources to subsidize the remaining balance. San Bernardino County will provide $100,000 in funding, which will be applied to the purchase of a robotic K-9. The total purchase cost is estimated at $350,000; therefore, the remaining estimated $250,000 will be funded through the Police Department’s Funds. As a result, the purchase will be fully supported by external and restricted funding sources, with no additional General Fund expenditure. Upon approval, the Department will follow all City purchasing policies and procurement guidelines.
2021-2025 Strategic Targets and Goals
Acceptance of this funding aligns with Key Target Goal No. 1: Improved Financial and Operational Capacity, supporting the City’s ability to secure external funding to enhance public safety services without reliance on the General Fund. Advanced public safety technologies such as robotic systems can be costly, and this funding assists the Department in strengthening operational capabilities in a fiscally responsible manner.
This item also aligns with Key Target Goal No. 3: Improved Quality of Life. The use of a Robotic Police K9 during high-risk incidents allows officers to identify threats, hazards, or suspects remotely and limit unnecessary exposure to danger. This improves the delivery of public safety services while protecting officers and community members alike.
Fiscal Impact
The fiscal impact to the general fund will be an increase in revenue and expenditure by $100,000.
Conclusion
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, adopt Resolution No. 2026-018 authorizing:
1. The City Manager to execute an agreement with the County of San Bernardino for the acceptance of $100,000 from the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors to assist the San Bernardino Police Department with the purchase of a Robotic Police K9 and;
2. The Director of Finance and Management Services to amend the applicable fiscal year operating budget in the amount of $100,000 in both revenue and expenditures.
Attachments
Attachment 1 Resolution No. 2026-017
Attachment 2 Contract with the County of San Bernardino Ward:
All Wards
Synopsis of Previous Council Actions:
On June 4, 2025, the Mayor and City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-303, approving an agreement with the County of San Bernardino to accept $562,500 towards the purchase of Unmanned Aerial Systems.
CC: Eric Levitt, City Manager