HomeMy WebLinkAboutFS 2007-09-04 Item 2C - Purchase - Use of Police Seizure Funds for Armored VehicleTO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
City of Tukwila
Police Department
An Accredited Agency
Finance Safety Committee
Acting Assistant Chief Mike Villa for Chief Dave Hayn
August 17, 2007
BearCat Armored Vehicle
MEMORANDUM
Steven M Mullet, Mayor
David W Haynes, Chief of Police
I am requesting authorization to spend approximately $50, 000 from the seizure fund for a joint
purchase with the Valley Special Response Team (VSRT) agencies (Tukwila, Renton, Auburn, Port
of Seattle, Federal Way, and Kent) for a Lenco BearCat Armored Vehicle.
Background
The Valley Special Response Team uses armored vehicles to provide transportation and ballistic
protection on barricaded subjects, warrant services, and hostage situations. The vehicles transport
VSRT members and negotiators into the perimeter of the crisis site, are used for conducting
evacuations, and can perform downed person rescues while affording ballistic protection. In 2006
we deployed armored vehicles 38 times. Thirty -two of those occasions where for high risk warrant
services. The vast majority of those were for narcotic warrants.
Currently VSRT owns two armored vehicles. Both of these are military surplus. One vehicle, the
Peacekeeper, is about the size of an armored mini van. It is unreliable and becoming expensive to
maintain due to its age, 1981 vehicle. During the past 12 months VSRT has spent about $20,000
on vehicle maintenance. Furthermore, the Peacekeeper is only rated to stop pistol and some rifle
rounds. The other vehicle provides excellent ballistic capabilities, but it is very limited in its law
enforcement applications due to its configuration. The team needs a reliable rifle rated armored
vehicle that is designed for law enforcement.
Nationally the SWAT industry standard is upgrading to vehicles with armor capable of stopping
larger caliber rifle rounds, and capable of transporting more people. In our region, Seattle, Tacoma
and King County (soon to be Bellevue) have acquired Lenco armored vehicles. These same
vehicles are currently in use by other SWAT teams around the country.
Funding
During the past two years Valley SRT has made several inquiries into availability of grant funding to
acquire a Lenco vehicle. Each time we've been informed that there is no such funding available; at
least, not any more.
6200 Southcenter Blvd. Tukwila, WA 98188 Phone: 206 433 -1808 Pol. Dept. Fax 206 244 -6181; Admin. Fax 206 433 -7197; Invest. Fax 206 431 -3688
The cost for an outfitted vehicle will be about $300,000. Because the majority of tactical operations
in which VSRT deploys are directly related to illegal drug enforcement, I propose funding the
BearCat purchase from drug asset forfeiture accounts. Split six ways, each agency's share will be
approximately $50,000.
The Chief's of the VSRT participating agencies are of a consensus to approve this purchase with
approval from their respective cities. This memorandum is to officially request approval to use
seized monies to fund the City of Tukwila's portion of this joint purchase.
Approval by Committee Members
Joan Hemandez
Jim Haggerton
Dennis Robertson
Armored vehicle Photo