ACTION REQUESTED:
Title
Communication from the City Manager and Chief of Police with a Request for the Following:
A. APPROVE the SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE of Forty-Five (45) PICO MVS Ballistic Body Armor Systems from TYR TACTICAL BODY ARMOR, in the Amount of $126,829.00 (Requires 2/3 Vote of Council Members Voting - No Less Than 6 Votes); and,
B. ADOPT an ORDINANCE Amending the City of Peoria 2023 REVISED BUDGET Related to the Use of Asset Forfeiture Funds to Purchase Equipment in the Amount of $126,829.00. (Requires 2/3 Vote of Council Members Voting - No Less Than 6 Votes)
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BACKGROUND: The City of Peoria's Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT), is a tactical unit that is trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the normal duties of regular officers. Their duties include performing hostage rescues and counter-terrorism operations, serving high risk arrest and search warrants, subduing barricaded suspects, and engaging heavily armed criminals on a routine basis.
Due to the high-risk tasks performed by SWAT and EOD members, body armor must meet the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Type 3A threat level and certification. Tyr Tactical manufactures all ballistic body armor and carrier systems in house, not needing to outsource like other manufacturers.
The current vests used by the City of Peoria SWAT members were previously purchased from Tyr Tactical have shown to have exceptional quality and protection. These vest in the coming months will exceed their industry standard expiration of five (5) years. Tyr Tactical has improved the previous model vest to allow for more ballistic protection while still maintaining the low weight and extreme durability that other manufacturers can't provide. Members of EOD currently utilize soft armor that does not fulfill the protection requirements that SWAT has requested. EOD commonly works with SWAT during counter-terrorism operations as well as all other high-risk operations.
The Tyr Pico MVS ...
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