For City Council Meeting on September 10, 2024
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: G. Michael Milhiser, Interim City Manager
AUTHOR: Mark P. Kling, Chief of Police
Title
Request to City Council to 1) Authorize the Purchase of a Bearcat G3 Armored Rescue Vehicle from Lenco Industries for a Total Cost of $435,440.46; and 2) Authorize the Interim City Manager, or his Designee to Execute All Documents.
(ACTION)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1) Approve the purchase of a BearCat G3 Armored Rescue Vehicle from Lenco Industries at a cost of $435,440.46, and
2) Authorize the Interim City Manager or designee to execute all documents.
BACKGROUND
The Lenco BearCat, short for Ballistic Engineered Armored Response Counter Attack Truck, represents a critical advancement in law enforcement and tactical response capabilities. The current Rialto Police Department BearCat was purchased in 2007. It has been utilized on countless tactical operations including barricaded suspects, homicide suspects, search warrant services and tactical rescues; furthermore, it has been a part of the Rialto Police Department SWAT team as well as the current regionalized Inland Valley SWAT team. The Inland Valley SWAT team, which is comprised of Fontana, Colton and Rialto Police Departments, exclusively utilizes the Lenco BearCat for armored vehicle needs.
The Inland Valley SWAT team has been involved in numerous incidents throughout the region where the BearCat has been utilized, the most notable being the 2015 Inland Regional Center (IRC) Terrorist attack. During this incident the Rialto Police Department Bearcat was one of the first armored vehicles on scene and immediately provided safety coverage in removing and transporting numerous critically wounded victims from the IRC to nearby triage points, saving numerous innocent lives. The BearCat was also used to provide safety coverage to our officers in the apprehension of the IRC suspects, and clea...
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