DATE: September 11,2024
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Police Department
TITLE: PURCHASE ORDER FOR ONE ADDITION TO FLEET VEHICLE FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
RECOMMENDATION
title
Staff recommends that the City Council approve two purchase orders as follows: 1) a purchase order to Ken Grody Ford, not to exceed a total of $70,000 for the purchase of one vehicle for the Oceanside Police Department which would be considered an addition to fleet; 2) a purchase order to Draxxon, not to exceed $125,000, for upfitting the police vehicle; approve the purchase from Draxxon as a sole source procurement; and authorize the Financial Services Director, or designee, to execute the purchase orders.
body
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
Since 2016, the Oceanside Police Department (OPD) has maintained an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), or drone, unit. The unit consists of fourteen officers with five operational and deployable drones, including one tethered drone. The tethered drone has a large storage footprint and is considered a San Diego County regional asset. To maintain proficiency, the unit trains bi-monthly in various areas in Oceanside. The UAS team deploys with the SWAT team for search warrants and other high-risk incidents. They have flown over 570 missions supporting patrol and investigations of various incidents. These incidents include missing persons at risk, people with weapons, wildfires, support of the bomb squad on specious devices, major traffic accidents, and room clearing for suspects.
The UAS team currently operates out of a 2008 Ford Expedition (PD859) equipment truck, which was due for replacement several years ago. In 2019, the funds allocated for this replacement were diverted to purchase current patrol vehicles. As a result, the 2008 vehicle has been repurposed and is incurring high maintenance and operation costs due to increased use and age. The vehicle's current state is unsuitable for the unit's storage space, climate control, an...
Click here for full text