Item # 9 - Rifle Resistant Body Armor Grant

Rifle Resistant Body Armor Grant

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CITY OF ALAMO HEIGHTS
POLICE DEPARTMENT
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA MEMORANDUM

TO: Mayor and City Council

FROM: Rick Pruitt, Police Chief

SUBJECT: A Resolution authorizing the Alamo Heights Police Department to file an
application with the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division, for a
procurement grant to purchase replacement rifle resistant body armor and
designating the Chief of Police as the grantee’s authorized official.

DATE: February 10, 2025

SUMMARY
Staff is requesting a Resolution authorizing the filing of a grant application with the Office of the
Governor, Criminal Justice Division, for a grant to purchase replacement rifle resistant body
armor for the police officers of the Alamo Heights Police Department and authorizing the Chief
of Police to act on behalf of the City of Alamo Heights in all matters related to the application
and pledging that if a grant is received the City of Alamo Heights it will comply with the grant
requirements of the Office of the Governor Criminal Justice Division.

BACKGROUND
For over a decade police officers across the country have come under increasing attacks by
persons using high powered rifles. The standard body armor issued to police officers does not
have a threat level rating high enough to stop penetration of their ballistic vests by high powered
bullets fired from rifles.

The Alamo Heights City Council approved a Resolution authorizing the police department to
purchase rifle resistant body armor for every Alamo Heights police officer on August 28, 2017.
This purchase was reimbursed in full through the Rifle Resistant Body Armor Program initiated
by the Office of the Governor to provide financial assistance to law enforcement agencies for the
purchase of rifle resistant body armor meeting National Institute of Justice (NIJ) standards for
rifle protection. These standards include a recommended replacement after five (5) years.

The Police Department has completed the application for the Office of the Governor, Criminal
Justice Division. The Police Department has selected the United Shield Level IV ballistic vest as
its choice for our replacement rifle resistant vest. This vest is confirmed to meet the required NIJ
standards. The cost of the vests are $471.79 each. The Police Department project requested
twenty-three (23) vests bringing the project total to $10,851.17. There are no matching funds
required from police agencies who are awarded grants on this project.

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Lt. Emily Gore has prepared the grant application for the Alamo Heights Police Department. A
qualifying component for the grant application is a Resolution from the City of Alamo Heights
governing body. The resolution is required to address the following four (4) items:

• Authorization from the governing body for the submission of the grant application;
• A commitment to provide all applicable matching funds;
• A designation of an authorized official having the authority to apply for, accept, reject,
alter, or terminate a grant; and
• A written assurance that, in the event of loss or misuse of grant funds, the governing body
will return all funds.

Once the Resolution is passed the grant application will be submitted to the Office of the
Governor, Criminal Justice Division, in advance of the February 13, 2025 deadline.

POLICY ANALYSIS
The City Council has the authority to pass resolutions authorizing grant applications made in the
name of the City of Alamo Heights and designate an authorized official to act on its behalf in
meeting the requirements of the grant application process.

COORDINATION
The City Manager has reviewed and approved the application process. The City Attorney
prepared a Resolution satisfying the conditions set forth in the grant.

FISCAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact if a grant award is made in full. Due to the limited funding of $10
million dollars for all law enforcement in the State of Texas, some police agencies may not be
allocated the full amount of funds requested. If the Alamo Heights Police Department grant
application is not fully funded the balance of the project may be funded from the police
department seizure fund.

ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A – Resolution


______________________
Rick Pruitt
Police Chief


______________________
Buddy Kuhn
City Manager

3. Attachment A

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RESOLUTION NO. 2025R - 203
Grant Number: 5330401

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF A GRANT
APPLICATION WITH THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, PUBLIC
SAFETY OFFICE, FOR AN EQUIPMENT GRANT TO PURCHASE
RIFLE RESISTANT BODY ARMOR FOR THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND AUTHORIZING THE CHIEF OF POLICE TO
ACT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF ALAMO HEIGHTS IN ALL
MATTERS RELATED TO THE APPLICATION; AND SETTING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.

WHEREAS, The City of Alamo Heights, Texas finds it in the best interest of the citizens
of the City of Alamo Heights that the Rifle Resistant Body Armor Project be operated for the year
2026; and

WHEREAS, the City of Alamo Heights agrees to provide applicable matching funds for
the said project as required by the Rifle Resistant Body Armor Project grant application; and

WHEREAS, the City of Alamo Heights agrees that in the event of loss or misuse of the
Office of the Governor funds, the City of Alamo Heights assures that the funds will be returned to
the Office of the Governor in full.

WHEREAS, the City of Alamo Heights designates the Chief of Police as the grantee’s
authorized official. The authorized official is given the power to apply for, accept, reject, alter or
terminate the grant on behalf of the applicant agency.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ALAMO HEIGHTS, TEXAS:

SECTION 1. The City Council of the City of Alamo Heights authorizes the filing of a
grant application with the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division, for an equipment
grant to purchase rifle resistant body armor for the Police Department and authorizing the Chief
of Police to act on behalf of the City of Alamo Heights in all matters related to the application.

SECTION 2. If the City receives the grant, the City authorizes the City Manager to accept
the grant from the Office of the Governor of the State of Texas and execute all necessary
documents to obtain the grant.

SECTION 3. This Resolution shall be effective immediately upon the passage hereof.


PASSED AND APPROVED this 10
th
day of February, 2025.



BOBBY ROSENTHAL, MAYOR

4. Attachment A

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ATTEST:



ELSA T. ROBLES, CITY SECRETARY


APPROVED AS TO FORM:



FRANK GARZA, CITY ATTORNEY