The Chief of Police for the Houston Police Department recommends that City Council approve an ordinance authorizing the application for and acceptance of grant funds through the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division (CJD) FY2018 Rifle Resistant Body Armor Program. The Program provides grant funds directly to law enforcement agencies to equip officers with rifle-resistant body armor.
Under the Program, CJD will provide 100% of associated equipment costs for body armor, including bullet proof vests, ballistic plates and plate carriers for the patrol, tactical and SWAT divisions. The project period will begin January 1, 2018 – December 31, 2018 for a total of twelve months.
The Houston Police Department also requests City Council to authorize the Chief of Police, or his designee, to act as the City’s representative in the application process with the authority to apply for, accept and expend the grant funds as awarded, and to accept and expend all subsequent awards, if any, to extend the budget period, and to authorize the Mayor to execute all related agreements with the approval of the City Attorney not to exceed five years.
HPD is applying for $3,930,994 in grant funds which does not require a cash match.