The Chief of Police for the Houston Police Department (HPD) recommends that City Council approve an ordinance authorizing the application for and acceptance of grant funds through the Office of the Governor, Public Safety Office Criminal Justice Division (CJD) for the FY 2021 Rifle-Resistant Body Armor Initiative Grant. If awarded, CJD will provide $1,687,699.00 in grant funding. The grant period becomes effective September 1, 2020, or on the date of final signature, whichever is later, and ends on August 31, 2021.
The department currently has 3,840 level III + vests that are assigned to SWAT, PATROL, and TACTICAL RESPONSE officers. The purpose of the FY21 Rifle-Resistant Body Armor Grant Initiative is to procure and assign rifle-resistant vests to the remaining 1,455 police personnel. This will ensure that all classified officers will have the necessary life-protecting equipment on hand when high-risk situations arise.
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 apply for, 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 in connection with the grant not to exceed five years.
Fiscal Note:
No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.
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Art Acevedo
Chief of Police