Authorize Acquiring a RG33 MRAP Vehicle from the Law Enforcement Support Office (LESO)1033 program

All city departments has been encouraged to find outside sources of funding for equipment and projects by the city council. The police department is participating in the LESO 1033 program and has been for the past 15+ years. MN Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) is the state administrator for the Minnesota Law Enforcement Support Office (LESO) program established by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) through the Defense Logistics Agency. It allows law enforcement agencies to obtain surplus military weapons, tactical vehicles, aircraft, and other equipment for any bona fide law enforcement need at no cost, agencies must only cover the cost of shipping. Property acquired from this program is inventoried annually. There is no cost to continue to keep the property.
 
Our police department has been approved to receive and acquire a RG33 Mine Resistant Ambush Protection (MRAP) vehicle through the LESO 1033 program from Fort Bliss, TX.  A MRAP is a large armored vehicle that was used by the military to safely transport soldiers into high threat areas of Iraq and Afghanistan. The vehicle was designed to protect its occupants from explosive devices and bullets. This vehicle will be used as an armored rescue vehicle.
 
The original acquisition price to the military for this vehicle was $824,000. The police department will receive this vehicle at no cost except shipping. We have received multiple quotes to have this vehicle transported and the lowest quote was from LeFebvre Companies out of Elk River for a price of $4,950. This vehicle is said to be in very good condition due to being maintained by a stateside Army unit. We are aware of other police departments who have also acquired MRAP's, and these were in poor condition needing costly maintenance to become operational. We have been searching for an MRAP for some time and been waiting for one to become available.
 
With the changing dynamic of incidents that police officers are responding to and the access of firearms for many individuals, it is important to be able to protect police officers while giving them needed access to an individual in order to negotiate. There is also new legislation that changes the way officers handle certain situations. This vehicle will allow officers to get closer to a situation and gain the ability to survey, negotiate and take action while keeping the officers in a safe location.
 
We predict this vehicle will be used 5-8 times per year. Multiple incidents that have occurred in Ramsey have needed an armored vehicle in the past. There have also been incidents within Anoka County where an armored vehicle was shot by a suspect keeping officers safe and also saving the life of the subject.

This vehicle may be used in the following incidents:

• Protect officers when there is an armed subject inside a building.
• Protect officers when an armed subject is in a vehicle.
• Allow officers to maneuver closer to armed subjects while staying safe. This helps the ability of officers to negotiate and evaluate the situation.
• Used in active shooter situations, giving officers cover in order to get closer and gain access to a building.
• Ability to safely block a vehicle containing an armed subject.
• Assist neighboring agencies with high threat incidents.
• For the joint use with the fire department for rescue operations after natural disasters.
• Can be driven through 36 inches of water and over large debris after a disaster.
• Allow emergency personnel to reach citizens when the roadway is underwater or covered in debris.
• Ability to make dynamic rescues.

Attached to this council case are photographs of the same model MRAP we have been awarded.

1. Accept acquisition and provide shipment for transportation of the MRAP to the police department.
2. Deny accepting and release the MRAP back to the 1033 program for another police department to acquire.

The cost of the vehicle is free. The cost for shipping will be taken out of the police department’s current budget. Future costs for this vehicle will include paint, decals, emergency lighting, and other miscellaneous necessities in order to make it most useful to our staff. The updated paint and decals will make it uniform and match our current patrol fleet. The original acquisition price of this vehicle was $824,000. The police department will receive this vehicle for the cost of shipping, $4,950.

Staff recommends the city council authorize the acquisition and transportation of the RG33 MRAP from the LESO 1033 program.

Motion to Authorize Acquiring a RG33 MRAP Vehicle from the Law Enforcement Support Office (LESO)1033 program.