Discussion and possible action to approve the submission of an Active Attack Response Equipment Grant Program application in the amount of $73,697 for the purchase of breaching tools and bullet-resistant shields for peace officers of the Webb County Sheriff’s Office, and authorizing the County Judge to execute all necessary documents related thereto and authorizing the County Judge to act as the County's Executive Officer and Authorized Signatory regarding all matters related to the County’s involvement in the Active Attack Response Grant Program. It should be noted that this program does require a county in-kind match. All necessary documentation has been submitted to the Economic Development Department, and the solicitation aligns with the Webb County Single Point of Contact (SPOC) policies and procedures.

Issue: Active shooter and critical incident responses require specialized equipment to ensure officer safety and the rapid neutralization of threats. Limited availability of protective equipment, such as ballistic shields and breaching tools, may hinder law enforcement’s ability to effectively respond to active threats and protect both officers and the public.

Solution: Submit a grant application to obtain funding for breaching tools and NIJ-compliant ballistic shields for frontline peace officers directly employed by the Webb County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office will ensure compliance with all program-specific requirements, including maintaining an Active Shooter (Critical Incidents In-Progress) policy and ensuring officers receive required ALERRT training.

Result: Enhanced officer safety and improved operational readiness during active shooter and violent incident responses, enabling law enforcement to quickly stop the threat, provide rapid casualty evacuation, and protect the community.

The Active Attack Response Equipment Grant Program provides funding for breaching tools and bullet-resistant shields for eligible peace officers as defined by Article 2.12 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Grant recipients must adopt and maintain an Active Shooter policy addressing critical response protocols, including solo and team deployment, mutual aid, incident command, and post-incident debriefing. Additionally, officers issued grant-funded ballistic shields must have completed, or commit to completing, 16 hours of ALERRT training within the required timeframe.

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