Title
Consider and take action on a resolution authorizing the submittal of a grant application that will be used to purchase two (2) 2020 F-150 Police Responder Vehicles for the Police Department EOD Bomb Technicians for the FY2020 State Homeland Security Program (LETPA Projects) and the naming of the grant managers (Chief of Police)
Background:
If approved, the Police Department will move forward in the submission process for the grant. The items being requested in the grant are two (2) 2020 Ford F-150 Police Responder Vehicles equipped with custom designed bed caps (camper shells) and storage units suited for explosive ordnance disposal operations. These vehicles would provide the bomb technicians the ability to have all necessary equipment available to them at all times for the initial identification and mitigation of explosive related threats.
In 2016 and 2017, the Texas City Regional Bomb Squad had two (2) openings on their team, and they sought applicants from police departments throughout the region and ended up with ten (10) applicants. The applicants went through a thorough selection process, and two (2) of our officers were selected. Officer Greg Thomas joined the team in June of 2017, and Officer Jennafer Woitena joined the team in July 2017. Officer Thomas completed FBI Hazardous Devise School in September 2018 and is now a fully certified bomb tech, and Officer Woitena completed her training in April 2019. The Texas City Regional Bomb Squad’s primary areas of responsibility is Galveston, Brazoria, and Matagorda Counties. Since June 2017, the team has had twenty-five (25) activations, and they served as the primary team on the shooting at the Santa Fe High School.
If the grant were funded, the City would purchase the requested items and be reimbursed once proof of purchase is submitted to State Homeland Security Program (LETPA Projects).
The items to be purchased are:
Two (2) - 2020 Ford F-150 Police Responder Vehicles equipped wi...
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