Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Police Department

To:                  David Corliss, City Manager

From:             Captain Bill Cory

Cc:                  Tarik Khatib, Chief of Police

Date:              April 9, 2013

Re:                  Rapid Deployment Vehicle

BACKGROUND

In 1996 The Crisis Response Team (CRT) acquired a rapid deployment vehicle to utilize during warrant service and critical incidents. This vehicle allows for the transportation of the whole team and their equipment to a specific location.  Several years ago the vehicle became outdated and is no longer used in a deployment role.  CRT then acquired a decommissioned ambulance from Lawrence Douglas County Fire Medical (LDCFM).  The vehicle was acquired as a temporary solution due to the lack of identified funding to get a purpose built rapid deployment vehicle (RDV).

DISCUSSION

          The ambulance acquired from LDCFM has close to 200,000 miles and has broken down during a warrant service in the recent past.  The vehicle has been unreliable in the past and it is not appropriate to invest further in it, especially when the ambulance platform is not suitable for the desired use.  The department has located a RDV specialty built in Ohio.  The vehicle is a van front with a custom box back that is specifically designed for law enforcement use.  The RDV is on a cooperative contract with GSA.  The City of Lawrence Finance Department has advised that contract pricing through another state contract or GSA contract is acceptable.

FUNDING

          Funds for the purchase of the RDV are authorized under the Department’s budget equipment line item authority for the targeted replacement of specifically identified equipment in 2013.    

ACTION REQUESTED

Police Department staff requests approval from the City Commission to authorize the purchase of a Rapid Deployment Vehicle as quoted in the GSA contract (GS-30F-0020W) for a price of $58,604.00, to replace the decommissioned ambulance acquired from LDCFM.