On Tuesday, the Antioch City Council agreed to purchase two armored rescue police vehicles at a cost not to exceed $531,800 in a 4-0-1 vote.
Captain Desmond Bitner shared Tuesday these vehicles take up to 10 months to get, but with departments buying these vehicles, it takes 12 to 18 months to get, but added this vendor has guaranteed they could receive theirs within 10 months. Meanwhile, the service life of both these vehicles is estimated 12 to 15 years depending on overall use.
“It is also common to have two armed vehicles in a fleet because many armored vehicles have different functions and capabilities. There is always a need to have full armored capabilities for an entire swat team,” said Bitner.
He shared one of the vehicles can go all terrain which can also transported 10-12 officers/civilians while the other vehicle will transport 4-5 officers but has higher capacity to carry equipment while looking like a civilian pickup truck.
Councilmember Tamisha Torres-Walker asked Bitner if he would consider these vehicles to be “militarized” or any vehicle that would fall under the resolution banning purchase or acquisition of military surplus.
“They are civilian vehicles, they are not made exclusively for the military where any civilian can purchase these vehicles,” stated Bitner. “They are build on civilian vehicle platform. One is built on Ford 350 platform and another is a Ford 550 platform and do not require any special license to drive them. I wouldn’t consider them military equipment, I would consider them public safety equipment.
Bitner said since he has been with the Antioch Police Department for 25-years, there are more guns than ever before—especially assault rifles. He said the vehicles will protect officers and civilians from assault rifle gunfire.
“So to say all that, to consider these not military issued vehicles at all. They are civilian vehicles that are retrofitted to withstand encounters with firearms,” asked Torres-Walker
Bitner agreed noting they are typically for a homicide suspect who killed someone with a firearm or individuals who are manufacturing firearms out of their home. He said approval for use of vehicles come from the Chief or Captains.
Torres-Walker confirmed the MRAP they currently have will be sent back at some point which both Chief Joe Vigil and Bitner confirmed—she is looking forward to a “sendoff” party.
Councilmember Don Frietas called it a “personal issue” for him and asked the council to support the item noting its restricted dollars and not out of the general fund.
“It is needed and I think it is appropriate for us as a city council on behalf of our community and the men and women of the Antioch Police Department to protect them,” said Freitas. “So I move approval.”
The item passed in a 4-0-1 vote with Torres-Walker abstaining.
Background:
The Police Department is anticipating taking delivery of the two vehicles in January 2026 as the estimated manufacturing time of the two vehicles is approximately eight to ten months.
According to the Antioch police Department, over the past 25-years, it has owned and operated three separate armored vehicles. The first was a modified armored cash transport vehicle donated by a cash transit company that was in Police Department operation from 1999 through 2010.
The next two armored vehicles were both acquired through the United States Military DRMO (Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office) program. An armored Humvee was acquired in 2009 and was in Police Department operation until 2015. The other, a 2007 armored MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicle, was acquired in 2013 and is still in Police Department operation today.
The acquired armored vehicles were utilized on a regular basis by the Police Department’s SWAT team for many high-risk operations as well as training exercises. Such high-risk operations include the service of search/arrest warrants involving armed and dangerous subjects, hostage situations, the rescue or evacuation of citizens who are in an area endangered by gunfire, armed and dangerous barricaded subjects, pre-planned mutual aid, and other situations wherein special tactics or rescue operations were necessary for public safety.
The 2007 MRAP is currently at the end of its service life and no longer a dependable or feasible option. It is also the last piece of United States Military Equipment in current operation at the Police Department. The Police Department is in need of two armored rescue police vehicles to replace the MRAP. Two armored rescue police vehicles are necessary to transport the full sixteen-member SWAT team and all their required equipment. Having two fully armored rescue police vehicles will further enhance the overall capabilities of the SWAT team during high-risk operations and will significantly enhance officer and public safety.
Staff Report: The Armored Group
There are currently two reputable armored vehicle manufactures in the United States who supply most armored rescue vehicles to Police Departments throughout the nation. The Armored Group is the only manufacturer of the two, capable of manufacturing both an armored rescue vehicle with specific unique features, as well as a discreet armored rescue vehicle having the appearance of a civilian pickup truck.
Additionally, The Armored Group is the only manufacturer capable of manufacturing and delivering both armored rescue vehicles within ten months or less. The service life of the two armored rescue vehicles is estimated to be 12-15 years, depending on overall use.
Antioch Police in July 2021 on a 6-hour standoff after male allegedly pistol-whipped his girlfriend and beat her, led police on a pursuit and entered his apartment while being possibly armed with a firearm and threatening to shoot police and that he wasn’t going back to jail.
Over the years, the Antioch Police Department rescue vehicle has been controversial with the city council in May of 2023 opting to Decommission Armored Police Vehicle. Former Antioch Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe often referred to the MRAP as a tank and not a good look for the police department.
“I don’t think we need the tank, the MRAP was designed for something completely different. It was not designed for the streets of Antioch,” said Thorpe. “Police officers don’t get trained with the use of MRAP’s, I know we have a difference of opinion but they don’t get trained at academies with MRAP’s, they just don’t.”
At the same meeting, Councilmember Tamisha Torres-Walker said it may look scary and they do not want a militarized police force, but did say there is need for a vehicle that can be used in certain types of incidents such as hostage or where the public needs to be kept safe.
“I want to be honest with the public and say while the council pursues a different vehicle that is more suited for policing, and not the military, that will come at a cost,” said Torres-Walker. “In addition, the MRAP that we all want off the streets, will stay in commission while trying to obtain a different kind of vehicle. I don’t want the public walking away tonight thinking the MRAP is off the streets.”
Funding
The City can utilize GSA cooperative purchasing and forego bidding procedures for the purchases of goods and services under Municipal Code Section 3-4.12 (C) (1) which authorizes the use of Cooperative Purchasing Agreements.
Federal Asset Forfeiture funds will be used to cover the entire purchase of both armored police vehicles. These funds are available for allocation in in the Police Department’s budget and can only be used for limited law enforcement procurements and expenses as outlined in the United States Department of Justice Equitable Sharing Guidelines. The purchase of law enforcement vehicles and related equipment are permitted under the DOJ purchasing guidelines.
Staff Report – click her
Previous
- April 5 – Antioch Looks to Purchase Two Armored Rescue Vehicles
- May 24, 2023 – Antioch Agrees to Decommission Armored Police Vehicle
- May 19, 2023 – Antioch Mayor Seeks to Decommission Rescue Vehicle
