The SRT is comprised of two full-time police officers whose primary duty is to serve the homeless community, including those that suffer from mental health conditions.  Calls for service related to homelessness and mental illness have increased more than two hundred percent within the last year.

SRT calls for service at times result in arrests of individuals with large amounts of personal property, which requires transport of the personal property in a specialty truck-type vehicle to the Police Department.

The purchase of a specialized pickup truck vehicle for the SRT would eliminate added officer delay and the need to involve other City employees to respond with a vehicle appropriate to transport personal property associated with an arrest of a person carrying or holding large amounts of personal property.  This specialized vehicle would be equipped with a “crew-cab” that would be suitable for property transport and a lift gate to load bulky items into the back of the pickup truck.  The truck would be a “police” vehicle equipped with emergency lights, siren, and a police radio.  This vehicle would be an addition to the police vehicle fleet and would be purchased through Nation Auto Fleet Group.

The NJPA nationally solicits, evaluates and awards contracts through a competitive bid process.  As a member of NJPA, the City is able to utilize NJPA bid awards for equipment purchases.  Staff recommends piggybacking on the results of a recent NJPA competitive bid program, Contract #120716. The results deemed Nation Auto Fleet Group as the lowest responsive bid.

              National Auto Fleet Group                     $39,507.75*        

* These prices include all applicable tax and destination charges.

There is no impact to the General Fund.  The vehicle purchase would be funded utilizing the Supplemental Law Enforcement Service Fund (SLESF).

It is recommended that the City Council:

• Appropriate $39,508.75 from the SLESF for the purchase of the SRT police vehicle.

• Authorize the Finance Director to issue a purchase order in the amount of $39,507.75 to National Auto Fleet Group for the purchase of one (1) new utility truck.

By:    Captain Travis Whitman