Police Dept Fire Proof VestsMEMORANDUM
January 28,2004
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Bulletproof Vest Replacements for Police Department
Information has been received from Police Chief Kim Wadding regarding the
performance of the Ultima 11 Bulletproof Vest. These vests are currently in use by all
sworn officers. The manufacturer, Second Chance, has notified customers that the
deterioration of the protective fiber may be sooner than the five-year life for each vest.
Other variables that impact the vest life expectancy include age, exposure to heat,
humidity and sunlight. The company has offered, at no cost, to provide the City with
vest inserts to safeguard the potential inability of the vest. However, this is seen as a
short-term solution. Second Chance has offered a trade-in credit based upon the age of
each vest.
Chief of Police Klm Wadding recommends replacement of all Ultima II vests with the
Second Chance Monarch Summer Bulletproof Vest, for a total replacement cost of
$17,061.61. The National Institute of Justice bulletproof vest grant program will
reimburse 50% of the replacement cost. The remaining funds are available.
This purchase will be made subject to a future budget amendment.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Klm Wadding, Chief of Police
Dawn Lang, Budget Director
MEMORANDUM
January 28,2004
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Dawn Lang, Budget Director "'~,,{/
Bulletproof vest replacements for Police Department
Introduction
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide you information on potentially defective
bulletproof vests and to recommend replacement.
Discussion
Attached is a memo from Police Chief Klm Wadding regarding the performance of the
Ultima II Bulletproof vest. These vests are currently in use by all sworn officers.
The company, Second Chance, has notified customers that the deterioration of the
protective fiber may be sooner than the five-year life for each vest. Other variables that
impact the vest life expectancy include age, exposure to heat, humidity and sunlight.
The company has offered, at no cost, to provide the city with vest inserts to safeguard
the potential inability of the vest. However, this is seen as a short-term solution.
Second Chance has offered a trade-in credit based upon the age of each vest.
Chief Wadding has reviewed their vest inventory and determined the cost of
replacement to be $t7,061.61 with the Second Chance trade-in credit. Through the
National Institute of Justice (NIJ) bulletproof vest grant program, 50% of the,
replacement cost will be reimbursed. The City had also purchased 10 new Vests for
$8,350, previously budgeted. The new replacement vests cost $5,480.00, resulting in a
savings of $2,870.00. The following funds are being recommended to coveT the
$17,061.61 replacement cost for the Ultima II vests:
· $8,530.81 -- NIJ Bulletproof Vest Grant Program 50% reimbursement
· $2,740.00 - NIJ Bulletproof Vest Grant Program 50% reimbursement on original
10 vests ordered.
· $2,870.00 - Trade-in credit from Second Chance from replacement of new vests.
· $3,100.80- Remaining bulletproof vest budget
This will be included in the fourth budget amendment for FY 2004.
Request
The requested action is for City Council to approve the replacement of all Ultima II vests
with the Second Chance Monarch Summit bulletproof vest as recommended by Police
Chief Klm Wadding.
cc: Klm Wadding, Police Chief
MEMORANDUM
January 28, 2004
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Bulletproof Vest Replacements for Police Department
Information has been received from Police Chief Klm Wadding regarding the
performance of the Ultima II Bulletproof Vest. These vests are currently in use by all
sworn officers. The manufacturer, Second Chance, has notified customers that the
deterioration of the protective fiber may be sooner than the five-year life for each vest.
Other variables that impact the vest life expectancy include age, exposure to heat,
humidity and sunlight. The company has offered, at no cost, to provide the City with
vest inserts to safeguard the potential inability of the vest. However, this is seen as a
short-term solution. Second Chance has offered a trade-in credit based upon the age of
each vest.
Chief of Police Klm Wadding recommends replacement of all Ultima II vests with the
Second Chance Monarch Summet Bulletproof Vest, for a total replacement cost of
$17,061.61. The National Institute of Justice bulletproof vest grant program will
reimburse 50% of the replacement cost. The remaining funds are available.
This purchase will be made subject to a future budget amendment.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Micnael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Klm Wadding, Chief of Police
Dawn Lang, Budget Director
MEMORANDUM
January 28,2004
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Dawn Lang, Budget Director ~
Bulletproof vest replacements for Police Department
Introduction
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide you information on potentially defective
bulletproof vests and to recommend replacement.
Discussion
Attached is a memo from Police Chief Klm Wadding regarding the performance of the
Ultima I1 Bulletproof vest. These vests are currently in use by all sworn officers.
The company, Second Chance, has notified customers that the deterioration of the
protective fiber may be sooner than the five-year life for each vest. Other variables that
impact the vest life expectancy include age, exposure to heat, humidity and sunlight.
The company has offered, at no cost, to provide the city with vest inserts to safeguard
the potential inability of the vest. However, this is seen as a short-term solution.
Second Chance has offered a trade-in credit based upon the age of each vest.
Chief Wadding has reviewed their vest inventory and determined the cost of
replacement to be $17,061.61 with the Second Chance trade-in credit. Through the
National Institute of Justice (NIJ) bulletproof vest grant program, 50% of the
replacement cost will be reimbursed. The City had also purchased 10 new vests for
$8,350, previously budgeted. The new replacement vests cost $5,480.00, resulting in a
savings of $2,870.00. The following funds are being recommended to cover the
$17,061.61 replacement cost for the UItima II vests:
$8,530.81 -- NIJ Bulletproof Vest Grant Program 50% reimbursement
$2,740.00 - NIJ Bulletproof Vest Grant Program 50% reimbursement on original
10 vests ordered.
· $2,870.00 - Trade-in credit from Second Chance from replacement of new vests.
· $3,100.80 - Remaining bulletproof vest budget
This will be included in the fourth budget amendment for FY 2004.
Request
The requested action is for City Council to approve the replacement of all Uttima It vests
with the Second Chance Monarch Summit bulletproof vest as recommended by Police
Chief Kim Wadding.
cc: Klm Wadding, Police Chief
THE CITY OF ~
Du B '-ff,
DATE:
January 26,2004
TO:
FROM:
Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
Klm B. Waddin~
Police Chief - u --
RE:
Replacement:. Bulletproof Vests
INTRODUCTION:
From research conducted by Second Chance regarding the performance of the UItima
II bulletproof vest, questions have developed concerning the vest stability and durability
over time. One of the main fabrics in the Ultima II is Zylon. Under wear tests conducted
by Second Chance their research indicates the Zylon fiber manufactured by Toyobo
may deteriorate faster than the five-year replacement rate. Although the research
results are inconsistent Second Chance has chosen to discontinue the Ultima II and
Uitimax vests from their product line. For this reason we are requesting approval to
replace all Ultima II brand bulletproof vests with the Second Chance Monarch Summit
brand. --
Second Chance has offered a trade-in credit based upon the age of each vest. After
reviewing our inventory the initial cost of replacement will be $17,061.61. Through the
National Institute of Justice (NIJ) bulletproof vest grant program we will be reimbursed
50% of this cost, resulting in a final cost of $8,530.81.
BACKGROUND:
For the past several yeare the police department has purchased Ultima I1 brand
bulletproof vests for our officers. Each vest is worn and replaced every five years.
According to Second Chance there is no concrete method to tell how vest performance
is affected over time. Age, exposure to heat, humidity, sunlight, wear, care, in service
flex fatigue and other factors impact on the vest performance. To help safeguard this
concern, Second Chance has developed Performance Pacs (inserts) to accompany the
existing fabric to safeguard the potential inability of the vest. This is viewed as a short-
term solution until the vests can be replaced.
DISCUSSION:
In conversations with Kent Smock the area representative for Second Chance, we were
initially told we may either add the Performance Pacs (inserts) to address the concern
or take advantage of a prorated replacement schedule for the vests: Kent Smock has
corrected this understanding with Second Chance providing the Performance Pacs for
free with this solution having no impact on the prorated replacement offer.
The police department has 87 vests in inventory. 10 have already been ordered as part
of the regular rePlacement schedule. The replacement model, Monarch Summit, is less
expensive creating a savings from those previously ordered. Although for the short-
term we will be adding the Performance Pacs (inserts) for those containing the Zylon
material, we are seeking permission to replace the remaining vests with the new
Monarch Summit brand. The cost of replacing the remaining vests is $17,061.61.
Through the National Institute of Justice Bulletproof Vest program we would be eligible
for 50% reimbursement resulting in a final cost of $8,530.81.
This concern has received national attention and is being investigated by the Iowa
Attorney General's Office regarding whether or not Second Chance Body Armor, Inc.
violated the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act. The Iowa Attorney General's Office is exploring
the extent to which the company may have been aware of the problem and failed to
warn users and whether:reaSonable steps have been taken to deal with the situation. I
have visited with Steve ~witzer from the Iowa Attorney's Office and no final decisions
have been made and the inquiry remains open.
RECOMMENDATION:
To safeguard the bulletproof vest concern, I recommend we move forward with
replacement of the Uitima II vest with the Monarch Summit. The following table outlines
how the vest replacement would be paid from the current police budget..
Vest
Replacement Expenditure Ending
Deficit Savin~ls/Balance Balance
Replacement of 77 Bulletproof Vests $17,061.61
50% NIJ reimbursement for 77 Bulletproof vests ordered
($17,061.61 X 50%) $8,530.81
Difference between Original Price of previgusly ordered
10 vests ($8,350 and the new replacement vests $5,480) $2,870.00
50% NIJ reimbursement for the odginal 10 vests ordered
($5,480 X 50%) ~ $2,740.00
Current Balance Police Patr'ol '(11700) Activity 72213 $3,398.00
Total $17,061.61 $17,538.81 $477.20
ACTION REQUESTED:
Approve replacement of all UItima I1 vest with the Second Chance Monarch Summit
bulletproof vest.
Cc: Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Dawn Lang, Budget Director