The Plano Police Department recommends the purchase of (165) light-weight rifle shields. At a cost of $414,934 from Armor Research Company. There are 210 officers assigned to Patrol and 26 School Resource Officers assigned to 27 schools as part of the School Resource Officer (SRO) program. Inside the city limits of Plano, we are responsible for responding to 65 ISD schools with over 50,000 students. In addition, we have 23 private primary schools in Plano. Additionally, our officers respond to all calls at all types of businesses, churches, public facilities and residences. There are two rifle shields assigned to the Patrol Division, with the four remaining rifle shields assigned to SWAT. The intent of purchasing rifle shields is to have a breaching tool and rifle shield in every marked patrol car operated by a uniformed officer. Also, a rifle shield in every school with an on-site assigned SRO. Active shooter incidents have been on the rise in frequency each year. The FBI reports on the number of incidents per year, 2017 – 31, 2018/2019 – 30, 2020 – 40 (33% increase), 2021 – 61 (53% increase). The FBI report states rifles are used in 27% of active shooter events in the U.S. In both of the active shooter/threat incidents, which occurred in the City of Plano, the shooter used a rifle (NTT Data/Spring Creek Pkwy).
The Plano Police department currently has a very limited number of ballistic shields available to first responders. If not funded, the efficient and effective response to an active threat incident could be severely delayed or create a substantially higher risk of serious bodily injury or death to members of the community, fire rescue and police personnel.
The City is exempt from the competitive bid process for this purchase as allowed by Texas Local Government Code Chapter 252 Subchapter B Section 252.022(a)(7)(A). (City of Plano Internal Contract No. 2023-0502-X)