RES 231378 - Laserfiche WebLink

MILITARY EQUIPMENT USE REPORT 2022 "High mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles(HMMWV), commonly referred to as Humvees, two and one-half-ton trucks, five-ton trucks, or wheeled vehicles that have a breaching or entry apparatus attached. However, unarmored all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and motorized dirt bikes are specifically excluded." The Police Department does not use Humvees or similar vehicles, nor does it use large trucks, as described in this section.The armored rescue vehicle (ARV) can have a breaching ram mounted to its front.This tool has proven helpful for safely opening front doors without exposing officers to danger by having them approach the door on foot. Breaching an entry point is often the most dangerous part of a high-risk entry to a structure.This breaching option results in a reduced likelihood of a confrontation during entry. It is also one of the few breaching options available for well-constructed doors on commercial or government buildings which cannot be opened with a standard ramming device. 'Tracked armored vehicles that provide ballistic protection to their occupants and utilize a tracked system instead of wheels for forward motion." The Police Department does not utilize tracked vehicles of any kind. "Command and control vehicles that are either built or modified to facilitate the operational control and direction of public safety units." The Police Department currently does not own any dedicated command and control vehicles. We have, on many occasions, utilized the Livermore Police Department's command vehicle. The City is in contract with a vendor to procure a command vehicle, after receiving City Council approval. It will serve as a forward command post during critical incidents, natural disasters, search, and rescue operations, and as an emergency backup to the Police Department's dispatch center. Many public safety agencies of similar size utilize a command vehicle for these purposes. Grant funds were the primary source of funding for this piece of equipment. "Battering rams, slugs, and breaching apparatuses that are explosive in nature. However, items designed to remove a lock,such as bolt cutters, or a handheld ram designed to be operated by one person, are specifically excluded from this subdivision." The Police Department does not use explosive breaching. Historically, the Police Department has used shotgun breaching techniques and purchased a device called "The Wallbanger," which uses energy from a flashbang to open a door. These are no longer used as advancements in kinetic breaching tools have made them more effective. The preferred breaching mechanism by the Police Department is the Kinetic Breaching Tool which uses a single round of blank ammunition to move a fixed bolt forward. No explosive energy or debris is projected into the door. All power is transferred through the bolt. Due to the construction of doors in commercial,government,and school buildings,more than manual breaching equipment such as single-person rams and pry bars are required to gain entry to many structures rapidly.