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Police Department <br /> www.santa-ana.org/pd <br /> Item # 23 <br /> City of Santa Ana <br /> 20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br /> Staff Report <br /> May 5, 2026 <br /> TOPIC: Ballistic Helmets, Ballistic Plates, and Plate Carriers <br /> AGENDA TITLE <br /> Purchase Order to Sarkar Tactical, Inc. for Ballistic Helmets, Ballistic Plates, and Plate <br /> Carriers (Specification No. 26-007A) and Appropriation Adjustment (Non-General Fund <br /> — U.S. Dept. of Justice) <br /> RECOMMENDED ACTION <br /> 1. Authorize a Purchase Order to Sarkar Tactical, Inc. for ballistic helmets, ballistic <br /> plates, and plate carriers in an amount not to exceed $395,218. <br /> 2. Approve an appropriation adjustment to recognize $345,960 of prior-year fund <br /> balance in the U.S. Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Funds and <br /> appropriate same to the Miscellaneous Operating Expenses expenditure <br /> account. (Requires five affirmative votes) <br /> GOVERNMENT CODE 484308 APPLIES: No <br /> DISCUSSION <br /> Ballistic protective gear is essential for ensuring officer safety in an environment where <br /> threats involving firearms and other deadly weapons are increasingly prevalent. Police <br /> personnel are routinely exposed to unpredictable and rapidly evolving situations, <br /> including armed confrontations, high-risk stops, warrant services, active threat incidents, <br /> and mobile field force applications. The use of ballistic vests, helmets, and shields <br /> significantly reduces the risk of serious injury or death. <br /> Currently the Santa Ana Police Department issues concealable body armor capable of <br /> stopping most commercially manufactured hand gun ammunition. While this body <br /> armor is adequate for the majority of incidents, it does not provide adequate ballistic <br /> protection against incidents involving high powered rifles. <br /> On November 20, 2018, the City Council authorized the purchase of 311 ballistic plates <br /> and plate carriers. These plates and plate carriers, issued to every sworn member, <br /> were certified by the National Institute of Justice to stop bullets fired from most <br /> rifles. This inventory has since been depleted. Additionally, the existing plates that <br />