Purchase of police equipment on Board’s agenda

TEXARKANA, Ark. — During a regular meeting Monday, the city Board of Directors will vote on buying five police patrol vehicles at a total cost of more than $176,000.

The Board will vote by consent whether to approve the purchase of five 2020 hybrid Ford Explorer SUVs for the police department.

“The majority of patrol vehicles now in service have in excess of 150,000 miles and have become a major maintenance liability to the city. Many of these vehicles have safety issues that also heighten the liability exposure to the city,” a summary attached to the meeting’ agenda states.

The electric-gasoline hybrid vehicles will need to be refueled about every three days, as opposed to the department’s all-gas

Ford Crown Victorias, which must be refueled twice a day.

The Board will also vote on approving the purchase of 10 in-car and body camera systems for the police department at a cost of more than $83,500.

Buying software for the police is also on the agenda. The Board will vote on approving purchase of GrayKey software for $45,000, funded by a federal grant. The software allows law enforcement to open password-protected Apple iOS products such as iPhones and iPads.

The Board will conduct a public hearing and vote on charging a $15 fee for police fingerprinting services. A summary of the measure states that the police department has seen an increase in fingerprinting requests from people seeking concealed handgun licenses and medical marijuana cards.

The Board will also vote whether to rezone a lot at 4617 East St. to allow subdivision and additional building there.

The meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday and will be conducted via the Zoom online meeting app. It will be live streamed on the city’s YouTube channel.

Anyone wishing to have comments read during the public hearing or the meeting’s citizen communication time must submit them by 10 a.m. Monday to City Clerk Heather Soyars at heather.soyars@txkusa.org.