Title
Sheriff’s Office recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the purchase of Vigilant Solutions License Plate Reader (LPR) computer hardware and software systems and maintenance for a not to exceed amount of $675,000;
2) Find that, in accordance with Section 3.12.160. of the El Dorado County Ordinance Code, due to the unique nature of the property or services required competitive bidding is precluded;
3) Authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute a purchase agreement contingent upon County Counsel and Risk approval; and
4) Approve the addition of LPR systems to the FY 2021-22 Fixed Asset List. (Continued from 4/6/2021, item 37) (4/5 vote required)
FUNDING: California Multi-Jurisdictional Methamphetamine Enforcement Team Special Revenue and Homeland Security Grant Funds.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On 12/2/20, the Sheriff’s Office requested and received approval for an increase to the Fixed Asset purchase of LPR units in the FY 2020/2021 budget and has conducted extensive research for the purchase. The purchase of the License Plate Reader system improves the Sheriff's Office abilities to track crime suspects' entry points, respond to kidnappings, and to solve crimes throughout the County as a manner of ensuring public safety, preventing crime and utilizing public information as a means of justice. Nearly seventy percent (70%) of crimes committed involve a vehicle and given that license plates are provided by the Department of Motor Vehicles they are considered public information. Utilizing a License Plate Reader system allows for the identification of vehicles, tracks leads and helps law enforcement capture additional evidence needed to solve crimes. Additionally, LPRs have proven to be an effective method to solve methamphetamine trafficking cases when illegal substances are transported throughout an area. This License Plate Reader System will not be utilized to monitor citizens, but rather a means to protect them from those seeking to do harm in our community.
The Sheriff's Office originally brought this item to the Board on April 6, 2021 but continued the item off calendar for the purpose of completing an internal Automated License Plate Reader Policy. The Sheriff's Office draft ALPR policy is attached for reference.
The Sheriff's Office is requesting the Board find that in accordance with Section 3.12.160. of the El Dorado County Ordinance Code, due to the unique nature of the property or services required competitive bidding is precluded. Vigilant Solutions is the sole manufacturer and provider of the hardware and software system, support, and maintenance. The Sheriff’s Office considered feedback from 150 California agencies deploying systems and using this system will provide interoperability among neighboring agencies such as Sacramento and Placer County Sheriff Departments and Sacramento, Folsom, Placerville, Rocklin and Roseville City Police Departments.
Other companies offer LPRs and cameras, however Vigilant is being used by a majority of the Law Enforcement Agencies in the surrounding areas, this interoperability will allow for more efficient and effective investigations for EDSO and our partners. We often find perpetrators committing unlawful activities in El Dorado County also are committing crimes in surrounding areas. "Our criminals are their criminals, their criminal are ours.." Having the ability to share data is a significant advantage to solving crimes. Vigilant has the largest pool of license plate data in the surrounding areas where a high percentage of individuals committing crimes move around in vehicles often crossing county lines. Utilizing a different license plate reader company would pose challenges to interoperability and accessibility to related information.
Vigilant Solutions has been chosen based on utilization, reputation, and positive feedback from over 150 California enforcement agencies. The Vigilant LPR software is required in order to share data with other agencies and is the only system with this capability. Vigilant does not sell its software and products through resellers in the Sacramento region according to the attached Sole Source letter from Vigilant. The computer hardware and software system, and the information that the software captures, with the versatility of ways it can be used, makes the system unique for law enforcement and criminal investigations. The ability of the software to recognize, photograph, record, and provide information real time on license plates from vehicles that pass through traffic intersections is unique. Furthermore, the data information provided by the software allows Sheriff personnel to query on a vast criteria, observe patterns of travel, and anticipate the location of vehicles used in the commission of crimes. There is a valuable opportunity for sharing data among other agencies, that will result in solving crimes, and supports the uniqueness of the purchase.
ALTERNATIVES
The Sheriff’s Office and other neighboring law enforcement agencies would benefit by purchase of this equipment.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
Legistar # 20-1539, 12/2/20
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel, Procurement and Contracts
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no impact to Net County Cost. The purchase will be made using CALMMET special revenue and Homeland Security grant funding. The $675,000 of revenues and appropriations will be added to the Department's budget during the Adopted Budget process.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Providing enhanced services to the community increases public safety.
CONTACT
Undersheriff Bryan Golmitz