Sheriff's office renews proprietary forensics software and purchases armored‑vehicle injector and camera with forfeiture funds

Victoria County commissioners on Monday approved a discretionary bid exemption to renew a proprietary forensic software license used by the sheriff's office and approved the purchase of a hydraulic Grama gas injector unit and camera system for the department's armored rescue vehicle using federal forfeiture funds.

Sheriff's staff told the court the software is proprietary and supports forensic extraction from cell phones and computers; staff said the license is typically renewed annually. "This is a proprietary software. We renew it. I believe it's annually. It just aids in our forensic investigations when it comes to cell phone and computers," the sheriff's representative said.

The court also approved a $58,741.18 purchase from Linco Armored Vehicles via a General Services Administration contract for a hydraulic ram/gas injector (Grama) and an accompanying camera system to be mounted on the county's armored rescue vehicle. The sheriff's office described the vehicle as a rescue vehicle supporting casualty evacuation and SWAT operations and said the injector and camera allow deploying irritant agents and obtaining 270‑degree interior views without exposing deputies to direct fire. The sheriff said the purchase is funded from seized asset forfeiture proceeds and will not cost the county's general fund.

Both procurements were approved by the court. Commissioners noted the regional utility of the armored vehicle and thanked the sheriff's office for securing seizure funds to purchase the equipment.