Hampton public safety budget asks: tasers, ballistic vests and radar‑message trailer presented to council

Public safety leaders told the council Feb. 12 they need several equipment replacements and upgrades, and presented capital expenditure requests for new tasers, replacement ballistic vests and a radar speed/message trailer.

Staff said most of the department’s tasers are obsolete and cannot be repaired after multiple malfunctions last spring. The total purchase price presented for the tasers was $98,004.29; staff proposed spreading that cost over five annual installments of $19,006.85. The chief said the supplier has the units available and that, if council approves, units could arrive within weeks.

The department also requested funding to replace 15 expired ballistic vests at a total cost of $19,008.75. Staff said they applied for the federal Body Armor Replacement (BVP) reimbursement program; if awarded — the department expects notification in April — the program would recover about $400 per vest. The request covers officers only; social worker vests are on a separate replacement cycle.

Separately, staff presented a proposal to buy a radar trailer with a message board for $19,004.36 from vendor All Traffic Solutions. The trailer would record speed data, display speed warnings to drivers, and also be used for road closure or event messaging. Staff proposed training two road department staff and two officers to operate the unit.

No formal purchase approvals were recorded at the Feb. 12 meeting; chiefs and staff recommended council approve the capital expenditures and, in the taser case, the multi‑year payment plan.