Modesto council approves armored vehicle purchase amid public opposition and support
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Summary
Council authorized purchase of one armored vehicle for the Modesto Police Department, funding partly from Measure H and supplemental law-enforcement funds; public speakers were divided.
The Modesto City Council voted to purchase an armored vehicle for the Modesto Police Department at its Sept. 23 meeting, approving a purchase and related change-order authority after a staff presentation and more than an hour of public comment both for and against the acquisition.
City staff said the existing armored vehicle, acquired in February 2003, has exceeded its operational lifespan and lacks contemporary features such as adequate portholes for less-lethal tools, flexible turrets, reliable climate control and storage. Chief Brandon Gillespie described recent operational uses, including responding to an officer-involved shooting in August, and said a modern vehicle would improve officer and public safety.
The purchase was approved under a competitive cooperative procurement with Linco Armored Vehicles/Pittsfield, Maine; the council authorized a base purchase price captured in staff materials ($425,730), taxes and fees (about $36,564 in the staff presentation), and change orders up to 15% of the purchase price. The item was identified in the FY25-26 budget as an enhancement; the staff report said approximately $400,000 of the cost would come from Measure H funds and the remainder from the police department’s supplemental law-enforcement fund.
Public comment was split. Opponents described the vehicle as “militarization” and urged the city to invest in housing, mental-health services and homelessness prevention instead of armored hardware. Several speakers referenced the June 14 protest arrests and questioned whether the vehicle would be used against community members; others said the police need the vehicle to respond to active shooters, hostage situations and other high-risk incidents.
The council voted in favor of the purchase. The motion to approve was made by Council Member Escudia Brayton and seconded by Council Member Wright; the roll call showed unanimous approval. The resolution authorized the director of finance or designee to issue the purchase order and to approve change orders up to 15% of the total purchase price.
