Primary Department: Constables
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Constable Mark Herman, Harris County Precinct Four
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Grant - Application
Project ID (if applicable): 5646701
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Office of the Governor/Public Safety Office
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable):
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable):
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): 0%
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Grantor does not allow indirect cost capture
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by the Constable of Precinct 4 for approval to submit an application to the Office of the Governor/Public Safety Office/Criminal for grant funds in the amount of $603,440, with no required cash match, for the FY26 Bullet-Resistant Components for Law Enforcement Vehicles Grant.
end
Background and Discussion:
This grant offered by the Office of the Governor will equip law enforcement motor vehicles with bullet-resistant components. Law enforcement officers in Texas face increasing risks of firearm-related assaults during routine duties such as traffic stops, patrols, and emergency responses Traditional vehicle windshields offer little to no ballistic protection, leaving officers highly vulnerable to gunfire during these high-risk encounters.
According to data from the FBI and National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, firearm-related officer fatalities have risen in recent years, with many incidents occurring while officers were inside or near their patrol vehicles. Despite advancements in vehicle armor, the windshield remains a critical point of weakness. Standard glass shatters easily under ballistic impact, providing no barrier between officers and an assailant’s weapon. In several documented cases, officers have sustained fatal or life-altering injuries because incoming rounds penetrated the windshield before they could take cover or return fire.
The absence of bullet-resistant windshields undermines the overall safety and survivability of law enforcement vehicles. Outfitting patrol units with modern ballistic glass technology would significantly enhance officer protection, reduce injury and fatality rates, and improve response capability during active threat situations. This proactive safety measure is not only a matter of officer welfare, but it is an investment in public safety, ensuring that officers remain capable of protecting the communities they serve even under hostile conditions.
Expected Impact:
The FY26 Bullet-Resistant Components for Constable Precinct 4 grant will be utilized to equip law enforcement patrol vehicles with bullet-resistant windshields. These components are vital in today's law enforcement world because they increase officer safety. By equipping our department's patrol fleet with bullet-resistant components, we are providing our officers with safety measures that would protect them during an ambush attack in their vehicle. The grant term for this award is March 1, 2026, through February 28, 2027. The application is for $603,440 with no required cash match.
Alternative Options:
There were no alternative options identified.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 1. Make Harris County safer and more just.
County Strategic Plan Objective: A: Reduce violent crime across the County.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): N/A
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan: N/A
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Location:
Address (if applicable):
Precinct(s): Precinct 4
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
FY26 Bullet-Resistant Components for Law Enforcement Vehicles Grant |
|
|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
Existing Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only) |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
No. of Grant Years |
|
Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
1 |
|
Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$ |
$603,440 |
$603,440 |
|
|
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new Position Control Numbers (PCN)s) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only) |
|
CAO Reviewer Name and Title |
|
CAO Review Completion Date |
Click or tap to enter a date. |
Anticipated Court Date: 11/13/2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 3/1/2026
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Daniel Garza, Assistant Chief, Harris County Precinct 4 Constable, Dena Arosell, Chief Clerk, Harris County Precinct 4 Constable
Attachments (if applicable): Notice of Funding Opportunity