TITLE
Title
BUDGET AMENDMENT AND PURCHASES: EQUIPMENT AND SPECIALTY EQUIPMENT FOR SHERIFF'S OFFICE UTILIZING FEDERAL FORFEITURE FUNDS
end
SPONSOR
Sponsor
Danny H. Rogers, Sheriff (Captain Matt Suits)
end
BACKGROUND
Background
The Fiscal Year 2026 Adopted Budget included $1,125,000 to invest in public safety specialty equipment that has reached the end of its useful life. This investment includes a SERT support vehicle, a Mobile Command Center, and additional equipment and technology. This agenda item authorizes the purchase of this equipment, amends the budget based on final costs, and approves the use of federal forfeiture funds for additional equipment. This item does not require additional County funds.
The SERT vehicle and Mobile Command Center support the Sheriff’s Office in carrying out law enforcement duties. As public safety needs continue to evolve, so must the tools used to deter crime, protect the community, and support successful prosecutions.
This equipment includes:
• SERT Support Vehicle: The Sheriff’s Office is in the process of purchasing a specialized SERT (Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team) support vehicle. The prior SERT Vehicle was a converted ambulance that had reached end of its useful life. This new vehicle will transport tactical gear and equipment used during high-risk operations. It will also provide secure storage and transport for explosive ordnance and related materials used by bomb technicians, with reinforced compartments and controlled access to meet Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) guidelines. These requirements ensure that explosive materials, detonators, and related devices are safely secured, properly separated, and transported in a manner that protects personnel, the public, and ongoing investigations. An approved bid waiver (Group Purchasing Program exemption) and proposed contract with Matthews Specialty Vehicles in the amount of $438,478.00 is included with this agenda item along with contract attachments reflecting the vehicle specifications and warranty. Matthews is a local business on American Avenue in Greensboro.
• Mobile Command Center: The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office Mobile Command Center is a specialized vehicle designed to provide a centralized location for command staff to coordinate operations during major incidents and emergency responses. It includes integrated communications systems, data connectivity, mapping capabilities, and workspace for incident commanders to manage personnel, resources, and real-time information during critical events such as large-scale investigations, natural disasters, and multi-agency operations. By bringing command and coordination capabilities directly to the scene, the Mobile Command Center enables leadership to maintain operational control and efficiently direct responding units in rapidly evolving situations. An approved bid waiver (Group Purchasing Program exemption) and proposed contract with Matthews Specialty Vehicles in the amount of $773,925.00 is included with this agenda item along with contract attachments reflecting the vehicle specifications and warranty.
Based on final costs and upfitting requirements for these two essential law enforcement assets, the total final cost for both vehicles is $1,212,403.00 which exceeds the FY26 budgeted amount by $87,403.00. As such, the Sheriff’s Office is seeking BOCC permission to use $88,000 in Federal Forfeiture Funds to complete the purchases.
Additionally, the Sheriff’s Office is requesting:
• $90,840 for gas masks for frontline deputies to enhance officer safety during crowd control and hazardous situations; and
• $110,158 for additional Real Time Crime Center cameras to strengthen monitoring, support investigations, and improve real-time response capabilities.
The Sheriff's Office is also requesting the BOCC's authority to fund these necessary purchases using Federal Forfeiture Funds. Prior to approval of this action, the available balance of these federal forfeiture funds is $808,032, and the balance will be $519,034 if the items are approved.
end
BUDGET IMPACT
Budget Impact
General Fund
$288,998 increase to Law Enforcement
$288,998 increase in Appropriated Fund Balance (100% of this amount comes from Federal Forfeiture Funds. No additional County funds are necessary)
end
REQUESTED ACTION
Requested Action
1. Amend the General Fund budget ordinance to increase Law Enforcement's budget by $288,998, with $288,998 in Appropriated Fund Balance;
2. Approve purchase of 150 gas masks and accessories, as authorized by the cooperative purchasing exemption of G.S. 143-129(e)(3) for a total cost of $90,840 from Dana Safety Supply through NC Sheriff's Association Cooperative Contract 26-03-0521;
3. Approve purchase of one SERT Support vehicle, as authorized by the cooperative purchasing exemption of G.S. 143-129(e)(3) for a total cost of $438,478 from Matthews Specialty Vehicles through NC Sheriff's Association Cooperative Contract 25-05-0521R;
4. Approve purchase of one Mobile Command vehicle, as authorized by the cooperative purchasing exemption of G.S. 143-129(e)(3) for a total cost of $773,925 from Matthews Specialty Vehicles through NC Sheriff's Association Cooperative Contract 25-05-0521R;
5. Approve purchase of 5 Plate Ranger Pro cameras, as authorized by the cooperative purchasing exemption of G.S. 143-129(e)(3) for a total cost of $41,955 from Sound Thinking, Inc. through Sourcewell Cooperative Contract 030425-SND;
6. Approve purchase of 7 Motorola L6Q Quick-Deploy cameras and accessories, as authorized by the cooperative purchasing exemption of G.S. 143-129(e)(3) for a total cost of $68,203 from Motorola Solutions through NC Sheriff's Association Cooperative Contract 25-04-0222R.
end