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CC - ACTION ITEM: (1) Approval of a Three-Year Contract with StarChase to Provide Pursuit Mitigation Technology in an Amount Not-To-Exceed $143,689; and (2) Discussion of the Police Department’s Draft StarChase Pursuit Management System Policy.
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Meeting Date: May 28, 2024
Contact Person/Dept: Captain Andrew Bellante/ Police Department
Phone Number: (310) 253-6394
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Attachments: Yes [X] No []
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (05/22/2024);
Department Approval: Jason Sims, Police Chief (05/14/2024)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council (1) approve a three-year agreement with StarChase to provide pursuit mitigation technology in an amount not-to-exceed $143,689; and (2) discuss the Police Department’s Draft StarChase Pursuit Management System Policy.
BACKGROUND
At the May 13, 2024 City Council Meeting, staff received consensus to bring this item before the City Council on May 28, 2024 for discussion.
The Culver City Police Department (CCPD) continues seeking strategies and acquiring technology to combat crime and apprehend criminal offenders. In 2023, CCPD saw an approximate 40% increase in vehicle pursuits from the previous year. Due to the inherent safety risks that vehicle pursuits pose to the community and involved officers, the majority of vehicle pursuits are canceled. As a result, many of the suspects that flee from law enforcement are never identified, apprehended, or criminally prosecuted.
DISCUSSION
With 10 years of proven field results, StarChase is currently used by law enforcement agencies in 30 states nationwide. StarChase is a system that is designed to mitigate the inherent dangers associated with vehicle pursuits. StarChase technology has proven to enhance public safety, mitigate liability, and increase the apprehension rate of fleeing suspects.
StarChase technology provides a mounting system that is attached to the front of a police vehicle's fender. The system allows the officers to deploy a foam tracking tag equipped with a magnetic adhesive layer that sticks and attaches to the rear of a suspect vehicle. Upon being deployed, the GPS tracking tag provides real-time locations, speeds, and travel directions of vehicles that flee from law enforcement. Once applied, an officer can immediately disengage from the fleeing vehicle, and the tag’s internal tracker provides officers and dispatchers with real-time location and speed information associated with the suspect vehicle, which will allow officers to go into “tracking mode”, negating the need for officers to engage in a vehicle pursuit.
Data obtained from StarChase has revealed that offenders who flee typically return to normal driving patterns (within ten miles per hour of the speed limit) two minutes after the GPS tracking tag is deployed and law enforcement disengages from following a suspect vehicle. This slow-down of events allows for a proper threat assessment, better decision-making, and the appropriate allocation of resources to apprehend suspects in a more controlled environment. Deploying this technology requires no physical engagement and is exponentially safer for all involved parties. This technology will not only assist the Police Department in preventing, deterring, and solving crime, but will also help mitigate the risk factors that vehicle pursuits pose, and will help provide the safest possible outcome for officers, suspects, and the community.
Data associated with the deployment of a StarChase GPS tracking tag (which includes the speeds and route of the suspect vehicle) is securely stored in a cloud-based system and may be used for evidentiary purposes. No data associated with the suspect vehicles license plate or personal identifiable information is retained. StarChase’s cloud-based applications and agency data are stored at an AWS GovCloud Certified facility for a period of 30 days. The data is owned by the CCPD and is not shared with any other outside entities and/or law enforcement agencies, unless granted for the purposes of a criminal investigation. Information gathered or collected, and records retained by the StarChase vendor will not be sold, accessed, or used for any purpose other than legitimate law enforcement or public safety purposes.
StarChase is the sole source provider for their line of equipment, which is considered proprietary. CCPD searched for alternate products, but there is no other pursuit mitigation technology that allows for a patrol vehicle to deploy a GPS tracking tag onto a moving suspect vehicle.
Policy
CCPD has drafted a policy specific to its proposed use of the StarChase Pursuit Management System (Attachment 1). The draft policy has been reviewed by the City Attorney’s Office and outlines training, authorized use of the system, deployment, reporting, and safety considerations.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The three-year contract cost will not exceed $143,689. The contract includes 12 Vehicle Mounted Systems and necessary equipment, 36 months of unlimited GPS Tracking Tags, 36 months of unlimited Data and User access to the system, a 36-month manufacturer warranty, installation of all equipment, training conducted by StarChase, shipping, and sales tax.
12 Vehicle Mounted Systems
$5,990.00 per system (12 systems) $71,880.00
36-month unlimited GPS Tracking Tags/Data and User Access:
$3,960.00 per system (12 systems) $47,520.00
Extended Warranty (Total 36 Months)
$327.75 per system (12 systems) $3,933.00
Installation of System
$702.00 per system (12 systems) $8,424.00
On-Site Train the Trainer
One-time cost of $3,500.00 $3,500.00
Shipping
One-time cost of $1,064.16 $1,064.16
Sales Tax
One-Time cost of $7,367.70 $7,367.70
Total Cost: $143,688.86
The Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 includes sufficient funding for the three-year agreement not-to-exceed $143,689 in Account No. 10140200.619800 (Police Department Operating Bureaus - Other Contractual Services).
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2024-05-28_ATT 1 - CCPD StarChase Pursuit Management System Policy
2. 2024-05-28_ATT 2- Sole Source Service Provider Letter
MOTION
That the City Council:
1. Approve a three-year agreement with StarChase to provide pursuit mitigation technology in an amount not-to-exceed $143,689; and
2. Discuss the Police Department’s Draft StarChase Pursuit Management Policy; and
3. Authorize the City Attorney to review/prepare any necessary documents; and
4. Authorize the City Manager to execute such documents on behalf of the City.