Williamson County commissioners took no action earlier this month on a proposal to make ballistic windshields part of the standard upfitting package for Sheriff’s Office, Constable Office, Emergency Medical Services and certain Fire Marshal vehicles, citing the need for additional information before making a decision.
The topic arose after Williamson County Sheriff's Office Commander Craig Gripentrog was told to look into the bulletproof windshield program by a judge a couple of years ago. In doing so, the office applied for and received a grant for 48 vehicles, which they are implementing now.
When vehicles with ballistic windshields are ultimately retired after 100,000 miles, the windshields must be swapped out before the vehicles are auctioned to the public. This swapping will cost approximately $1,000 ($300 for the regular windshield and approximately $600 for labor).
This backend process, in addition to the $3,000 cost of the ballistic windshield, makes for around a $4,000 expense per unit. Commissioner Pct. 4 Russ Boles said it would presumably take 50 vehicles to cover the rest of the fleet as they retire vehicles, creating a price tag of $200,000.
To combat the cost, Gripentrog suggested moving from Chevrolet Tahoes to Ford Explorers, which are about $9,000 to $10,000 cheaper.
“I like the all-wheel drive ability in that Ford Explorer as well, especially for the weather events that we have,” Gripentrog said. “It puts more cars out in the neighborhoods rather than stuck at substations.”
Precinct 3 Commissioner Valerie Covey pushed back and asked why the EMS vehicles were part of the upgrade. She said she didn’t see why medical responders needed this technology.
According to Bill Zito, senior director of emergency services, the two EMS vehicles involved in this proposal are one ambulance and one Tahoe on the Tactical Medical Team used when EMS responds with a SWAT team. He also mentioned two vehicles for law enforcement officers in the Fire Marshal’s Office, bringing the total to four vehicles from emergency services.
Another question the court had concerned storage of the ballistic windshields after their vehicles are retired. Gripentrog and Chief Patrick Hurley are researching storage options for swapping out these windshields. As of now, there is no storage issue because the windshields haven’t been replaced yet and the 48 new vehicles haven’t arrived, but they are working with their upfitter, Dana, on storage options.
Approximately 20 new vehicles will arrive next year, half Ford Explorers and half Chevrolet Tahoes, to see how the vehicles hold up.
To help their cause, Gripentrog intends to apply for a grant and change vehicle models. He hopes to save an additional $10,000 with the Explorers because they won’t have the same engine problem as the Tahoes.
Because the 2027 budget is already being worked on, any decisions made on this will not go into effect until the 2028 budget.
Commissioner Boles said he viewed ballistic windshields as an expectation of the public.
“I just look at that number, and I think that's something that the county can manage,” he said.
Commissioner Cynthia Long said she needed more information before voting.
These groups plan to meet again with more details and fleshed-out logistics so the court can make a decision.