The Bellaire Police Department will be receiving new equipment and two patrol vehicle replacements after Bellaire officials unanimously authorized such purchases in a set of ordinances Oct. 5.
Mapping it out
During the Oct. 5 session, Bellaire City Council approved the purchase of 43 TASER 10 energy weapons and all associated equipment for the BPD in a not-to-exceed amount of $225,490.40, according to agenda documents.
The attached ordinance indicates that the BPD will enter a five-year contract with manufacturing company Axon Enterprise, Inc., for provision of the upgraded tasers.
The roughly $225.4K total contract value will be paid over five annual installments of $45,098. This year’s payment is already included in the fiscal year 2026-27 adopted budget.
Why it matters
Per the agenda, the new tasers are a “significant upgrade” from the legacy TASER X26P energy weapons currently utilized by the department.
The TASER X26P is described as a single-shot platform with a maximum deployment distance of approximately 21 feet. In order to effectively deploy the mechanism, officers must assess their placement and probe spread prior to firing, slowing down reaction times during fast-changing or volatile encounters in the field.
The TASER 10 offers police officers a more flexible approach to resolving situations in which the use of force may escalate, in addition to modernizing the department’s less-lethal capabilities, according to the agenda. Its features include:
A 10-probe platform build: Utilizing multiple individually targeted probes will increase the probability of executing a successful less-lethal response, while still reducing the limitations associated with single-shot deployment
An up-to-40-foot deployment distance: Increased range will provide officers with greater distance from potentially dangerous subjects, improve reaction time and offer an additional margin of safety for involved subjects and bystanders
Aside from the tasers themselves, the upgraded system will also provide the department with additional resources throughout the five-year agreement, such as annual training and certification pathways, cartridges, battery packs, holsters, warranty support and replacement access for equipment.
Also on the agenda
Bellaire officials also approved the purchase of two patrol vehicles for the BPD in a not-to-exceed amount of $194,630, agenda documents show.
This decision comes after the city of Bellaire Fleet Vehicle Team identified two marked patrol vehicles at the department that were reaching the end of their lifespans and needed to be replaced during FY 2026-27.
These findings led the BPD to obtain the roughly $194.6K quote from Fleet Group Silsbee for the purchase of two 2027 Ford Police Interceptor Utility vehicles and all associated police-specific accessories and warranties, per the agenda.
Funds for the replacements will be sourced from the city’s Vehicle, Equipment and Technology Fund within the FY 2026-27 adopted budget. The BPD ultimately plans for patrol vehicle changeovers to occur on a regular schedule to ensure the reliability of its assets and manage predictability when it comes to budgeting.
Documents from the meeting clarified that although City Council approved the quoted price provided by Silsbee, the BPD will continue soliciting additional quotes to ensure the most cost-effective option is pursued.
Those in favor
Mayor Pro Tem Winfred C. Frazier was among the council members who voiced their support of the city’s investments in the BPD during discussion of community interest items.
“The fact that we made an opportunity to fund the tasers… What that is, is supporting the needs of our first responders, our police and fire departments,” Frazier said. “We are working to make sure they’re funded.”
