Training Bulletin 15- Public Safety Equipment Use

Effective July 1, 2014, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department began a program with our Contract Cities where they were be able to lease County owned Mobile Digital Computers (MDC’s) and/or vehicles with MDC’s, for use by their city employee’s. In July 2019, the lease of Department vehicles to cities ended.  The lease of MDC’s is still available.

What prompted the Change?

The Sheriff’s Department phased out and upgraded Mobile Digital Terminals (MDT’s) to the new MDC technology and security.  During this upgrade program, it was brought to our attention some of our Contract Cities had city-owned vehicles with county MDT’s. The cities used the MDT’s in city vehicles for jobs such as Parking Control Officers and Public Safety Officers for dispatching and obtaining vehicle information. Because of the new technology, the MDT’s in use by the contract cities were no longer functional after July 1, 2014.

Due to the Contract Cities’ continued need for such services, it was decided to create a new program whereby the cities could gain access to the new MDC’s with different options available.

How do we get started?

To begin the program, the Contract City Service Area Manager should contact his Contract Law Enforcement Bureau representative.  We will give you the options available to the city and confirm exactly what the city would like to lease.

Contract Law can advise you of the procedure for getting a security clearance for a contract city employee who has a need to use MDC’s.  The process requires background paperwork, an interview, and fingerprinting. This will be scheduled by station Service Area Managers.

In addition to getting the security clearance, new City Public Safety employees will need to be scheduled for MDC training with the MDC Training Unit ( cfmbmdcstrngstaff@lasd.org ).  Once the city employee has an approved security clearance, the Service Area Manager or station training staff will schedule the city employee for the needed training.

What MDC options are available?

There are currently two options available to our Contract Cities:

Option 1 – This option includes a vehicle-mounted MDC.  The City is responsible for the installation of the MDC along with all fuel and maintenance of their city owned vehicle.  The city is responsible for locating a vendor capable of the mounting of our MDC per LASD technical specifications.

Option 2 – This option includes a portable MDC only. There are two sizes available (CF 19/CF 31) and the city would be responsible for both the safety and security of the MDC.

(The option to lease a Department-owned vehicle with an installed MDC ended June 30, 2019.)

Cities pay for the initial procurement of an MDC and the annual cost of maintenance and software in the first year.  In subsequent years the city will pay for the annual maintenance and software costs.  This annual cost may increase or decrease depending on actual costs to the department. 

The cost of an MDC procurement includes a 5 year warranty.  Cities may retain their MDC’s beyond this 5 year period.  Replacement and new procurement charges will not be necessary unless the city-held MDC is no longer upgradable (to new/needed technology) or it is no longer serviceable due to damage or end-of-service-life.

MDC equipment leased is reflected on page 3 of the Contract City Law Enforcement, Service Level Authorization Form (SH-AD 575).

What payment options are available?

The most typical payment option will be 12 equal monthly payments based on the total cost of the option the City has selected at the beginning of the fiscal year.  The billing will be included in their regular monthly billing for policing services. The City will also have the option of a lump sum payment for the total whenever the lease program is not initiated at the beginning of the fiscal year.