To: Board of Supervisors
From: David O. Livingston, Sheriff-Coroner
Report Title: Trakka USA LLC
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Sheriff-Coroner, or designee, to execute a contract with Trakka USA LLC, in an amount not to exceed $162,478 for a multi-mission searchlight and moving map software for the Office of the Sheriff helicopter, STARR1, used by the Sheriff’s Air Support Unit, for the period December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2027.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of this request will result in up to $162,478 in contractual service expenditures over a 2-year period. $111,006 will be funded by the Homeland Security Grant Program FY2024 and $51,472 will be funded by the General Fund.
BACKGROUND:
Trakka USA LLC delivers advanced, mission-critical equipment for law enforcement aviation operations. Their Tl-360 searchlight and TM-100 mapping software are multi-mission capable pieces of equipment. The TL-360 is a high-powered spotlight that can rotate in all directions, project bright light over long distances, and remain steady even while the helicopter is maneuvering. The TM-100 is a mapping and video management system that combines live video with maps, satellite imagery, and key points of interest, allowing the air crew to quickly identify and mark locations. When used together, these systems provide the flight crew the ability to rapidly direct the searchlight or camera to any chosen point on a map, providing precise control and greater efficiency during missions.
The Office of the Sheriff urgently needs to upgrade its helicopter with the TrakkaBeam TL-360 Searchlight and TrakkaMaps TM-100 mapping system to maintain safe and effective operations. The current mapping system has failed, leaving the air crew without moving maps, which makes it extremely difficult to track suspects, locate missing persons, or determine the position of deputies and officers on the ground. At the same time, the existing searchlight is over ten years old, experiencing connection issues, and nearing the end of its service life, often leaving the crew unable to control it when needed most. Replacing these outdated systems with modern, reliable equipment will provide critical situational awareness, improve coordination between the air crew and ground units, enhance both public and officer safety, and ultimately allow the Sheriff’s Office to deliver faster, more effective responses to the community we serve.
The General Terms and Conditions of Sale includes a limitation of liability provision.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If the Board does not approve, the Office of the Sheriff will be left without mission-critical tools that are essential for safe and effective aerial law enforcement operations. Without a functioning mapping system, the air crew cannot accurately determine or communicate the positions of deputies, suspects, or victims, severely limiting their ability to coordinate with ground units during emergencies. At the same time, the aging searchlight continues to experience failures and connection problems, creating serious risks during nighttime operations when visibility is crucial to locating suspects and ensuring officer safety. The absence of these reliable systems would compromise the Sheriff’s Office ability to respond effectively to critical incidents, reduce overall situational awareness, and ultimately hinder its capacity to protect both the community and deputies.