Folsom Police get grant for SWAT night vision goggles

The Folsom Police Department received a Homeland Security grant for modern SWAT team night vision goggles. The Police Department applied for a goggle grant in February from the State Homeland Security Grant Program. The application was specifically tailored to fund modern night vision tech for the Folsom Police SWAT team. The department received the grant award letter in July for $67,371. While the exact models are not publicly available, police and SWAT teams commonly use advanced binocular night vision and thermal imaging tech, or BNVDs. Folsom SWAT is responsible for responding to high-risk incidents, including hostage situations, barricaded people and violent offenders. "These devices will provide critical visibility advantages, improving our ability to execute high-risk operations while minimizing risks to officers and the community," Interim Police Chief Randy Ulibarri said in the Aug. 12 report. "The funding will allow us to acquire and deploy NVDs tailored to our team's needs, ensuring enhanced capabilities in search and rescue, warrant service and crisis response." A significant portion of SWAT ops happen in low-light environments, increasing risks to officers and civilians. Currently, the team relies on standard lighting tools, which can expose officers' positions and limit tactical effectiveness. The SWAT team otherwise operated with 20-year-old night vision goggles, significantly outdated by today's standards. The equipment provides low-resolution imagery and is limited to single-eye use, severely restricting depth perception, said the chief. The lack of spatial awareness makes it challenging for operators to navigate safely in low-light indoor environments, often resulting in unintended contact with objects or surroundings, staff said. Inadvertent contacts can compromise noise discipline and give away a team's position, reducing tactical effectiveness during critical operations. "The limitations of this outdated equipment pose a significant obstacle to maintaining stealth and operational safety," said Ulibarri. The new night vision devices allow for more effective suspect tracking and perimeter security, and strengthen the team's ability to respond to emergencies without compromising their position. Night vision devices are not included in California's reporting requirements because they aren't defined as "military equipment" under the Government Code. Assembly Bill 481 outlines specific categories of equipment – such as armored vehicles, drones and firearms of .50 caliber or greater – that must be reported, governed by policies and approved for use. Night vision devices, while potentially tactical in nature, do not meet the threshold of lethality, crowd control or military application under the law, according to the report. Use by PD does not fall under public transparency and reporting mandates. The deployment of night vision technology within the department is expected to be seamless, as the SWAT team is already experienced with similar gear, said Ulibarri. Training can be easily integrated into the monthly schedule, avoiding additional training costs. The technology supports the department's efforts to adapt to the evolving nature of tactical operations and aligns with California's mandated policies on de-escalation, said the chief. The $67,371 goggle purchase does not require matching funds from the city, staff said. The funds will include all the required equipment and technical support. There are no additional anticipated training costs. Costs would be funded initially through the General Fund and reimbursed by the grant. The City Council approved the grant Aug. 12.