REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
May 19, 2026
FROM
SHANNON D. DICUS, Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator
SUBJECT
Title
Purchase of Patrol Rifles
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Authorize the Purchasing Agent to issue a Purchase Order to Bah-Bam, Inc., doing business as Gun Locker, in the amount of $296,412, for the purchase of 470 law enforcement M4E1 rifles manufactured by Aero Precision.
(Presenter: Carolina Mendoza, Chief Deputy Director, 387-0640)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The purchase of the 470 law enforcement M4E1 rifles manufactured by Aero Precision, LLC (Aero Precision), from Bah-Bam, Inc., doing business as Gun Locker (Gun Locker), for a total of $296,412 will be funded by Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator’s (Department) existing budget allocation (4430002387).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Department previously issued the Ruger Mini-14 Ranch rifle (Mini-14) as its primary patrol rifle; however, these rifles have reached end of service life. After tests and evaluations on various weapon platforms conducted by the Department’s Training Division, the Department is issuing the M4E1 rifle as the standard patrol rifle. The adoption of the M4E1 rifle demonstrates the Department’s commitment to modernizing equipment and ensuring safer communities.
PROCUREMENT
The Department’s Training Division conducted the evaluations and firing tests of rifles from various manufacturers as prospective replacements for the Mini-14 including: Ruger, Smith & Wesson, FN firearms, Patriot Ordnance Factory, and the M4E1 carbine by Aero Precision. Based on the evaluations and tests that were conducted using the National Institute of Justice’s testing protocols, it was determined that the M4E1 rifle provided the best option for the Department.
The Department is requesting a non-competitive procurement with Gun Locker, as the exclusive distributor of Aero Precision’s M4E1 rifles, to establish a new, standardized piece of equipment for its sworn personnel.
The Purchasing Department supports the non-competitive procurement of the M4E1 rifles, as they meet functional specifications after testing multiple manufacturers’ products.
County Policy 11-04, Procurement of Goods, Supplies, Equipment, and Services requires the Department to seek Board of Supervisors’ approval for non-competitive purchases in excess of $200,000.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Grace B. Parsons, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on April 28, 2026; Purchasing (Jason Cloninger, Lead Buyer, 387-0321) on April 28, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Erika Rodarte, Administrative Analyst, 387-4919) on April 30, 2026.