, the city will spend $210,000 to replace the windshields and side glass on 30 specialty unit vehicles, like SWAT and the Street Crimes unit.“It’s effective, obviously, but it’s also very expensive,” Michael Wanke said.
Wanke is the president of A1 Glass Coating. His team installs forced entry protection films and bullet-resistant applications to glass. He said forced entry protection film would not resist a bullet but would help slow down people looking to smash through glass. On Friday, Wanke said his team was working to install the bullet-resistant application to glass for SAPD’s St. Mary’s location.Although it is a cheaper option, Wanke said the bulletproof film cannot yet be installed on vehicles.“You’re somewhat limited on the car as to the thickness of film that you can apply to it,” Wanke said.
Gun safety advocates like Erika Salazar, a trustee with the Bexar County Gun Safety Coalition Trustee, said getting this funding is a step in the right direction but not a solution for gun safety across San Antonio. “We want our officers safe. Absolutely,” Salazar said. “But what is going to sustain in the long run instead of a quick solution?”“The thicker the film, the more time you buy from somebody getting inside,” Wanke said.Avery Everett is a news reporter and multimedia journalist at KSAT 12 News. Avery is a Philadelphia native. If she’s not at the station, she’s either on a hiking or biking trail.