Don’t think the city and county waste money? Think again.
There’s only one like it in the entire state of South Dakota.
The Sioux Falls Police Department says a new 261 thousand dollar armored truck has already proven to be priceless for police officers and SWAT team members.Â
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for public safety and the safety of our officers (especially when they are eating for FREE at the hospitals) but I think this expense was a waste.
The ‘BearCat’ is not only bullet-proof, but also features a thermal eye that can highlight areas of heat, and help officers find suspects faster. It’s a tool that is making the line of duty a little more safe for Sioux Falls Police Officers and Minnehaha County Sheriff’s deputies.Â
I think the thermal eye is a great tool – but I wonder if they know they can buy those separately?
This is the first time law enforcement agencies in the Sioux Falls area have had a vehicle like this.
My point exactly. If we didn’t need it before, why do we need it now?
With the exception of the gun pod (which isn’t needed since Mad Max is nowhere to be found) and the thermal eye (which as you said could be purchased seperately….or just borrowed from the damn fire department), you could take a 3/4 ton ’87 Chevy Suburban and weld plate steel to the exterior….same solution for about $245,000 less money.
This thing will be used about 4 times a year – and 3 of those will be training missions. What a joke.
I remember when the County Commission voted to buy it, I just shook my head. Are there any politicians in the Sioux Falls area with common sense or at least some fiscal responsibility?
Fiscal responsibility?!?! They wanted a new toy, damn it! Besides, it will be so nice to have that when busting people for an ounce of weed. Those folks are dangerous, you know.
Maybe they’re afraid of the coming race riots in sioux falls – the ones the feds thought they’d have to send out people to prevent.
I think when they are not using it for SWAT duty they could convert it into a deli truck and have the cops sell sandwiches in the Courthouse parking lot.
. . . oh, oh, and they could use the thermal eye to make sure your pastrami melt is cooked to the right temperature.
I remember when the County Commission voted to buy it,
~l3wis
Doesn’t this money come from Homeland Security money, on a use it or lose it platform?
I don’t think so, those funds were gone a long time ago. I think the Fire Departments used them for hazmat gear. This truck has been on the Sheriff’s wish list for years and they finally snookered the commission.
Thermal eye?! In addition to borrowing one from the fire department, they could borrow or rent one from any HVAC shop or utility, since they use them to check for insulation heat loss.
Snookered is right, though it’s hard to believe commissioners would be that gullible.
It’s not too late for the commission to buy sheriff Napoleon a tank for a fraction of the cost of the armored personnel carrier – bids close tomorrow at midnight. (Don’t ya’ just hate it when bureaucrats think small?)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1944-T-34-Russian-WWII-Tank-Runs-Drives_W0QQitemZ280328844876QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMilitary_Vehicles?hash=item280328844876&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65%3A3|39%3A1|240%3A1318
And there is no bidding necessary for the commission to buy the sheriff a cobra gunship.
http://www.islandaero.com/airsales/cobra.htm
Or the commission can buy the sheriff a Swift Boat to keep the Big Sioux and Wall Lake free from the scruge of pirates. Argh!
http://www.everyboat.com/boat/1332-1969-us-navy-swift-boat
You know John, you sure are full of a lot of expenditure suggestions. I’m starting to wonder if you work for Munson.
245K new and 1K next year at public auction. It’s the perfect Janklow driving defense vehicle and the only way to get corrupt city officials safely to/from Carnegie Hall.
“245K new and 1K next year at public auction”
Funny you bring that up. One of my friends bought some chairs on the library auction and paid next to nothing for them. They were from a famous design house in the 70’s. She sold them to a European retro furniture dealer and made like $3000.
When I saw this on the news I did think to myself. WTF. I wish my nephew who is over in Iraq now had this. His vehicle ran over an IDE in January.
I ran over a pothole the other day and thought it was an IED.