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Pinal County approves replacement armored vehicle for sheriff; public raises concerns over militarization
Summary
After public comment questioning militarization and cost, the Board approved procurement and grant applications to replace an aging armored vehicle used by the sheriff’s office for high-risk warrants and to station vehicles in different parts of the county.
The Board of Supervisors on March 19 approved a set of purchases and grant-submission actions tied to the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, including acquisition of a newer armored vehicle to replace an older unit, after public comment about the militarization of policing.
Multiple members of the public spoke against adding armored vehicles to the sheriff’s fleet, calling the equipment unnecessary and expensive and asking whether the county could borrow vehicles from neighboring jurisdictions in emergencies. “I do not see the use, the maintenance, the case of this vehicle as a good idea,” resident Tom Bean said during public comment.
Sheriff Ross Teeple defended the request and described operational reasons the department seeks a more reliable vehicle and to station vehicles in both eastern and western parts of the county. “It protects my staff,” Sheriff Teeple said. He said existing units are aging, costly to maintain, and that modern vehicles are built on commercial chassis to reduce proprietary costs and downtime.
The sheriff said the vehicle is used primarily to protect officers and civilians during high‑risk search warrants and to provide a safe barrier for bystanders and media who may be recording scenes. He noted that an MRAP-style vehicle based in Casa Grande has had frequent maintenance issues when deployed widely and said response time and wear-and-tear argued for a second, newer vehicle positioned in the western portion of the county.
Board members approved the listed consent items individually (items BB, BC and BD in the packet) after questions from the public and brief discussion with the sheriff. The motions passed by voice vote.
Ending: Supervisors said they expect the sheriff’s office to follow established policies for tactical deployments and to report on vehicle maintenance and usage when appropriate.
