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Police present potential Bearcat replacement; council to review purchase in 2026 budget
Summary
Moses Lake Police Chief presented history and regional use of armored vehicles and asked council to consider a newer Bearcat under the 2026 budget. The item was informational; council directed staff to include the request in upcoming budget workshops and to provide detailed funding options.
The Moses Lake Police Department presented background and rationale for acquiring a replacement Bearcat armored vehicle and asked the council to consider the purchase during the 2026 budget process.
Police Chief Sands reviewed the department's tactical-team history, noting the tactical team began in 1999 and evolved from relying on neighboring counties to assembling a regional tactical response team that currently includes Moses Lake, Grant County and Adams County. The chief described prior armored vehicles the region has used, the department's 2020 purchase of a used Lenco Bearcat, and the advantages of a newer civilian Bearcat built on an F-550 chassis with a modern 6.7 diesel engine.
Chief Sands said the tactical team has been activated for 37 critical incidents over the prior 18 months (including drug warrants and barricaded subjects) and that patrol officers deployed the Bearcat on approximately 25 other high-risk calls. He said a newer Bearcat would be lighter than military surplus vehicles, designed for transporting personnel and include features such as four doors and a 360-degree camera system; the vehicle would be capable of carrying non-lethal crowd‑control agents but would not be fitted with offensive weaponry.
On funding, staff explained the likely sources would be existing law-enforcement restricted funds: drug-seizure/civil-asset-forfeiture funds, Tactical Response Team funds and a "high crimes" account. Council members asked about the permissible uses of those funds; staff said civil-asset-forfeiture money is typically restricted to drug enforcement and drug-education purposes, while high-crimes and TRT funds can be used for law-enforcement equipment and technology (tasers, body cameras, servers) and would reduce pressure on the general fund.
No purchase decision was requested at the meeting. City staff and the police department recommended returning with detailed funding balances and options during the budget workshops next month; the council agreed to consider the request as part of the formal 2026 budget process.
