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Advisory commission backs replacement of MRAP with smaller Bearcat armored rescue vehicle; item headed to City Council
Summary
Lieutenant Scott Carville recommended replacing a 2013 MRAP with a Linco/Bearcat built on a Ford chassis, citing maintenance, safety and serviceability concerns; commissioners expressed conditional support while noting community sensitivity about militarized equipment.
Lieutenant Scott Carville told the Police Advisory Commission the police department seeks authority to purchase a Linco/Bearcat armored vehicle to replace a 2013 MRAP that the department received from the military.
Carville said the MRAP has limited service support and repair documentation (the military restricts parts and manuals), requires a commercial driver's license to move, and offers cramped interior space that limits rescue and personnel capacity. He recommended a Linco Bearcat built on a Ford F-550 chassis with a factory powertrain warranty and a three-year equipment warranty, which he said would be easier and less costly for the city to service.
The department described several operational uses for the vehicle beyond tactical response: evacuating residents during floods, transporting medical personnel to hot zones, serving as an overwatch for high-risk scenes, and taking part in community outreach. Carville said the department has budgeted funds for the purchase in the current fiscal year and that the manufacturer estimates a 12-to-18-month build time if approved.
On cost, Carville told the commission the purchase price, including tax, would be "just over" a figure he stated in the meeting; the department presented that figure as its budgeted amount for the current year and noted additional orientation and training travel costs for staff. Commissioners asked that the department emphasize community outreach and limit uses that could appear as militarized displays. One commissioner noted that the vehicle is often popular at community events once people see its interior; others reiterated concerns about the appearance of militarization and asked for clear policies governing demonstrations and public use.
Commissioners indicated conditional support for the replacement and encouraged the department to report PAC comments should the council pull the item from the consent agenda for discussion. The item is scheduled to appear on the City Council agenda on Nov. 4; final approval rests with the council.
