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Jeremy Bender reports that eight different law enforcement agencies in Indiana have purchased massive Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles (MRAPs) that were formerly used in Iraq and Afghanistan. The MRAP is a bulletproof, 60,000-pound, six-wheeled behemoth with heavy armor, a gunner's turret and the word "SHERIFF" emblazoned on its flank.
Pulaski County, home to 13,124 people, is one of the counties that have purchased an MRAP from military surplus. When asked to justify the purchase of a former military vehicle, Pulaski County Sheriff Michael Gayer told the Indy Star:
"The United States of America has become a war zone. There's violence in the workplace, there's violence in schools and there's violence in the streets. You are seeing police departments going to a semi-military format because of the threats we have to counteract. If driving a military vehicle is going to protect officers, then that's what I'm going to do."
(Score: 1) by looorg on Thursday June 12 2014, @02:13AM
Considering that a normal police car cost anywhere from $20k-50k depending on how much equipment and extras it has if they can have an MRAP for $5k then more power to them. That said tho it probably wont replace standard police vehicles for normal usage. I do wonder what the top speed and gas milage of an MRAP is, I doubt it would be comparable to a normal police car.
(Score: 1) by compro01 on Thursday June 12 2014, @03:06AM
It should also be said that the cost of maintenance on this thing is going to be a hell of a lot more than on a cop car.