Posted on 12/02/2013 12:15:00 PM PST by Rebelbase
CURRITUCK, N.C.
The Currituck County Sheriff’s Office now owns an 18-ton military armored truck able to take on high-powered rifle fire or roll through Outer Banks floodwaters.
The $412,000, mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle known as an MRAP comes free as surplus from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.
Currituck is one of five North Carolina and two Virginia law enforcement agencies to receive one of the armored trucks this year. The federal government has given out 165 nationally since August, said Michelle McCaskill, a spokeswoman for the Defense Logistics Agency.
“Some people might ask, ‘Why do we need something like this?’ ” said Capt. Sandy Casey of the Sheriff’s Office. “We don’t know what could be next. They say domestic terrorism is what local law enforcement will be dealing with.”
Casey cited mall shootings and the Sandy Hook, Conn., and Columbine, Colo., school shootings as examples of fatal calamities in smaller communities.
Currituck County has a population of about 25,000 and a low crime rate. The last five slayings stemmed from domestic disputes, with the most recent occurring more than two years ago.
But hunting with high-powered rifles is a popular pastime here. Deputies have responded to 120 domestic disputes this year, and in many cases those involved were armed and using drugs or alcohol.
Twelve bomb threats were reported in the past five years, though none were founded, according to Sheriff’s Office records.
The armored truck and eight military-surplus Humvees the county acquired earlier – also at no cost – would help with rescues during flooding on the unpaved roads of the northern Outer Banks.
The Department of Defense procured more than 27,000 mine-resistant armored vehicles for duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to a report in National Defense, a trade magazine. About 2,000 remained in the United States for training.
Currituck’s six-wheel-drive diesel truck carries as many as 10 people at speeds up to 67 mph, getting 5 to 10 miles per gallon. The county also received specialized tools and parts to reduce maintenance costs. Additional parts remain available through the surplus program, Casey said.
The new acquisition is not the perfect answer to every public-safety need, Casey acknowledged. The top-heavy truck tended to roll over in rough terrain in Afghanistan; Carova Beach roads abound in deep potholes. At least five of Currituck County’s 16 bridges are unable to handle heavy loads, according to a North Carolina Department of Transportation chart. The county would use lighter Humvees to get over older bridges, Casey said.
A study by the American Civil Liberties Union shows police agencies are stocking up on military arms and equipment, said Kara Dansky, senior counsel for the organization. The study’s not finished, but the group is concerned.
“We noted a trend in increasingly militaristic and aggressive tactics by local law enforcement,” Dansky said. “We’re seeing very little oversight.”
The armored truck will be used only for protecting residents, Casey said. The county began aggressively pursuing military equipment from the Department of Defense surplus program after facing a barricaded shooter, Casey said.
In June 2012, a Wedgewood Lakes man armed with a high-powered rifle locked himself in a shed. He threatened to kill anyone who approached and fired a shot through the shed’s metal door that struck an unoccupied mobile home. The shot missed deputies by about 15 feet, according to an incident report.
A Sheriff’s Office negotiator talked the man out of the shed after about three hours. Deputies found more weapons, ammunition and bulletproof vests inside.
“We would have used this vehicle in that case,” Casey said.
Think you might find a lot of firearms owners in and around Currituck, NC? "Domestic Terrorists", my arse.
Why haven't the Feds sent one of these to Brookline or Cambridge MA PDs? Because they know from experience that those weasels will gladly put up their hands and exit their houses when the JBTs say so.
You illustrate the big problem here: it’s the cops that are getting them.
MRAPs are decent enough heavy rescue vehicles. And military surplus ending up in the hands of local any state governments has good precedent going back to at least post-WWII.
The thing is they should be getting bright red or yellow paint jobs and going to Fire/Rescue. Which will make the best use of them.
“Currituck County has a population of about 25,000 and a low crime rate. The last five slayings stemmed from domestic disputes, with the most recent occurring more than two years ago”
Crime or violence is not what calls for this acquisition. The mine-resistant truck and the 8 Humvees he already has will make great 4th of July parade floats.
Probably a lot more than that. They're "run flat" tires.
“We would have used this vehicle in that case,” Casey said.<<<<
So they justify this by sighting a successful operation that did not require it.
Truly only government could state something as stupid as this.
I saw one of these on the road in central MN last week (Stearns County Sheriff Department). It is a very menacing looking vehicle!
I seem to remember that the Feds were giving this military equipment out to local law enforcement agencies with the caveat that, if a time of “national emergency” occurred, the Feds were able to commandeer the local agencies with the equipment to be under their command. Is this right, or was I imagining this?
They will be rusting hulks in a few years.
Makes sense.
After WWII and Korea, most military surplus given to local governments was under the various Civil Defense programs. Those CD organizations don’t exist any more, at least as distinct entities. But the principle was that the equipment would be maintained and ready for use in the event of a large scale calamity (nuclear war).
I think a gallon of ammonia poured near the air inlet to the cab puts those trucks and occupants out of action.....
The transition from Peace Officers to highly armed Militarized Street Capos is now nearly complete nationwide. Its best not to have any contact at all with these uniformed thugs.
They’ll be ambushing fishermen driving on the beach during the Loggerhead Turtle nesting season ban. Not much else they could use the things for in Southern Shores, Duck, Corolla and Carova. Maybe a few drunk sailors or college students doing the old beach drive down from Norfolk? Blam! That’ll teach’em.
Might be reasonable during hurricanes to move people out.
I remember when one woman refused to leave and then, after her house washed away around her desperately called for help.
The responders had no duty to aid this woman since she refused evacuation, but the best of best did rescue her risking their lives.
Yeah, I can see this machine being useful.
I can’t figure out if they have to hire mechanic specialists for these beasts. I can’t imagine Gomer and Goober working on them.
One gallon of gasoline, one match or other starter...
Dig big hole on route to planned Tea Party rally whatever gathering the regime wants to suppress; Add vinyl bags of gasoline or other flammable, cover with lightweight wood/canvas, disguise with dirt and leaves. Burns vehicle, cooks contents.
Attention Drug Warriors...the federalized cops are almost done sharpening their claws on the potheads. You’re turn is coming.
What good are they without cannons and missiles? Cops need firepower to kill people, lots and lots of firepower to kill lots and lots of people, and dogs. We mustn’t forget the need to kill dogs, especially those mean dogs, in back yards, and on chains. Now cops can run over them, no matter where they are at.
I despise militarized cops playing soldiers against the civilian enemies that pay their salaries. They are too ignorant to see the difference between doing what needs to be done for law enforcement, and what is done for tyranny.
Mordor's new enemy: the American Irregular Scoped Deer Rifle Army.
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