Posted on 02/17/2004 5:48:03 PM PST by RickofEssex
Source: United Defense Industries, Inc.
Surplus Army Vehicles Find New Life in Era of Homeland Security
United Defense Supports Calhoun County Sheriff's Receipt of Tactical Command Post Vehicle
ANNISTON, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 16, 2004--Did you ever wonder what happens to excess Army tracked vehicles? United Defense Industries, Inc. (NYSE:UDI - News) is supporting a unique solution that supports local law enforcement and Homeland Defense needs. It converts surplus military vehicles into domestic law enforcement units for special situations. The Calhoun County Sheriff's Office in Alabama will soon receive the first of two 12-ton Tactical Command Post Vehicles for its Emergency Services Unit, overhauled by United Defense. The Sheriff's Office acquired a surplus armored tracked vehicle from the Department of Defense through its Law Enforcement Support Organization's 1033 program.
In a cooperative effort between United Defense Industries, Inc. and the Sheriff's Office, United Defense, the original equipment manufacturer, agreed to perform the readiness maintenance work on the vehicle. The Tactical Command-Post Vehicle is a member of the M113 Family of Vehicles. United Defense upgrades similar vehicles at its Anniston facility in a joint partnership with the Anniston Army Depot.
The M113 family of vehicles is currently being used by law enforcers and other first responders in over 27 States and assists in natural disasters, search and rescue operations, counter-drug programs, riot/crowd control and other related Homeland Defense applications. Over the past five years vehicles have been outfitted to perform specific operations associated with SWAT, Border Patrol, U.S. Marshals, FBI and the Forestry Service with few modifications from the original design. Some law enforcement agencies that use their vehicles primarily in urban areas have equipped their vehicles with band track, a one piece high-strength polymer rubber that reduces maintenance, road noise and vibration for an improved ride quality.
The vehicle hand-off ceremony will take place Tuesday, February 17th at 10 A.M at the United Defense, Steel Products Facility at 1805 Coleman Road, Anniston. Mr. Jim Walker, Director of the Alabama Department of Homeland Security, and Mr. Don Sherrod, President of the National Law Enforcement Support Association, will speak at the event. Mr. Robert Houston, Vice President and General Manager of the Steel Products Division, will hand-off the vehicle to Sheriff Larry Amerson, who will accept the vehicle on behalf of the Sheriff's Department.
Any Federal or State law enforcement agency whose officers have arrest and apprehension authority can qualify to receive surplus DoD personal property under the 1033 Program.
About United Defense
United Defense designs, develops and produces combat vehicles, artillery, naval guns, missile launchers and precision munitions used by the U.S. Department of Defense and allies worldwide, and provides non-nuclear ship repair, modernization and conversion to the U.S. Navy and other U.S. Government agencies. To learn more about United Defense, visit http://www.uniteddefense.com.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contact: United Defense Industries, Inc. Doug Coffey, 703-312-6121 Doug.coffey@udlp.com or United Defense, Steel Products Division Cindy Garrison, 256-235-9848 Cindy.Garrison@udlp.com
They're amphibious. They might come in useful during flooding.
Hope the locals remember to keep the hull drains shut.
"Nope, no militarization of the police going on here...move right along...nothing to see..." [/sarcasm]
The circumstances where this vehicle would have an application in law enforcement is so remote, it's absurd for local government to even consider an investment. This vehicle could simply be borrowed if conditions somehow warranted its use.
~ Blue Jays ~
I wonder if they will get .50 cals and MK 19s to mount on thier not so new toys?
Of course. They're still out lookin' fer these good ol'boys:
Ain't no such thing as an innocent bystanders.
O.K. Sarcasm doesn't translate well in this medium. Was that a serious comment?
After it's sat for a couple of years, and they don't have the money for parts, or a mechanic with the training and tools to maintain it.
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