Cobb police add tank to arsenal

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | Oct 10, 2008 | DERRICK MAHONE

[microgood]

Don’t be surprised to see an Army tank rolling down a street near you.

The Cobb County police department has refurbished a donated Armored Personnel Carrier for officers to use in SWAT situations.

Enlarge this image

BOB ANDRES / bandres@ajc.com

Cobb police have a new tank. The vehicle is being driven by Detective Steve Brawner as Sgt. Lester Maddox directs him into position. Cobb County police unveil its new crime-fighting machine, The L.A.V. 300 (Light Armored Vehicle) at Marietta Square on Saturday.

• Photos

The vehicle, which retails for $500,000, is a Light Armor Vehicle that was used by the U.S. Army in Panama. The county paid $45,000 to upgrade the vehicle for police use.

Equipped with thermal sensors, computerized tracking devices, night vision, tear gas launchers and other gadgets, the all-black six-wheel unit can hold up to nine SWAT officers.

It has a new engine and transmission, which will allow it to reach a speed of 60 miles per hour.

“In these times, you don’t know what you are facing,” Cobb police chief George Hatfield said. “We want the maximum safety for our officers and the public. We want to be prepared for whatever comes up. This is another tool that will allow us to be quicker and faster in our response.”

Since 2000, SWAT has used a Peacekeeper vehicle on calls. The APC will allow SWAT officers to get closer to dangerous situations and transport citizens out of them. If officers are tracking a suspect, they can do so from within the vehicle. So far this year, Cobb’s SWAT team has responded to about 50 calls.

Walker County is the only other police department in Georgia with a similar vehicle. Gwinnett County and the state patrol use the LENCO vehicle, which resembles an armored truck. Clayton County has a Peacekeeper vehicle.

“You always hope that you don’t have to use it, but this is becoming a fact of life,” SWAT commander Lt. Joel Preston said. “You have to be prepared and make the situation safer.”

Once SWAT members complete training on the APC, the Peacekeeper will be refurbished for future use.

“These two units will eventually work in tandem,” said Det. Steve Brawner, who has overseen the project.

Beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, the APC will be on display at Marietta’s town square.

[wastedyears]

Gotta find some way to hide, I don’t have any training in concealment.

How many infantry would wear Adidas GSG9-2 boots?

[wastedyears]

Despite being a northeastern boy, I believe I have the soul and spirit of a midwestern or southern boy.

But hey, put an AR-15 in my hands with a mag clamp, put me on Hogan’s Alley and I’ll knock down some targets. At least I like to think I can.

[archy]

Are you some sort of pseudo for John Ross?

Lordy, no, though he's a neighbor and sometime correspondent of mine. For one thing, in 1998, he ran for Congress, which I would never do. John is older and wealthier, probably smarter and better-looking, and he prefers the Solothurn 20mm to the Lahti.

He suffered a stroke a while back, which curtailed his aviation-related activities quite a bit, but he still gets out. And he still writes, which you can read at his Ross in Range compilation *here*.

His most recent editorial effort can be read *here.

And John Ross has a cuter girlfriend. I don't think my mean little redhead galpal would mind my saying that, nor would she likely disagree.

[jusduat]

Between Doraville and Marietta, Smyrna doesn’t stand a
chance!

[patton]

The writing sounded familiar, and he used a 20mm to take down a chopper in his book.

[An Old Man]

You need to get on over to the US Army library of technical things and look through the shelves. They have just about anything a young solider could ever want to read.

Start here for everything you will ever want to know about hiding. FM 20-3

[archy]

Gotta find some way to hide, I don’t have any training in concealment. How many infantry would wear Adidas GSG9-2 boots?

Well, a lot of the ones in Germany do. But Meindl Desert Fox Boots seem to be the hot setup in footwear now.

As for meself, I can make do with my old springersteifel

[archy]

Between Doraville and Marietta, Smyrna doesn’t stand a chance!

Yeah, but I'm betting on Powder Springs and Brunswick to hold out real good....

[wastedyears]

Awesome, thank you

Bookmarked

[archy]

Despite being a northeastern boy, I believe I have the soul and spirit of a midwestern or southern boy.

That's cool. I may be older and a bit battered on a few spots, but I have the heart of a young man.

I keep it on the same shelf in my refrigerator as the picklejar.

But hey, put an AR-15 in my hands with a mag clamp, put me on Hogan’s Alley and I’ll knock down some targets. At least I like to think I can.

But the point of the article to which we are responding is potential criminal misuse of light armored vehicles agasinst American citizens. Are you as familiar with the LAW or AT-4 antitank rocket launchers, or the Carl Gustav M2 recoilless that the Canadians [and our Ranger battalions] still field?

More importantly, do you know the aiming points for light armored vehicles, both those of former *threat nations* and of *friendly* vehicles that could be in turncoat or other hostile hands.

I am NOT trying to mock or denigrate you or your individual initiative. But there's a heck of a lot of difference between a guy clearing a Hogan's Alley course, and an antiarmor hunter-killer team preventing anything from even trying to move down a similar alley.

And then there's mines....

[archy]

The writing sounded familiar, and he used a 20mm to take down a chopper in his book.

John has had a 20mm Solothurn S-18/1000 since his high school days, and not surprisingly chose it as the weapon of choice for his Unintended Consequences protagonist.

The German mount for the Solothurn is additionally equipped with wheels, perhaps handier for the quick getaways of John's novel than the ski-mount skid feet of the Lahti. Unless it's snowing real hard.

[wastedyears]

The rockets only through squad-based tactical shooters. I know the TOW is wire-guided to its target, I think the AT-4 is the same way. Not sure about the LAW, though.

[wastedyears]

Also, people shouldn’t knock at least squad-based tactical shooters, as it gives the player something of an idea of what it’s like to work in a small squad. Firing angles, covering six o’clock, getting the enemy in a kill zone, also concealment and sniper technique, which is also known as ‘camping’ in the shooter world.

[BCR #226]

That’s a nice Commando. Unfortunately for them, there is quite a bit of firepower in the US that can open that thing up like a tin can. I hope they don’t think their truly safe in that thing... though I’ve always had a thing for the V150’s.

Mike

[archy]

The rockets only through squad-based tactical shooters. I know the TOW is wire-guided to its target, I think the AT-4 is the same way. Not sure about the LAW, though.

You've pretty much got it. Tow is indeed wire guided, with lasar augmentation on some models, and the AT-4 is essentially a one-shot version of the 84mm Carl Gustav/ Charlie Gee. [84mm-AT-4: get it?]

The 66mm M72/M72A2/M72A3 LAW is pretty well obsolete in US service, but is still in use by the Brits, and the Russian RPG 18 Mukha [housefly!] is so similar as to be reasonably described as a copy.

Additional useful info *here*.

[aposiopetic]

Sgt. Lester Maddox directs him into position

Caused me to do a double-take.

[Jack Hammer]

Clearly, they’ll also need infantry and artillery support and probably cruise missiles, too; as well as a few fighter-bombers for close air support, if they want to handle those really tough traffic violations and domestic noise disturbances.

Note to policemen and SWAT team members: if you wanna play soldier, join the military and ship out to Iraq and Afghanistan - our finest young men and women could use the help. Or does the prospect of facing REAL, HARD CORE enemies cause you to stain your shorts?

[Eaker]

Looking at this thread you have remembered much of what I taught you!

;<)

[maine-iac7]

The Founders - “and for the government to not have standing, full time forces that could be used to oppress the people.”

exactly. We have the military to defend us from foreign enemies, the coast guard to protect our shores and the individual states their National Guards with the individual governors as their commanders.

WE the PEOPLE are to compose the “home militia”

This man and his puppeteers must be stopped.

[patton]

Actually, I wass laughing at the skid feet, too. If you take your firing position on a akio, you have a propulsion system.