[SwinneySwitch]

Gabe Hernandez | gabrielh@themonitor.com
The B.E.A.R. vehicle will be used by law
enforcment to respond to dangerous situations
where high powered weapons are involved
Thursday afternoon in Edinburg.

[phrogphlyer]

Looks a lot like an MRAP.

Why the hell do the police need full-on military equipment like we drive in Afghanistan or Iraq?

[microgood]

“The people of Hidalgo County did not have to lay down one cent for this,” Treviño said.

Oh really? So noone in Hidalgo County pays Federal Income Taxes.

This sheriff is not an honest person.

[Zeppo]

and can carry at least three six-member SWAT teams inside — or rescue 35 schoolchildren...

Guess that the teacher of that class is out of luck, huh... :-)

The guy who came up with that statement probably took a class in creative grantsmanship writing. Law enforcement wants its toys, and will say anything in order to get what it wants...

[DuncanWaring]

The city of Glendale, AZ got one of these a few years ago.

What the heck for?

I don’t know.

So they can safely drive right up to the front door of an under-attack school and demand via the loudspeaker that the miscreant surrender, instead of having to huddle behind cars out in the parking lot.

[DuncanWaring]

“The people of Hidalgo County did not have to lay down one cent for this,” Treviño said.

Except for what they paid in Federal taxes.

And what their children and their grand-children's great-grandchildren will pay in taxes to fund the interest payments on the debt that was run up to pay for this.

[Neidermeyer]

$346K , I could have bought a used armored car for $20K and basically had the same thing after putting in some windows.

[La Lydia]

Of course taxpayers paid for this. But if I were a sheriff’s department and I had heavily armed narcotraficantes coming across the border into my county, I would want one of these, too. They would have been foolish to turn it down. In fact, I can’t think of a safer way to drive on the Beltway, but DHS isn’t offering to buy me one. Dang.

[jiminycricket000]

Great, now they can break down somebody’s front door with a tank. Why don’t they just make the police force an arm of the National Guard, give them whatever military weaponry and armored vehicles they desire and get it over with. It’s becoming that way anyway.

[TChris]

The vehicle is designed to withstand armor-piercing rounds, grenades — even roadside bombs like those seen by troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Yes, because all those things are American law enforcement problems which desperately need a solution.

Why, just yesterday our local PD had to replace a patrol car taken out with an IED. And don't get me started on the number of hand grenades we get every day!

If so many police officials long to be part of a military unit, then THEY SHOULD JOIN THE MILITARY!

[P8riot]

Theo: [sees LAPD SWAT armored vehicle approaching] Wait a minute, wait a minute. What have we here, gentlemen? The police have themselves an RV. Southeast corner.

Theo: [laughing as a LAPD SWAT armored vehicle is hit with a missile] Oh my God, the quarterback is TOAST!

Die Hard (1988)

[thackney]

Hildago ping

You think TheMom would move back to the Valley if she got to drive one of these?

[Redcloak]

With those big, vertical surfaces, I have my doubts about its ability to survive against AP rounds. The sheriff may have just bought himself a very large pig in a poke.

[wbarmy]

As much as I agree with the fact that people in that county did pay for it, I also know how vicious the local druglords are. Until someone grows a pair and understands that we need the military to defend our country on the border, the local police need something to fight with.

[eldoradude]

“The people of Hidalgo County did not have to lay down one cent for this,” Treviño said.

So where does he think the money came from? Nobody in Hidalgo county pays federal income tax? The federal tax fairy waved its wand and $1.6 million appeared?

[Rodamala]

EM-50, Urban Assault Vehicle PING!

[SwinneySwitch]

Ping!

If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.

[calex59]

Just what people need, more militaristic police weapons. There is not a police force in the country that needs that type of crap and certainly it is unconstitutional for them to arm themselves as an army. We have a constitution that prevents the military from being used as police,I think it was meant to work both ways.

[Eaker]

The B.E.A.R. vehicle will be used by law enforcment to respond to dangerous situations where high powered weapons are involved Thursday afternoon in Edinburg.

This Thursday or next Thursday, and one day only?

[Godzilla]

[fanfan]

Nice.