Free Republic

The Banning Police Department's acquisition of a surplus Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle and their subsequent crash of the vehicle in Arizona was three months ago, but an acting police commander and the city's spokesman said Thursday they could not comment because there's a personnel investigation under way. It remained unclear this week whether city council members were consulted publicly or privately about acquisition of the 18-ton armored truck before the Sept. 16 crash on Interstate 10 in Buckeye, west of Phoenix, which has resulted in a claim of more than $42,000 against the City of Banning.