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July 31, 2012 By News Staff
Some are disappointed and others are relieved that Berkeley, Calif., will not equip its police force with a large military-style, armor-plated vehicle. The city announced in late July the cancellation of a joint request with the city of Albany for a $170,000 Armored Emergency Rescue Vehicle from a federally affiliated nonprofit group, reported SFGate.com.
"When we found out about this grant application we sort of went ballistic," Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates reportedly said. "I mean, why do we need this here in Berkeley? And why would we want to militarize our police force? It was a bad idea from the beginning."
Several other cities have been more accommodating when offered old equipment. Concord, Calif., fixed up an old armored vehicle last used in Kuwait and renamed it 'The Mamba.' Government Technology reported earlier this year on Fort Lauderdale, Fla.'s 'Peacemaker' vehicle, a retrofitted Brink's armored truck now being used to conduct video surveillance in high-crime areas.
The police chiefs of Berkeley; Albany, Calif.; and the University of California at Berkeley jointly applied for the grant earlier this year. But when city council members and university officials learned of the application, protestation began at the famously left-leaning university. A UC-Berkeley spokesperson called such a vehicle not appropriate in a university setting.
It’s “unfortunate” the armored car will not be coming to his department, UC-Berkeley police Lt. Eric Tejadasaid reportedly said, but he added that the police should follow the wishes of the community.
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http://www.govtech.com/public-safety/Berkeley-Cancels-Armored-Vehicle-Request.html
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"Why do we need this here in Berkeley", because when the police need it to rescue citizens or officers during an active shooter or other dynamic situation, it won't be there. In reading this story and the SFGate story, I did not see that the armored vehicle was going to cost the 3 Government organizations anything. It stated the vaslue of the vehicle was $170,000. The short sighted politicians quoted in this story are the same ones who will fault the Police, when one of these dire situations happens and there is no armored vehicle readily available, locally. Sure other nearby departments have them, but what will it take to get them, and how long will it take, while lives are in danger or in the line of fire. Mayor Bates, get with the program! The armored vehicle will not "miltarize" your Police departments,but will protect your Police Officers and Citizens, when they need it unexpectantly. The Unfortunate Lt. from UC Berkeley, "the Police should follow the wishes of the community", is obviously drinking the koolaid. If the Berkeley community wants to not support the Police chiefs, then the next time a riot or active shooter situation happens, and people are lying in the line of fire waiting to be rescued, let the mayor and other sheep leaders, lead the charge to rescue the citizens or the Police. See how that works out for the community wishes.