Woodland Police Acquire MRAP Rejected By Davis City Council Amid Police Militarization Debate
WOODLAND (CBS13) — The Woodland Police Department acquired a mine-resistant armored vehicle the city of Davis rejected for its department.
The department says the vehicle will save them money, as it will replace their current armored vehicle that is almost 30 years old.
"Basically its for high risk situations where our swat team is called out. its not going to be used on patrol on a regular basis," said Sgt. Brett Hancock. "It's a way of replacing it in a cheap fashion and being fiscally responsible."
Davis residents complained when the Davis Police Department acquired the vehicle from a government surplus program in the wake of protests in Ferguson, Missouri. While the acquisition and protests weren't connected, the debate over police militarization had reached fever pitch at the time, adding to the backlash against the vehicle.
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The Davis City Council gave the department two months to get rid of the armored vehicle.
By acquiring the MRAP, Woodland Police will not need to pay the $425,000 for a replacement similar to their current armored vehicle.
Hancock says it will also save the department on maintenance costs.
However, some in Woodland, like in Davis, think a vehicle designed for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan doesn't belong on the city streets.
Hancock cautions the vehicle is used to respond to emergency situations the same way they have in the past.
"We are going to have an armored vehicle to keep our people safe and to be able to safely evacuate citizens if necessary," he said.
The vehicle could be operational by the beginning of next year.
