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> City police get military vehicle
Southsider2k12
post Apr 22 2014, 08:36 AM
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http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/laporte...511ebe043a.html

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Stan Maddux Times Correspondent

MICHIGAN CITY | Not even Hollywood action movie legend Arnold Schwarzenegger, perhaps, could dream about being at the wheel of a vehicle that practically eats bullets and bombs for breakfast.

Michigan City authorities now have one and plan to use its first fully armored vehicle only in hostage and other extreme situations where lives are seriously at stake.

The Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle worth nearly $800,000 came free of charge thanks to Uncle Sam giving away surplus military vehicles.

Michigan City Police Chief of Services Royce Williams said the MRAP his department recently obtained is even fire proof and was used to transport soldiers to their positions in high combat areas.

Some people have questioned the need for such an indestructible vehicle locally. Williams said in deadly situations like school shootings happen in smaller communities, it's best to have an MRAP.

As many as a dozen or so officers can pack themselves in the 40,000-pound MRAP and get themselves close to a barricaded home, for example, to be in a better position to subdue a gunman and give any hostages a chance to make it inside the vehicle literally just a few steps or less from a doorway.

"If this piece of tactical equipment saves just one life, it will have been worth it and that's the bottom line," Williams said.

It could also come in handy as a shield for officers in drug raids where suspected dealers are known to carry weapons or serving warrants at homes suspected to contain firearms.

"The people are not going to see this vehicle on the streets on a weekly or monthly basis. It'll be used only for very serious situations. It's just nice to have that in your arsenal," Williams said.

Another use is to reach stranded motorists and people in other emergencies who can't be reached by traditional four-wheel drive vehicles getting stuck in drifted over roads during the winter.

Chief Mark Swistek said the vehicle was moved from the police station to the central maintenance yard where it might be painted and decaled like other police vehicles in the fleet.

Williams said any work of that nature will be contingent upon donations.

"It's a valuable piece of equipment to have, and we're grateful to get it for free," Swistek said.

Williams said the vehicle is intended to save lives and is not a weapon. All military and other equipment was removed prior to it arriving.

The department acquired two Humvees two years ago from the same military surplus giveway, but those vehicles are not bullet or bomb proof.

The Humvees provide space to transport more officers to an emergency situation and to get in and out with their gear quicker than they could in a squad car or some other traditional police vehicle.

"It's all about the safety of life. That's what it comes down to," Williams said.
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Ang
post Apr 22 2014, 10:46 AM
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Question: When was the last time Michigan City had a hostage situation, or a time when lives were seriously at stake?


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taxthedeer
post Apr 22 2014, 02:49 PM
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QUOTE(Ang @ Apr 22 2014, 11:46 AM) *

Question: When was the last time Michigan City had a hostage situation, or a time when lives were seriously at stake?
I remember there was a riot on the north end of the Boulevard in 1990, it was right after I started working here. It all had something to with a young man getting run over outside "The Game Room" that used to be there.
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Oscar Gurtgorter
post Apr 23 2014, 08:48 AM
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QUOTE(Ang @ Apr 22 2014, 11:46 AM) *

Question: When was the last time Michigan City had a hostage situation, or a time when lives were seriously at stake?


C'mon, Ang. Following that line, maybe we all should disconnect our home security alarms, dispose of our guns and pitch our smoke alarms and fire extinguishers. After all, at home, I have never had a break-in, had to repel home invaders or suffered a house fire. Vigilance and preparedness. We have these tools to keep a safety margin between us and the unwelcome outcomes.
Police are doing the same thing. An old fire chief once told me years ago, "Kid, your first job is to get there."
Simply put, you can't help anyone if you don't arrive safely. ( I drove a little fast past the firehouse.)
Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to have interceded in countless situations whereupon lives were certainly "seriously at stake". Barricaded suicide attempts, domestic violence with weapons, home invaders with weapons, etc. Most of these never make a splash in the news because the officer(s) involved resolved the problem without bloodshed. It gets glossed over in the paper as "Joe Blow arrested for domestic violence and an outstanding warrant for blah, blah, blah." "John Doe arrested for burglary." "A person was arrested for discharge of a weapon and held for Psych. evaluation." They all seem like mundane calls for service. You can safely bet that these responding officers, victims and perpetrators all thought that at some point "lives were seriously at stake".
Getting there... There have have been stand-offs with persons of unequal reasoning due to mental problems, situational stress and criminal abductions with sexual consequences. Some have been fatal. Officers injured and public safety in jeopardy. Waiting it out and negotiations are usually applied. When exigent circumstances arise, i. e. lives at stake, an ingress to the heart of the matter is key.
I hope that damned, ugly machine is never put to use here in our town. Remember, it was incepted and born out of horrific casualties suffered by our soldiers and marines at the hands of cowardly men who hide behind women and in sacred religious buildings. A machine of war it is. No debate. There are several renditions of these machines called MRAPS. All designed to safely deliver bodies into perdition, repel the onslaught and yes, kill.
MCPD has a machine, devoid of military armaments that is capable of responding to the unthinkable save for the brave and well trained occupants who no doubt are thinking about resolving the situation at hand and returning home safely. The fire chief was right, ya gotta get there first..
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Ang
post Apr 24 2014, 06:53 AM
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I realize there are dire situations all the time, but my point was that it seems this type of vehicle would be better suited to large community with lots of violent crime, such as Chicago or Detroit.
It seems excessive to me that our little town would have a "machine of war."
Just my opinion.


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Oscar Gurtgorter
post Aug 20 2014, 10:10 AM
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Feel good story of the day! No injuries to hostages or suspects.

MRAP used to safely deploy officers into the Harvey, Illinois home. Harvey population - 25,300.


http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/08/20/har...cts-in-custody/


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diggler
post Aug 21 2014, 06:31 AM
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QUOTE
The Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle worth nearly $800,000 came free of charge thanks to Uncle Sam giving away surplus military vehicles.

Isn't it nice and wonderful to get a FREEBIE ??

http://nyti.ms/1pNpApG

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