CBS SacrementoDAVIS (CBS13) — The Davis City Council has told the police department it must get rid of a military vehicle it received in the next 60 days.
The controversy over the mine-resistant, ambush protected vehicle attracted a large crowd on Tuesday that was largely against it.
The council adopted the resolution to come up with a plan to get rid of the vehicle. A petition is circulating asking the council to press the police to either get rid of or destroy the vehicle.
“I would like to say I do not suggest you take this vehicle and send it out of Davis, I demand it. I demand it!” shouted a man dressed in a “Tank The Tank” T-shirt.
The vehicle, worth nearly $700,000 didn’t cost the Davis Police Department a dime, as it was acquired through a federal government surplus program. The MRAP was developed by the military for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. After Pentagon budget cuts, the vehicle has been making its way to local law enforcement.
Davis Police Chief Landry Black made the department’s case for the acquisition, showing high-power weapons his officers have confiscated this year.
A big concern for protesters is the vehicle could be used to quash peaceful protests and demonstrations, especially in light of clashes between heavily-armored police and protesters in Ferguson, Missouri, following the shooting death of Michael Brown.
Some suggested other uses for it .
“Since you can’t give it back it should be repurposed for for you can put a water cannon on it,” one person suggested.
The chief promised specific guidelines for its use, and said like many police forces who now have the armored vehicles, it’s a necessary piece of safety equipment.
“We enjoy a certain quality of life but none the less the real world intrudes upon us from time to time,” Black said.
The military has essentially handed down equipment to law enforcement for years. That’s how the Sacramento Police Department received its two helicopters, and Vallejo Police received their own military vehicle—complete with bulletproof tires.
Round up all 600+ of them and give them to the Kurds. They can use them…
Trade it to Mexico for our Marine.
I’ll take it!
problem is… the next city or county has one or more.. so if they “want” to use one for “something” they will just go next door
“The chief promised specific guidelines for its use, and said like many police forces who now have the armored vehicles, it’s a necessary piece of safety equipment.”
See? No need to get all paranoid.
He PROMISED.
““Since you can’t give it back it should be repurposed for for you can put a water cannon on it,” one person suggested.”
Yes, let’s turn the military vehicle into a fire truck, instead of getting rid of it. GREAT IDEA!
Why don’t we just paint the truck red and white and make it look like a big Tylenol? (ALA the movie, Airplane)
Oh my goodness, will someone please slap this person upside the head and kick him in the ass for stupidity.
“The chief promised specific guidelines for its use, and said like many police forces who now have the armored vehicles, it’s a necessary piece of safety equipment.”
Ah….”necessary piece of safety equipment”….Sure it is…Whatever helps you sleep better at night, chief. Is that what the Feds told you to tell people at one of your monthly meetings with them?
Hang the treasonous son of a bitch!
Haha! Glad I am not the only one who can find a way to reference Airplane at any given moment! Thanks NC. Knock yourself a pro, slick!
Send them and there trainded combat squad to the Middle East to help there. They can use them there and the cheif of police can decide what side to send them to. There is also the Russian Ukrane problem. Both sides could use some help there. And our police could step right out and handle the problem for all.
“A petition is circulating asking the council to press the police to either get rid of or destroy the vehicle.”
I think a lot of people are reacting out of fear to what’s little more than a scary-looking truck. If your local police own one, it’s close enough for you to take it from them. If they don’t own one, you’ll be hard-pressed to get your hands on an armored vehicle if you need one.
I think it’s good that these are being distributed all around the country, because every last one of them will fall into the hands of the people when the police are taken out of the picture.
They don’t really add any new power to the police. They look intimidating, but that’s really all they do other than provide cover for them. We can use that cover too. Your local police department is a handful of idiots, grossly outnumbered by an angry population. All the MRAPs in the world aren’t going to help them, but having one in your neighborhood may save your life. Let the cops maintain it for you, and you’ll have it soon enough.
How many cops are going to go to work when their paychecks don’t buy anything, or stop coming altogether? Aha… lookie there… an abandoned MRAP. How convenient.