Posted on 12/13/2013 4:49:17 PM PST by granite
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.
(Excerpt) Read more at banning-beaumont.patch.com ...
Damage could have been a lot worse from an 18 ton vehicle.
“Did you notice that this “free” vehicle costs $100,000 to repurpose for police use. It’s funny that the police who like to claim they’re getting something free don’t mention that.”
It’s money they got through “asset forfeiture” so it’s “free,” too.
By coincidence, my wife and I were driving westbound on I10 today from Palm Desert to Redlands. We passed about 10 of these MRAPs in a convoy which exited the freeway one mile from the Morongo Indian Reservation. They were heading down a two lane road which had no service facilities. Wondered just where they were going.
As usual, whenever we see convoys of either US military vehicles or California National Guard vehicles, although the freeway speed limit is 70 mph, these convoys all drive at 65 mph or less. Guess these Beaumont cops had no idea they were driving above the vehicle’s speed limitations.
He was going the speed limit, 75 MPH. Are these things spec’ed for 75 MPH on a standard Interstate? They look like they probably shouldn’t be doing that speed, but I am not an expert on the subject.
Because IEDs are so frequent and wide-spread in Banning?
Seriously, the city council or manager should have the police chief’s head on a pike for this.
The article says the rated max speed is 65.
ROFL Love that!
Did they do away with the concept of a “governor?” I’m flabbergasted this bullet-head thought it was a good idea to drive it 75 MPH. I saw your post up above about the rating of the tires. I’m sure there’s no way they were built to go that fast, and they were the cause of the collision when they spontaneously blew.
Probably why the city decided to just pay up. Besides, $42K is a drop in the bucket in terms of what that beast is going to cost the city.
The dummies that were driving these vehicles did not take into account that the tires on these vehicles have been sitting in depots in the sun and maybe they came out of the Mideast after sitting there also. Have they ever heard of “dry rot”? They’re lucky that the tires lasted that far!
Cops with new toys! Dangerous to the nth degree. 75 mph -—Sheesh!
I'll bet the Banning Police Department's cops involved had a version of this conversation:
Cop #1: Dude, we just got this cool ex-Army MRAP truck. Let's take it for a ride.
Cop #2: Cool. I know a great spot to try it out.
Cop #1: Wow, we're hitting 75 with this MRAP and the specs say top end is 65 [while hauling down the I-10 on “official business”].
Cop #2: Dang, I've lost it. Where did that pickup come from?
“but an acting police commander and the city’s spokesman said Thursday they could not comment because there’s a personnel investigation under way. “
As usual. When cops need to hide their mistakes, they just say it is a personnel matter. All of a sudden, they don’t have to explain their actions to the public.
This is a waste of money. Even if the machine was free, upkeep and using it isn’t free. They will either sit and rust, or be used at every opportunity in order to justify the toy. Like say a rampaging tea cup poodle.
This is all about getting a toy to play with on tax payer money. NY, LA, DC, the big cities might have a legitimate use for the thing. But Podink towns don’t expect to ever need it. They want the fun though.
“Guess these Beaumont cops had no idea they were driving above the vehicle’s speed limitations.”
On Christmas day, how many children fail to read the instructions on their new toy? And yes, I’m referring to the popo as children, and the MRAP as their toy. That is what it is, a toy.
But but, they’re FREE!
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