MRAP and the creeping militarisation of the police

[hotrodalex]

What if they can just get used MRAPs for cheaper than whichever bespoke $150k-box-on-a-Ford-chassis-cab SWAT thing they'd usually buy? It was designed for the military, oooh, scary, it's a fucking armored truck. Not a tank.

Yeah, only thing this can do is drive through a wall/door, which they can probably do with any armored truck and a pushbar.

[bing_oh]

What if they can just get used MRAPs for cheaper than whichever bespoke $150k-box-on-a-Ford-chassis-cab SWAT thing they'd usually buy? It was designed for the military, oooh, scary, it's a fucking armored truck. Not a tank.

That's the point...free is alot cheaper than the specialized armored vehicles sold to LE for $200,000.

[NomisR]

Do you guys practice driving through things?  Or have training for that stuff?

[bing_oh]

Do you guys practice driving through things?  Or have training for that stuff?

We don't have an armored vehicle so I've never been trained in one. I'd guess that there's some training available...though they aren't exactly usually used to "drive through things."

[Raza]

Do you guys practice driving through things?  Or have training for that stuff?

I think you just put your seatbelt on and go for it.  Avoiding driving stuff is what takes the practice.

[MaxPower]

they just got 6 mraps in my state, all free from the Pentagon

[Catman]

All the regional homeland security regions in MA got one of these.  Its used by our regional SWAT team.



Here is MA though we either shoot the gun out of their hand or aim for an arm or leg.

[TurboDan]

I'd hate to have to change a tire on one of those things. How the hell many lug nuts are on there?

On another note, we had a guy in the town next to me fire off a shot during a domestic dispute, then climb to the top of a building yesterday. SWAT teams from like 3 towns showed up, they shut down a state highway and put schools in two surrounding towns on lockdown. Dude ended up shooting himself and died today. Feel bad for the cops who had to see this guy off himself.

[dazzleman]

All the regional homeland security regions in MA got one of these.  Its used by our regional SWAT team.



Here is MA though we either shoot the gun out of their hand or aim for an arm or leg.

That thing is pretty badass.

[dazzleman]

I'd hate to have to change a tire on one of those things. How the hell many lug nuts are on there?

On another note, we had a guy in the town next to me fire off a shot during a domestic dispute, then climb to the top of a building yesterday. SWAT teams from like 3 towns showed up, they shut down a state highway and put schools in two surrounding towns on lockdown. Dude ended up shooting himself and died today. Feel bad for the cops who had to see this guy off himself.

Good riddance to him.

[Laconian]

I'd hate to have to change a tire on one of those things. How the hell many lug nuts are on there?

On another note, we had a guy in the town next to me fire off a shot during a domestic dispute, then climb to the top of a building yesterday. SWAT teams from like 3 towns showed up, they shut down a state highway and put schools in two surrounding towns on lockdown. Dude ended up shooting himself and died today. Feel bad for the cops who had to see this guy off himself.

Wow, that's some effective use of resources right there.

What are these cities arming themselves so much for?

[Soup DeVille]

I'd hate to have to change a tire on one of those things. How the hell many lug nuts are on there?

On another note, we had a guy in the town next to me fire off a shot during a domestic dispute, then climb to the top of a building yesterday. SWAT teams from like 3 towns showed up, they shut down a state highway and put schools in two surrounding towns on lockdown. Dude ended up shooting himself and died today. Feel bad for the cops who had to see this guy off himself.

12.

The outside ring of bolts is the beadlock for the outer tire. the inner is the mount for the ballistic tire, which is inside the road tire. Underneath all that, its your standard issue Rockwell five-ton axle.

[Catman]

I believe its a Ford F450 underneath.

[Soup DeVille]

I believe its a Ford F450 underneath.

Is it? That would make the parts easier to get. I thought they were based on the M35a3 chassis.

[AutobahnSHO]

BTW the maintenance on these things is going to be CRAZY and don't even get me started on the road damage. Sure if they stay on highways designed for 18wheelers things will be fine- but most need will be down little streets???  Those aren't built for this kind of weight....

oh well, better than chucking them into the sea. They were a quick response to a short-term need....

[TurboDan]

oh well, better than chucking them into the sea.

Ehh... they dumped a bunch of tanks in the ocean by where I live to form an artificial reef. The fishing there kicks ass.

Original and undergrounds pics: http://njscuba.net/reefs/misc_materials.html#APC

[SVT_Power]

Ehh... they dumped a bunch of tanks in the ocean by where I live to form an artificial reef. The fishing there kicks ass.

Original and undergrounds pics: http://njscuba.net/reefs/misc_materials.html#APC

what in the world...

[bing_oh]

what in the world...

Only in New Jersey. I bet there are a few mobsters in dem thar tanks...

[TurboDan]

Only in New Jersey. I bet there are a few mobsters in dem thar tanks...

Ha, ya never know. My favorite artificial reef site is in Florida, though. Off Lake Worth Inlet they dumped the entire printing press from a newspaper down there to make a drift fishing reef. I've caught a lot of fish there. It's pretty cool.

In New Jersey, they haven't used the tanks in a long time. They're mainly using concrete reef balls to build a more natural looking habitat. The reef balls are made by prisoners at the Southern State Prison.

[FoMoJo]

Our region, Durham Region, got one of these babies.



There were a few eyebrows raised, at the time, be because no one could remember when the last IED exploded around here.

[Laconian]

I'm sure these things will look right at home when the government finishes throwing the big switch from DEMOCRACY to FASCISM.



(but not really, I am seriously concerned)

[AutobahnSHO]

meh, I'm not too worried.

Low 0-60time, gashog, bad steering radius, most anything could outrun an MRAP. And this is one of the "SMALL" ones
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/oshkosh-m-atv-specialty-file

16inches of suspension though, ride could be fun!! 

(I've never been in any of them....!)

[Soup DeVille]

meh, I'm not too worried.

Low 0-60time, gashog, bad steering radius, most anything could outrun an MRAP. And this is one of the "SMALL" ones
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/oshkosh-m-atv-specialty-file

16inches of suspension though, ride could be fun!! 

(I've never been in any of them....!)

They can reach 60?

[bing_oh]

Our region, Durham Region, got one of these babies.



There were a few eyebrows raised, at the time, be because no one could remember when the last IED exploded around here.

People really focus on the wrong stuff when departments get these Federal hand-me-downs. And, realistically, IED's are a legitimate concern for large departments with terrorism (especially domestic terrorism) targets. We covered IED's during an evidence tech class I just came back from. It's surprising how easy the materials are to obtain and how easy they are to make with normal household components. There are documented cases of domestic terrorists in the US setting up IED's to target first responders.

[SVT_Power]

Our region, Durham Region, got one of these babies.



There were a few eyebrows raised, at the time, be because no one could remember when the last IED exploded around here.

Interesting, apparently London police have one as well. All them rowdy Western students 

[Raza]

People really focus on the wrong stuff when departments get these Federal hand-me-downs. And, realistically, IED's are a legitimate concern for large departments with terrorism (especially domestic terrorism) targets. We covered IED's during an evidence tech class I just came back from. It's surprising how easy the materials are to obtain and how easy they are to make with normal household components. There are documented cases of domestic terrorists in the US setting up IED's to target first responders.

As much as I poke fun, I don't think an MRAP by itself is an awful thing for the police to have, especially if it's a low- or no-cost vehicle.

[AutobahnSHO]

As much as I poke fun, I don't think an MRAP by itself is an awful thing for the police to have, especially if it's a low- or no-cost vehicle.

oh, it cost-  but they just put the half-a-million-per trucks "on the tab"

[TurboDan]

oh, it cost-  but they just put the half-a-million-per trucks "on the tab"

Eh, the cost isn't THAT bad for maintenance, and they get them for nothing. All in all, it's a good deal. The alternative is paying through the nose for purpose-built vehicles from the factory. And at the end of the day, A LOT of these vehicles came in handy during Hurricane Sandy.

As I was saying earlier, the departments around here got the pick of the litter after Sandy. Our local police departments at the Jersey Shore could arguably take on any number of small sovereign armies at this point. The second-smallest town in NJ is also now using a fleet of state-of-the-art 25-foot Defender Coast Guard boats to give out no-wake-zone tickets on their .5 mile-long stretch of bayfront.

[Madman]

Looks like there are more than a few people concerned about the rise of paramilitary style police forces in the US.

http://truckyeah.jalopnik.com/police-acquisition-of-army-vehicle-enrages-internet-com-1489158937/@travis

[giant_mtb]

Maybe if Americans would stop being a bunch of self-righteous, murderous, drug-smuggling, gang member douche bags...........the police wouldn't want or need these in the first place.