MRAP and the creeping militarisation of the police

[Mustangfan2003]

Slightly off subject but our local volunteer fire department got this AWD International truck that was used on a Naval base (I think it was a dump truck at one time).  It has a tank on it now and all it needs is a pump, some lights, and a radio.  Oh yeah the truck has to be painted since it can't be green.  It's about 20 years old but only has 36k miles.  Looks pretty badass and I'll try to take a picture of it if I'm up there when it's out. 

[Mustangfan2003]

Nevermind, this is what it looks like at the moment

[Mustangfan2003]

Can anyone explain why four sleepy suburbs of Nashville (Gallatin, Hendersonville, Mufreesboro and Lewisburg) should have need of a vehicle that can withstand blasts from land mines?  Especially Lewisburg, which is in the middle of fucking nowhere?

This increased militarisation of domestic American police forces is an alarming trend.

Full article here......

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2013/09/like-waking-up-on-christmas-morning-and-having-the-best-present-you-ever-had/#more-509441

So Madman, does Nashville Metro PD have one of these trucks?  The only time I see Lewisburg needing one of these trucks is if the town riots if Duck Dynasty never comes on tv again. 

[Madman]

So Madman, does Nashville Metro PD have one of these trucks?  The only time I see Lewisburg needing one of these trucks is if the town riots if Duck Dynasty never comes on tv again. 

I really don't know.  I've never seen any of these military type vehicles here.  The Nashville Po-Po seems to run nothing but last-generation Chevy Impalas and the occasional ancient Astro van (K-9 unit, maybe?) in their fleet.  Even their unmarked units all look like the sort of Impalas you'd rent at Enterprise for $29.95 a day.

It must really suck to be a Nashville cop!

[Rupert]

Nevermind, this is what it looks like at the moment

The coolest of these medium duty trucks, IMO, are the forest fire fighting rigs used by the Forest Service and BLM.

[bing_oh]

So Madman, does Nashville Metro PD have one of these trucks?  The only time I see Lewisburg needing one of these trucks is if the town riots if Duck Dynasty never comes on tv again.

Larger metropolitan departments like Nashville have the funds to purchase dedicated armored vehicles like the Bearcat for their tactical teams.

[Madman]

I must live in the wrong neighbourhood because I've never seen anything like that trundling down my street!

[Mustangfan2003]

Larger metropolitan departments like Nashville have the funds to purchase dedicated armored vehicles like the Bearcat for their tactical teams.

Question, is a bearcat a bear or a cat? 

[Mustangfan2003]

I really don't know.  I've never seen any of these military type vehicles here.  The Nashville Po-Po seems to run nothing but last-generation Chevy Impalas and the occasional ancient Astro van (K-9 unit, maybe?) in their fleet.  Even their unmarked units all look like the sort of Impalas you'd rent at Enterprise for $29.95 a day.

It must really suck to be a Nashville cop!

Yeah I've seen those Astros too.  If it's for K9 use that's the first van I've ever seen.  Most departments would either just use a patrol car to carry a dog or an SUV even if it's non ppv.  I don't know if that city is trying to save money or not but their fleet is kinda sad.  I haven't seen a marked earlier gen Impala (pre 2006 I believe) in a while outside of Nashville.  Memphis used to use the Impala but I think they are all Charger now. 

[Catman]

This is our regional SWAT truck



I do think a lot of this is overblown but its the American way to be wary of government power.  But, there's a lot of police departments that seem to be tone deaf to this and regularly show boat their tactical capabilities and equipment.  There's a time and a place for it but I think its best kept low key most of the time.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Not enough lug nuts.

[Soup DeVille]

Not enough lug nuts.

I only think one of those rings is the lug nuts, the rest are for the inner and outer tire beadlocks.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I only think one of those rings is the lug nuts, the rest are for the inner and outer tire beadlocks.

How many bead locks could a tire possibly need?

[Soup DeVille]

How many bead locks could a tire possibly need?

If its anything like the earlier bulletproof tires, there's an internal tire which is beadlocked on too, and then the wheel itself is a two piece thing which comes apart so you can unbolt the beadlocks on the inside of the tire.

[bing_oh]

Question, is a bearcat a bear or a cat?

If you ever get close enough to ask, let me know.

[Soup DeVille]

They're closer related to cats; look kind of like a cross between a pine martin and a raccoon.

[Madman]

Yeah I've seen those Astros too.  If it's for K9 use that's the first van I've ever seen.  Most departments would either just use a patrol car to carry a dog or an SUV even if it's non ppv.  I don't know if that city is trying to save money or not but their fleet is kinda sad.  I haven't seen a marked earlier gen Impala (pre 2006 I believe) in a while outside of Nashville.  Memphis used to use the Impala but I think they are all Charger now. 

I just snapped these pics earlier today.

Here's one of the mysterious Astro vans which I have no idea what they use for.




And a couple of examples of Nashville's all-Impala fleet.


.

[Mustangfan2003]

Yeah I don't think it's for K9 use or else it should be marked somewhere.  I wonder what kind of cars they will buy now?  I know the Caprice cost a bit more.  The next closest cars to cost would likely be the non ecoboost Taurus and the V6 Charger.  I believe all of the Chargers in Memphis are V6. 

[bing_oh]

I just snapped these pics earlier today.

Here's one of the mysterious Astro vans which I have no idea what they use for.

Crime scene/evidence tech? Heck, maybe they're just punishment for the guys on somebody's shitlist...

[AutobahnSHO]

Eh, the cost isn't THAT bad for maintenance, and they get them for nothing. All in all, it's a good deal.

well, the police get them for nothing but the US taxpayer is paying bazillions in interest payments for them...

[bing_oh]

well, the police get them for nothing but the US taxpayer is paying bazillions in interest payments for them...

So it's better that they sit on a military base and slowly rot away, unused, until they're sold for scrap in 20 years? I mean, at least the citizens are getting some use out of them for their money.

[Mustangfan2003]

Maybe we could do some mods to some of these trucks and enter them in the Dakar Rally. 

[Madman]

Heck, maybe they're just punishment for the guys on somebody's shitlist...

As if being made to drive an Impala isn't bad enough! 

[giant_mtb]

Crime scene/evidence tech? Heck, maybe they're just punishment for the guys on somebody's shitlist...

That or transporting inmates...?

[bing_oh]

That or transporting inmates...?

Most places use full-size vans (like Econolines) for inmate transport. I wouldn't think that an Astrovan would be able to hold many more prisoners than a cruiser...at least not enough more to justify the special vehicle. Of course, they have Impalas so it's obvious Nashville's particularly cheap when it comes to vehicles. Maybe some pencil pusher found a deal on unsold Astrovans on a local used car lot...

[Mustangfan2003]

Those Impalas are the only police cars on the road that's worse than the Crown Vic.  I know GM is still making this car a little bit longer for fleet use but are they still offering the police package? 

[bing_oh]

Those Impalas are the only police cars on the road that's worse than the Crown Vic.  I know GM is still making this car a little bit longer for fleet use but are they still offering the police package?

I honestly have no idea if the police package Impala is still around. I havn't heard anyone even mumble about them in years (and those mumbles were generally four-letter words). I'd suspect that Chevy has probably funneled everything into the new Caprice, but I may be wrong. They were shit, though.

I would not, however, say that they are the only cruiser out there worse than the Crown Vic...I believe that the new Taurus is much worse than the Crown Vic. It's faster and better handling, but it's SMALL inside. You need to be an officer of minimal stature and girth (something I ain't) to even fit into one, let alone be comfortable. Bad design choices by Ford on that one, IMHO.

[AutobahnSHO]

So it's better that they sit on a military base and slowly rot away, unused, until they're sold for scrap in 20 years? I mean, at least the citizens are getting some use out of them for their money.

agree

[Mustangfan2003]

I honestly have no idea if the police package Impala is still around. I havn't heard anyone even mumble about them in years (and those mumbles were generally four-letter words). I'd suspect that Chevy has probably funneled everything into the new Caprice, but I may be wrong. They were shit, though.

I would not, however, say that they are the only cruiser out there worse than the Crown Vic...I believe that the new Taurus is much worse than the Crown Vic. It's faster and better handling, but it's SMALL inside. You need to be an officer of minimal stature and girth (something I ain't) to even fit into one, let alone be comfortable. Bad design choices by Ford on that one, IMHO.

The Sheriff's department my dad works for has a Taurus.  It's driven by an older guy on the larger side and he said he liked the car except for the fact that it is harder to get in and out of.  But still it could be worse I guess.  Some tiny ass town near me is still using an Intrepid.  Also saw an S10 Blazer being used.   

[bing_oh]

The Sheriff's department my dad works for has a Taurus.  It's driven by an older guy on the larger side and he said he liked the car except for the fact that it is harder to get in and out of.  But still it could be worse I guess.  Some tiny ass town near me is still using an Intrepid.  Also saw an S10 Blazer being used.

We have one Taurus, currently driven by one of the smallest guys on the department. Every time I've had to drive it, I've felt like a contortionist trying to get in and out. I can't imagine trying to do so in an emergency. And, quite frankly, while I'm above-average in size I'm not Hounddog's size either...a police car should be able to accommodate an officer 6'-6'01, 230 lbs.