Posted: 1/8/2005 10:54:58 PM EDT
This is going on not to far from me, I know that city quite well... They need an APC like I need a new hole in my head!  Why bother...I don't get it? Any LEO's around that can educate me on this? 
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Why? Because they can. If you could wouldn't you? I sure as hell would. We went a different route. We bought a factory new armored truck. While not a "go anywhere" type of vehicle it's a lot more practical for an urban P.D. It's used as the full time call out vehicle for SWAT. It's built on a commercial truck chassis so maintenance is a breeze. An M113 wouldn't be real practical for every day use on your run of the mill no knock warrants. I can't imagine what it's like teaching your mechanics to maintain it or get parts. A neat toy with limited practical uses. |
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It's kind've a joke here. The sheriff's office I work for procured 2 old Dodge vehicles with armor on them for dirt cheap, and took enough parts from the two to make one good one, and we use about once a year, usually to safely evacuate neighborhoods during SWAT callouts when there's a chance of bullets flying. The police department my wife works for spend mega-oodles of money on a new APC that looks like the Ferret or something, complete with tires that allow it to float on water...and it hasn't bee used once in 5 years other than in the parades. But yes, to answer your question, they do serve a purpose, but most agencies really don't use them enough to justify the beaucoup bucks spent on them. The free ones are another story!! 
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The whole point is... It would be better off and, maybe actually USED some where else... Were talking about a town 60 miles from the closest heavily populated community. Their "aka" SWAT is really nothing more then the 6 guys that have seniority and can pull rank. Hell... Were talking about a city that only has 3-4 officers on duty per shift! Just struck me funny... |
Better than having it scrapped out. |
Why don't you take your FBI WASH OUT Ass some where else? Why bring your BS here? We all know about you... |
What ever wana be… Yada yada yada…………. Maybe you are just touchy because you couldn’t cut it? |
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I've been to Connieaut and Ashtabula, what the heck do they need one of them for? I dont buy the blizzard line, they have plenty of redneck monster trucks up there. This is just another indication of the coming police state. Next they will have RPGs and Napalm. There will be no need to apologize for combustible CS the next time they BBQ a church group. |
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Armor can be used for getting a team close to a house or target when there is fire coming from it. I cant imagine some podunk town police dept having one, but each to his own. I figured they would just share resources. Can I be a cop hater too? Oh, wait, I am one... Nevermind... 
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The term for you would be self-loathing. While they got the vehicle itself for free, they are going to have to pay for fuel, radios, paint, maintenance, etc. All of that will come out of the taxpayers' pockets. Why? So the police can have a cool toy. From the description of their SWAT team, perhaps the taxpayers would be better served if the department bought a treadmill. |
Even then, if they go up against a dedicated group...the tin box on tracks doesn't exactily have the armor to withstand big rounds...in Vietnam armor-piercing rounds would whip through M113's like a scythe through wheat... |
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What a great idea, I need to fill out the forms making me a Police department, what should I order first, M-16's or armor? Actually a couple small mountain towns have had citizens attack the city goverment in heavy road equipment and armored bulldozers. For the armored bulldozer, you would need a TOW to take it out. |
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LOL! This is ridiculous. They can't afford to ship this thing, but they are going to be able to maintain it and fuel it?  Which one of the SWAT guys is gonna jusmp out and break track the first time it needs it in the field? What are they going to recover their so called "go anywhere" vehicle with when Billy Bob the SWAT operator gets it stuck in a ditch? Something tells me, this APC is gonna end up as a tourist attraction on a dirt road somewhere. |
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Sheriff Joe has an active M109A1 tracked howitzer. I bet the barrel is still active. I'm thinking the local PD do not need military armor vehicles nor M16's, M60's, M2 Ma Deuces, LAW's, AT4's, 81mm mortars, towed 105mm arty pieces, tanks, etc. Nor does ATF need a fleet of OV-10's that are still armed, registered to a false front company, WAR BIRDS, Int'l. When does ATF need close air support or bombing ability? Yes, lots of local agencies are getting belt fed MG's, tanks or armor, belt fed, full auto M2 .50 BMG's, M16's - regardless if they have semi parts installed or not (10 minutes to replace the FCG's)..... Face it, our police depts are becoming militarized in both cause and effect. We have Mayberry depts who now have full blown SWAT teams and are hiring former infantrymen or SF operators to fill the ranks. It's really sad. ATF used to assist you in filling out your tax forms to get your title 2 stuff. Now you'll get an MP5 in your face more often than get help from them. We had a SWAT guy get his MP5 and his M4 both stolen from his car in Dayton, OH while the cop was in a bar drinking after a training session. Yes, I fear the police now. Do I hate cops? I have a framed picture right now of two of my best friends in the world in full raid gear standing in front of an MSCO squad car AND Sheriff Joe's M109A1. I have lots of cop friends. Doesn't mean I don't fear the system and what it has become. A sad fact of reality. |
Big PLUS one. Costs $$$ to keep her up and running. They will break tracks, just a matter of time. Who's gonna fix it? Who's gonna come pick it up and bring it back? |
I can think of at least one situation in which such a military vehicle in the hands of American law enforcement officials might come in handy!  Just the thing you need when you have one of those pesky Bible-thumping groups hanging out in a so-called 'church' in your neighborhood! Here's a nice photo of an FBI guy proudly posing in front of the skeletal remains of a 76 year old American citizen (circled):  Here's a closeup of the body of 76 year old Raymond Friesen (recently deceased) lying in the background of that FBI guy's 'trophy shot'!  I don't know about y'all, but these 'trophy shots' always give me the goosebumps! And I'm certain that I'm not the only one! Man, you just can't buy the kind of feeling you receive knowing that you've done your duty! Eric The(Snide)Hun 
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Say, what kind of scoped weapon is that proud American I would post more of the FBI's 'trophy shots', but the doctors told me that I needed to keep my stress level down to a bare minimum for the next several months! So, forget I even brought this deadful subject up, if you please! Eric The(IFYouCan)Hun
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