Bates County Sheriff's Department Press Release: New Vehicle Maxxpro MRAP

Press Release

On11/5/13,theBatesCountySheriff’sOfficetraveledtoColoradoSpringsColoradotoreceiveanewspecializedvehicle. ThevehiclewasadonationtotheSheriff’sOfficethroughademilitarizationprogramthatallowsgovernmentexcesspropertytobetransferredtoLawEnforcementAgencies. ThroughthisprogramtheSheriff’sOfficehasobtainedseveralpiecesofequipmentthathelpstheSheriff’sOfficebetterservethecommunityandequipmentthattheywouldhavenotbeenabletoaffordtopurchaseontheirown.

The vehicle was manufactured by Navistar Defense and the model is a Maxxpro MRAP. The vehicle was originally designed and used in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to safely move military personnel from point to point during their missions. The vehicle is designed to withstand IED explosives and small arms fire due to its design and armament.

Thisparticularvehiclewasusedasatrainingvehicleforsoldierstopreparethemforthecapabilitiesandlimitationsofthevehicleduringbattle. ThisvehiclehasbeengivenanewroleasarescuevehicleinBatesCounty. TheMRAP,capableofseating8people,willbeutilizedtoassisttheSheriff’sOfficeinrescuemissionstoincludeflooding,activeshootersituationandstandoffs.

TheonlyexpensetheSheriff’sOfficehasincurredduringthetransferofthispropertyhasbeensendingseveralDeputiesouttoColoradototakepossessionofthevehicleandbringitback. ThisvehiclearrivedinBatesCountyontheNovember5^thandwasalreadycalledtoduty. TheMRAPwassenttoassistinruralAdrianduringthestandoffwithBakeronNovember8^th. TheNegotiationTeamutilizedthevehicleasasafeenvironmenttonegotiatethesurrenderofBakerandherhostage.

SheriffAndersonsays,“WhilethisvehiclemayseemextremeforBatesCountytosomepeople,IwouldcalltheirattentiontowhatisgoingoninruralareasacrosstheCountry. Workplaceshootings,schoolshootingsandviolenceingeneralarenotjustbigcityproblems. IwouldmuchratherHAVEapieceofequipmentthatmaybeusedacoupleoftimesayear,thentoNEEDthatequipmentandjustnothaveit. Especiallyifthatequipmentcouldsavesomeone’slifeandcamewithveryminimalcost.”