Cross posting my post the last time this was posted elsewhere, asking "Why Do They Need This?" The Police Problem sublemmy post
Police don't but they often want a vehicle for SWAT related reasons, but SWAT trucks costs hundreds of thousands. Meanwhile MRAPs are "free".
Prosper, Texas is home to 40,000 people. In 2010 their population was under 10k. They have quadrupled in size and are near the DFW area, so it's not really a surprise they took the 1033 offer for an MRAP. That said most of these decom'd heaps of shit are loathesomely expensive. "High Cost of Free MRAPs" by Strongtowns. Most MRAPs being given out are first and second gen versions. And for those first gens, they got sent to the front lines of the GWOT and got beat to shit while newer ones were tested and approved. These old models they're "giving out for free" have tire drum parts never used on later versions, transmissions like that of an F650 with half the reliability, and are ticking time bombs of use. Most cities often estimate maintenance costs at $5k per year, until something actually breaks and they have to get a second MRAP to cannibalize to fix the first. (Hint - that's why you often see them picked up in pairs or more)
That's before the optics. Petaluma, California has one and the police chief has even said "yeah it kinda has some bad optics sending police around in a former war machine".
If your city is wanting to pick one up, it's because someone who has zero experience with them really likes the idea of a big scary diesel monster rolling up on drug houses, and hasn't actually considered that if they can't pony up thousands of tax dollars every 6 months to keep the moneymonster fed, the only place it's gonna drive is into a storage shed.
Edit: I should add that these vehicles are incredibly versatile and aren't necessarily a bad thing for municipalities. With their ride height, sheer bulk, and high torque engines, Fire and rescue could probably make great use them in several cities. They make fantastic road clearing vehicles in the event of large accidents needing to move to the side of the road, or pushing debris out of the way. Additionally in flood prone areas they make very good rescue vehicles due to their ride height and "crew space" inside. They DO have value outside of terrorizing civilian populations, just that that's all PDs will use them for.
Its a good job they're pointing at it otherwise I wouldn't have known it was there.
"The MRAP that was reutilized through the 1033 program was declared excess by the Defense Department, it was not purchased using taxpayer funds. It was transferred to Prosper Police Department as a conditional loan, and it will be returned to the DOD when Prosper PD no longer requires it," according to the Defense Logistics Agency.
So the taxpayers did pay for it, just not only local taxpayers. It was taxpayers nationwide through the DoD budget, proving they don't actually need everything we're paying for. So the rest of the country is paying for some bumblefuck police department to get an MRAP.
What is the supposed justification for this department "requiring" this MRAP be "loaned" to them? DOD equipment and functionality should NEVER be utilized by police. The two are different groups for a reason. If the police need assistance at that level, they can call in the National Guard for that help. That's why they exist. There is no reason a local police department ever needs an MRAP.
They can run over all the kids with that thing..
A small cost of “freedom” - starving children, dilapidated schools, no healthcare, and a $689,000 truck
They cropped out the no parking line.
This is because Texas cops have those enormous attack surfaces on their brittle brittle egos.
Plus who doesn't love to LARP?
She does know that this is Texas and not funding schools is the point, right?
I looked into it. Some interesting stuff
What is it for:
The police department posted a photo of the Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle on its Facebook page on June 1 and invited the public to come out and see it.
"It’s designed for high-water rescues (which saved many people this past week during the floods), active shooter situations, hostage rescues and other critical incidents, ensuring the safety of our officers and community,"
Cost:
The police department said the vehicle was purchased at no cost to taxpayers because the $689,000 armored vehicle was obtained through the Federal 1033 program which means it cost the town nothing.
"The MRAP that was reutilized through the 1033 program was declared excess by the Defense Department, it was not purchased using taxpayer funds. It was transferred to Prosper Police Department as a conditional loan, and it will be returned to the DOD when Prosper PD no longer requires it," according to the Defense Logistics Agency.
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/prosper-police-departments-emergency-vehicle/3560134/
ACAB is a shit hole state.
ACAB.
It's a shield so they can safely hide behind while a nut job with a gun goes through the next school
To adapt an old joke: "If you see a raging dipshit driving like a lunatic in the middle of the road with their giant-ass car, you should contact the nearest police officer immediately. It's possible they're behind the wheel."
Corruption pure and simple
Fuck the police.
Not one, but multiple purposes.
/infuriatingdystopia
