SHERIFF’S POLICE ACQUIRES TACTICAL VEHICLE

Kankakee, IL – Kankakee County Sheriff Tim Bukowski reported the acquisition of a surplus tactical military vehicle.  The acquisition of the mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) tactical vehicle fulfils a challenge issued by Bukowski to Sergeant Dave Zinanni.  Zinanni is responsible for all vehicle acquisitions and their maintenance in addition to managing the county emergency operation services and preparedness center.  Bukowski, in a prepared release said,  “Essentially, an analysis of our tactical response protocol demonstrated a weakness in our approach techniques and tactical team transport capabilities”. In response to US military needs in the Afghanistan and Iraq campaigns the Department of Defense began purchasing the MRAP in significant numbers in the latter part of 2007.  Earlier this year several of these vehicles were declared surplus and became available to local law enforcement agencies under the provisions of the Law Enforcement Support Office (LESO) program.  The LESO program provides the surplus equipment to agencies free of charge. Bukowski applauded the efforts of Zinanni in securing the vehicle which is capable of transporting members of our tactical team into deployment positions.  “This vehicle enhances tactical team deployment within a protected environment where officers are safe from small arms and rifle fire,” said Chief Alan Swinford of the Sheriff’s Office.  Swinford went on to say that the deployment of this vehicle in hostage situations or in other tactical environments exponentially increases the teams capabilities. The vehicle weighs about 37,500 pounds and stands ten feet high and is over 21 feet in length.  The all-wheel independent drive system makes this vehicle suitable for on and off-road environments.  The vehicle interior includes a self-contained pressured air system allowing the vehicle to operate in haz-mat environments.  The technical nature of the vehicle requires trained drivers to operate it. The MRAP assigned to the sheriff’s office has about 8,500 combat miles and is in excellent operating condition.  The vehicle, when new and fully equipped, has an estimated value of nearly one million dollars.  The estimated value of the vehicle delivered to Kankakee County is approximately $750,000.  Training of operators has been initiated and training with the entire tactical team will begin once the operator training is completed.  For more information on the MRAP go to here.

For additional information contact Chief Deputy Ken McCabe at 815-802-7154.

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