By Christie Duffy
Correspondent
Suburban New Jersey law enforcement is acquiring armored vehicles used in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Middletown now has an MRAP, which stands for mine resistant armor protected vehicle, used to protect riding soldiers from exploding IEDs in war zones.
Police here say they primarily plan to use it for water rescues.
“The Middletown Police Department wants to serve its community with the best equipment available. Especially during a tough event like Sandy,” said Sfc. William Colangelo.
Middletown has acquired roughly $3 million worth of a wide variety of equipment through the government program, from trucks and backhoes to goggles and computers. Colangelo says it’s all preparation to go out onto the front lines of the next big storm.
The Middletown police say they got this vehicle because they want to plan for bigger storms in the future. This vehicle can go into seven feet of water and can withstand high winds. They want to add more seats to the back so when they make rescues they can fit as many residents as possible.
Middletown paid about $5,000 to ship it here, but otherwise got it for free. A federal program gives away surplus military equipment.
“Our policy for this vehicle is to aid people and protect them. It is not to be used in an offensive manner,” Colangelo said.
Bergen County is also taking advantage of the program. They expect to receive two MRAPs next month. They’re paying $11,000- or their delivery, plus more for modifications. Politicians on both sides of the aisle are wary.
“We should not be acquiring tanks. These are military tanks that we used in Afghanistan and Iraq that are now being given out by the federal government. It is absolutely wrong,” said Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan.
“I’m very concerned about it and I think it needs to be stopped or at least reviewed at the federal level. One of the big issues is whether or not local police need this equipment or are trained for it,” said Congressman Frank Pallone.
This reaction comes days after armored police vehicles were deployed in the suburb of Ferguson, Missouri where protesters have been demonstrating against the fatal police shooting of an unarmed black teen. Missouri’s governor vowed today to make a change to police response, after enduring national criticism.
“As far as what’s going on in Missouri, I don’t know what their protocol is there. I know our protocol here is it would not be deployed for a crowd control situation,” said Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino.
The Bergen County sheriff says one of the MRAPs will be used for high risk prisoner transport and for the county SWAT team. The other was only obtained for its parts.
“I think if the military felt it was too strong a piece of equipment for law enforcement to have, they would never offer this thing,” Saudino said.
But the sheriff says his main interest in the vehicles is for water rescues.