By C1 Staff
SAGINAW COUNTY, Mich. — The Saginaw County Sheriff’s Department recently acquired a Mine Resistant Ambush Proof vehicle (MRAP) for free from the U.S. Army, which is meant as a tool for some of the toughest situations law enforcement officers might encounter.
According to MLive, Sheriff William Federspiel says he hopes to never have to use it, since to do so implies “something awfully bad has happened.”
The MRAP could be used in a situation of an armored gunman with high-powered weapons, for one example. The vehicle is part of a plan to be prepared for the worst, since such a scenario has never occurred within Saginaw County since Federspiel was elected sheriff.
Along with receiving the truck for free, there is no maintenance budget. The department can obtain parts for free from the military, Federspiel explained, and he says to use drug forfeiture money to pay for any repairs, though he expects to use the truck rarely.
The 350-horsepower surplus U.S. Army vehicle has about 3,000 miles on it. The passenger compartment is bulletproof and designed to withstand a mine blast with a v-shaped undercarriage. It features a positively charged atmosphere inside, allowing to safely travel into areas with a chemical cloud or heavy smoke. It’s also heat-resistant and the tires can’t be punctured.
The vehicle can hold up to eight people, but only a select few will be allowed to drive it, which requires training.