Press
Release
On
11/5/13,
the
Bates
County
Sheriff’s
Office
traveled
to
Colorado
Springs
Colorado
to
receive
a
new
specialized
vehicle.
The
vehicle
was
a
donation
to
the
Sheriff’s
Office
through
a
demilitarization
program
that
allows
government
excess
property
to
be
transferred
to
Law
Enforcement
Agencies.
Through
this
program
the
Sheriff’s
Office
has
obtained
several
pieces
of
equipment
that
helps
the
Sheriff’s
Office
better
serve
the
community
and
equipment
that
they
would
have
not
been
able
to
afford
to
purchase
on
their
own.
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.
This
particular
vehicle
was
used
as
a
training
vehicle
for
soldiers
to
prepare
them
for
the
capabilities
and
limitations
of
the
vehicle
during
battle.
This
vehicle
has
been
given
a
new
role
as
a
rescue
vehicle
in
Bates
County.
The
MRAP,
capable
of
seating
8
people,
will
be
utilized
to
assist
the
Sheriff’s
Office
in
rescue
missions
to
include
flooding,
active
shooter
situation
and
standoffs.
The
only
expense
the
Sheriff’s
Office
has
incurred
during
the
transfer
of
this
property
has
been
sending
several
Deputies
out
to
Colorado
to
take
possession
of
the
vehicle
and
bring
it
back.
This
vehicle
arrived
in
Bates
County
on
the
November
5th
and
was
already
called
to
duty.
The
MRAP
was
sent
to
assist
in
rural
Adrian
during
the
standoff
with
Baker
on
November
8th.
The
Negotiation
Team
utilized
the
vehicle
as
a
safe
environment
to
negotiate
the
surrender
of
Baker
and
her
hostage.
Sheriff
Anderson
says,
“While
this
vehicle
may
seem
extreme
for
Bates
County
to
some
people,
I
would
call
their
attention
to
what
is
going
on
in
rural
areas
across
the
Country.
Workplace
shootings,
school
shootings
and
violence
in
general
are
not
just
big
city
problems.
I
would
much
rather
HAVE
a
piece
of
equipment
that
may
be
used
a
couple
of
times
a
year,
then
to
NEED
that
equipment
and
just
not
have
it.
Especially
if
that
equipment
could
save
someone’s
life
and
came
with
very
minimal
cost.”
