A Nice Surprise

[OnaSpeedRacer04]

What's a BearCat?

NAME: BearCat is an acronym for ballistic engineered armored response and rescue counter attack truck, according to the company's Web site.


MANUFACTURER: Lenco Industries, Pittsfield, Mass. Company is privately held.


WEB SITES: www.armoredtrucks.com and www.swattrucks.com


PRICE: $180,000


WEIGHT: 16,000 pounds


TOP SPEED: 85 mph


FEATURES: Half-inch hardened steel armor plates, State Department-approved bulletproof windows, blast fragmentation resistant floors, specially designed gunports, roof hatches with rotating turrets, gun mounts and gear storage.


MAINTENANCE: Built on Ford F-550 heavy-duty commercial truck chassis, which allows for warranty covered repairs, maintenance service and parts replacements at dealers and retail parts stores, according to Lenco.


SALES PITCH: "Having proven itself in the field, the BearCat has repelled multiple attacks from assault weapons, providing SWAT teams unprecedented ballistic protection with its life saving armor," the Lenco site says.


REVIEW: The publication Autoweek calls BearCat "the most popular new urban rescue/assault vehicle among first responders and military units from the LAPD to the U.S. Air Force." A reviewer describes its handling as "almost nimble," but cautions the armored truck could crush a Kia "like a soda can. ... The ride is a little jouncy, and it's definitely no commuter, but when things get dicey it's a vehicle that can help save lives. Don't tangle with it."




Having said that, check this out......


$180,000 armored truck to protect the homeland surprises county board
La Crosse County has a new secret weapon in the war on crime and terror.

The sheriff's department recently took delivery of a $180,000 BearCat armored truck, purchased with a federal Homeland Security grant.

"It has the capability to rescue people in hazardous situations involving firearms or other weapons," said Capt. Mike Horstman.

While the armored vehicle was covered by federal funds, several county board members are unhappy nobody asked their permission or even told them beforehand.

Horstman said the department was alerted late last year by the Department of Home-land Security that the county qualified for a grant to buy an armored truck. All it had to do was apply.

County employees apply for all kinds of grants without going through the board, but supervisors expect a heads-up when the item is out of the ordinary.

"We spend $180,000 for a vehicle that's kept in a secret garage," said Supervisor Vicki Burke, who chairs the Judiciary and Law Committee. "Even I haven't seen it."

Board Chair Steve Doyle signed the grant application, but said Thursday he doesn't remember signing it. He added that the sheriff's department never told him it was anything special.

"I'm still trying to get to the bottom of it," said County Administrator Steve O'Malley. "This will be an issue talked about with the county board."

Weissenberger was out of town and unavailable for comment.

Horstman declined to reveal the armored truck's capabilities or allow a photograph of it.

"It's not something the public needs to know about because of officer safety issues," he said.

"The problem I'm having is that we had no knowledge of it," Burke said.

"We got caught by surprise on the committee," said Supervisor Jerry Sebranek, who's concerned about insurance and maintenance costs.

Burke said she's also unhappy that at the same time the federal government is giving the county $180,000 for an armored truck, it is cutting money to fight meth and for cops on the street.

"We're going to have to cut patrols and staffing," Burke said. "Those two are bigger threats to the general public."

Horstman said he understands some officials think there's better ways the money could have been spent.

"The (federal) government, for good or bad, has determined this is how they're spending the money, and we're taking advantage of it," he said.

Horstman said the county's emergency response team hasn't used the armored truck yet, and plans training — possibly in conjunction with other Wisconsin counties that have them. He said he knows of five in the state.

Dane and Winnebago counties have them, according to published reports.

The armored truck will be available to the La Crosse Police Department's ERT and other regional ERTs if they sign an agreement to receive necessary training for its use, Horstman said.

[Big Sexy]

What's a BearCat?

NAME: BearCat is an acronym for ballistic engineered armored response and rescue counter attack truck, according to the company's Web site.

Is someone trying to get in BearCat06's good graces? :cool: Who knows, he may be able to help you lose some of that red and get you some green.

[Bearcat06]

What's a BearCat?
NAME: BearCat is an acronym for ballistic engineered armored response and rescue counter attack truck, according to the company's Web site.

They are also team mascots for the U of Cincinnati and NW Missouri State U.......... :rolleyes:

[Terminator]

http://tinypic.com/b871ug.jpg

[FSCF3801]

http://tinypic.com/b871ug.jpg

bwaaaaahahahhaahhahahahaha OMG Term!!!!! Your a flippin trip. I owe you rep for that heads up. :D

[greenlead]

Our city has a full-time grant writer, so we get all kinds of good stuff like this from the government.