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Visiting the Web sites of various armored vehicle manufacturers and checking out the images of their products in action is an unexpectedly enthralling experience. In one video, viewers see the B.E.A.R, a huge armored response vehicle manufactured by Lenco, completely demolishing a structure (where an alleged cop killer was hiding out) as if the place were made of paper and glue, turning it into little more than splinters and foundation. In another, viewers watch TACARM's Juggernaught, another armored vehicle with a long hydraulic boom arm, looking like some sort of mechanical prehistoric beast as it claws its way through roofs, breaks down doors and obliterates walls. And then there's the sheer size and carrying capacity of the Bulldog X, an armored vehicle manufactured by Alpine Armoring Inc. The sight of this behemoth lumbering onto the scene must be truly fear-inducing for the bad guys.
Since the September 11 terrorist attacks, armored vehicles have been drawing a lot of interest from government entities such as the Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, Department of Energy and, naturally, the Department of Defense. Law enforcement agencies all across the country have also shown interest.
"Demand for armored vehicles has increased since [9/11]," says Steve Reopelle, president of TACARM. "Law enforcement recognized a need for armored vehicles designed specifically for them instead of [using] military surplus that is costly to maintain and is often unreliable." (See Page 74 for product information).
Agencies are using the law enforcement-designed vehicles for serving high-risk warrants, rescuing officers, hostage situations, gang interventions and other callout circumstances where the risk to officers is high and consequently, so is the need for ballistic and blast protection, says Len Light, president of Lenco Armored Vehicles.
Helping to fuel demand is the weaponry showing up on the streets these days. Consider the Kent Police Department SWAT team in Washington state.
"My team has located a variety of large-bore hunting rifles, various assault rifles and numerous handguns," officer and SWAT team leader Bill Blowers says. "Crimes cover the gamut of UCR crimes from murder to vehicle theft. The team has had several officer-involved shootings in the past few years on barricaded-suspects calls."
Blowers says Kent PD owns several armored vehicles and is in the process of adding more.
"We average 50 to 60 callouts per year," he continues, "and the vehicles get used on almost all the missions in some fashion."
And that's a key thing for agencies interested in buying an armored vehicle to consider, says Det. David Arnott, director of operations for the Florida SWAT Association, located in Longwood. Arnott, a 19-year veteran with the Orlando PD and assistant team leader on that agency's SWAT team, says departments should determine whether they need an armored vehicle, or if another form of ballistic protection — such as ballistic door panels — would work (see fire-suppression sidebar on Page 72).
"Sometimes agencies will purchase an armored vehicle just to have a status symbol," Arnott explains. "There are agencies in Florida that have them and never use them."
Depending on the bells and whistles, the average cost for an armored vehicle begins at $200,000. Adding accessories such as battering rams, backup cameras, hazmat detection devices, etc., adds to the purchase price. Arnott advises that agencies consider the accessory options carefully.
"Just because it's an armored vehicle doesn't mean it's the right one," Arnott explains. "You have to know what kinds of weapons you are seeing and what the vehicle will actually protect against. For example, in Orlando we're seeing the big guns you'd normally find in the fighting fields of Iraq, like the AK-47. Recently, we dealt with two offenders that had high-powered automatic rifles."
Arnott explains the first armored vehicle his department, which was obtained eight years ago, would not have protected against automatic rifles. But in the eyes of the administration, an armored vehicle would be able to enter any situation, which is not the case.
Think about the suitability of the vehicle to the mission, Arnott says. He suggests agencies start their armored vehicle search by asking:
- What can you do with the vehicle?
- Is it suitable for your agency's mission?
- Is it affordable and justifiable to the agency and the community?
He sees several trends taking place when it comes to armored vehicles. Originally, armored vehicles were designed to protect, but more recently rams are added and the vehicles are used offensively, for getting in, rather than solely for defense. The vehicles are lighter, more durable and drive better than their original counterparts. Manufacturers are also making them higher; clearance is very important for going over curbs, fencing and the normal street obstructions. Other contemporary innovations include enhanced heating and cooling systems, because teams can be stuck in the protective vehicles for hours, Arnott says.
For agencies that have determined a need for an armored vehicle, Arnott says the best thing they could do is look for a reputable and responsive manufacturer.
He also suggests getting in touch with past customers of the manufacturer the agency is interested in. "Ask about their service, commitment, education and performance. You want a manufacturer who listens to end-users and who makes changes based on this input. Also look to see whether or not the manufacturer can assist you in getting grant money."
The latter illustrates one of the challenges facing both manufacturers and agencies, says Fred Khoroushi, president and general manager of Alpine Armoring Inc.
"Providing high protection while keeping the price affordable is the driving force behind the sale of these trucks," Khoroushi says. "The protection level requirements seem to be going higher and higher. There used to be times that having high-powered rifles in the hands of the bad guys was not at all a concern of law enforcement, but in this day and age this is becoming more and more common. Also, armor-piercing rounds are becoming more prevalent in some areas, forcing manufacturers to improve and increase the protection level on both the opaque and transparent areas of the trucks."
At the same time, budgets seem to be declining for many agencies, Khoroushi says. However, grant money appears to be on the rise, many agencies can also make use of asset forfeitures that provide cash toward purchasing SWAT vehicles.
Light says that budget considerations don't seem to come into play where it concerns Lenco's vehicles. Ultimately, officer and community safety should be top priorities when choosing an armored vehicle.
"We have not seen a shrinkage in demand based on pricing, nor have we seen a shift to pricing as a decision-making factor," Light says. "When it comes to the armored vehicles … required to protect the lives of the law enforcement team, as well as civilians, it is difficult to justify the procurement of a lower-priced or unproven product."
Pamela Mills-Senn is a freelance writer based in Long Beach, California.
author: By Pamela Mills-Senn