Why does Madison PD need an MRAP?

Move along....nothing to see here....

Bahaaaa!!!!!!

They must have seen the VA's # of Madison county veterans "claiming" PTSD.

Mike

Police Chief Muncey responded:

On Mon, Dec 15, 2014 at 3:18 PM, Muncey, Larry <Larry.Muncey@madisonal.gov> wrote:
> Mr. Elliott:
>
> I am pleased to respond in writing, if that is your preferred method of
> communicating. The Madison Police Department (MPD) does not have any weapons
> of war, the only tools the MPD possesses are instruments used in the
> preservation of peace. The City of Madison is the tenth largest city in
> Alabama, and is surrounded by the third largest city, Huntsville; combined
> our population exceeds 230K citizens. Madison is the home of some of the
> brightest minds in our nation that research and develop products, which
> keeps our country safe. Madison’s population and strategic importance to our
> country’s defense are two factors alone that influence the type of tools
> needed to fulfill our mission. The MPD is responsible for serving and
> protecting our citizens (which includes police officers) 24 hours a day, 7
> days a week, 365 days a year.
>
> Mr. Elliott, I am not sure what you do for a living, but I suspect that you
> have never had to operate in an environment of protecting others; I am not
> even sure you can understand the magnitude of such a responsibility, but our
> officer do. They have sworn an oath to protect and defend the constitution
> of the United States of America and the State of Alabama.   An oath that
> protects you and I from individuals that wish to do us harm. 
>
> To your question, the MPD has obtained four Humvees, ten image intensifiers,
> twenty infrared illuminators, and one Mine Resistant Ambush Protection
> (MRAP) vehicle from the 1033 DRMO program.
>
> Humvees:
>
> The Humvees are used during traumatic weather events (tornados, Ice, Snow,
> etc.). Humvees are better vehicles for these types of environments, and
> their use protects our current fleet from potential damage.  The Humvees are
> not daily drivers, just for emergencies.
>
> Image Intensifiers:  
>
> The intensifiers were a mistaken request, we have been trying to send them
> back but have been unsuccessful. They are some type of night vision optic
> that fits on a large scope. We are unable to use them in any way, we were
> trying to obtain night vision scopes but misread the specs (military
> jargon).
>
> Infrared Illuminators:
>
> Infrared illuminators are a small box that fits onto a rifle that emits a
> laser, which is only visible with night vision. As previously mentioned,
> officers do not have the luxury of operating in ideal environments, and are
> often forced to operate under low light conditions. Infrared illuminators
> help officers to be more accurate and quick during these types of
> situations.
>
> MRAP:
>
> The MRAP is a big intimidating metal box that protects anything we place
> inside, whether it is police officers or civilians. The MRAP is the
> military’s version of law enforcement’s Bearcat, but the MRAP has better
> ballistic protection. The MRAP does not have any weapons of any kind, it is
> just an armored vehicle used to protect what is inside. The same principle
> as an armored truck used to carry money, or an armored vehicle used to carry
> dignitaries.  Similar to the Humvees, the MRAP is only used in emergencies
> (active shooters/hostages/barricaded suspects).              
>
> Ancillary Information:
>
> ·         All of the equipment obtained through the 1033 DRMO program did
> not costs Madison taxpayers any addition funds.
>
> ·         Everything still belongs to the government and they can recall it
> if it is needed again.
>
> ·         The annual maintenance and paint job on the MRAP were donated
> citizens.
>
> ·         The MRAP is a countywide asset.
>
> ·         All of the MRAP operators have been professionally trained to
> operate the vehicle.  
>
> Mr. Elliot, I hope this response eliminates your concerns; I assure you the
> MPD is narrowly focused on protecting our citizens, not harming them. The
> aforementioned equipment are tools used to protect officers and citizens
> alike.
>
> Professionally,
>
> Chief, Larry R. Muncey   

The illuminators are what allows someone with a set of infrared goggles or rifle scope to see a laser dot on a target while that laser dot is invisible to the naked eye.  It helps the military take out enemy combatants without the enemy knowing that they have a laser dot on them.  If you read "13 hours in Benghazi" there is a good discussion in there of how these are used.

My question back is how was it even possible to operate a police force and protect the public prior to not having an MRAP and night vision. We were all in grave danger 24/7 and didn't know it.

RL-RRC wrote: My question back is how was it even possible to operate a police force and protect the public prior to not having an MRAP and night vision. We were all in grave danger 24/7 and didn't know it.

in what situation has Madison found itself in where they need a mine resistant vehicle to subdue a suspect???

in the past rather than throw military equipment at a situation they would... I don't know... not put themselves in a situation where they needed to assault an armed suspect head on.

The entire thing is ridiculous and can only be justified by "Officer safety" BS.  If I won the lottery and bought an MRAP do you think I wouldn't be hassled?  Do you think they would tolerate the "Its for my safety" excuse???

The entire militarization of the police force just reinforces the "us against them" mentality.  Those "Thin blue line" stickers infuriate me.  I'm sorry, but Madison PD is not holding back humanity from waves of crime and darkness.  I'm already being harassed by cops in crown vics, fusions, tahoes, suburbans, unmarked camaros , corvettes and now they need humvees and MRAPS?  For police work in Madison?  Give me a f'n break. 

When my wife's car was broken into in Madison did the thin blue line help us?  No, they caught the guys who did it (because a citizen chased them down) and when one of them turned out to be a cop from Birmingham we were told not to worry about it.  No charges were filed and no one went to jail. 


I want to look the entire madison police force straight in the eye and I want to tell them what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, dickless, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of monkey shit they are! Hallelujah! Holy shit! Where's the Tylenol?

I had two Madison police officers at my house back in early November (its a long and ugly story) and they were totally nice and professional and I can't say anything bad about either of them. I have a good friend (Tim Savelle, was an honorary member of this club for a while) who is a cop in NC.  Its very interesting to talk to him over a beer around the campfire and hear his perspective.

I dont see why Madison needs these things.  But I guess if I were a cop and the Fed was handing out free candy, I would take some.

I am just sickened by the whole situation we face now.  I feel for the cops who are being characterized as evil by the "I cant breath" haters.  But I dont like cops having more firepower than most banana republics.  I think that those kinds of tools should be reserved for the Nat Guard or state Militia which could be called upon when there is an uprising in Meadow Creek subdivision or Cliffs Cove stages a violent protest against a cable TV price increase.  There needs to be a conscious decision made by someone that I elected as to when to use such tools.

please don't mistake my rant as anything but frustration about misappropriated tax funds and overly aggressive enforcement of bad traffic regulations by bored cops who have nothing else to do. 

I wish no personal ill against any cop.  Their job is tough and dangerous.  However I cannot help but be concerned when the police are arming themselves like the military, yet do not have the military training or discipline that our armed forces have.  Police raid houses and shoot the wrong people all the time.   Their rules of engagement are more lax than those of our soldiers in hot spots around the world.  All of this money spent on military equipment could be better utilized purchasing and using body camera systems for every day police actions.  The Michael Brown case would have been a non issue if the cop had a camera.  But I bet if you look at his department expenditures, more money is spent on military equipment than cameras which protect the officer's reputation and career as well as serving as a tool to make sure justice is served.

Tactics like no knock raids and overabundance of "SWAT" usage need to be curtailed.  If some punk in your neighborhood gets busted and tells the police your house is a full on meth lab and they raid it with a no knock whats going to happen to you?  You are going to respond just like you know you would if someone is suddenly breaking into your house and then you will be shot dead.

I like Doc's idea of pushing this type of equipment and tactics towards a national guard unit/state militia.  Something with lots of oversight and with a focus on proper use of ROE and established policies and procedures that can serve dangerous warrants without getting the wrong address or busting doors down when kids are inside sleeping.

CJ7OX wrote: Case, the only problem with is this: .....

You point out a lot of significant issues which all need to be fixed.  If we have extra gear that the DoD doesn't need, then someone in the DoD should be losing their job for buying it when its not needed.  Police forces should not be armed with this stuff.  The cameras sure make sense to me, put a gopro on every cop and archive his daily footage for 2 weeks and if its not needed, erase it.,  Do same on every cop car.  Buy the cops whatever protective gear they need, but stop arming the cops with military gear.  If they suspect a perp who is seriously armed, call the NG and go through the process of getting them there, paid appropriately.

Case wrote:   I like Doc's idea of pushing this type of equipment and tactics towards a national guard unit/state militia.

alabamatoy wrote: If we have extra gear that the DoD doesn't need, then someone in the DoD should be losing their job for buying it when its not needed.

all that violence and drama over a speeding violation.  none of that was necessary.  from either side.

I believe you should be concerned when the government(local or Federal) is increasing capacity to oppress while the citizenry ability to be able to fight off oppression is being reduced. It only takes a few key moves to get a checkmate in the right political climate.

Edited by RL-RRC - 18 December 2014 at 10:59am

98TJ wrote: They were shooting at the vehicle's tires, not the van.  Apparently; didn't hit either.  Just the fact that the woman would drive over 100 mph in city traffic with 4 children in a minivan tells me all I need to know about her.  All she had to do was sign the ticket and she would have been on her way with her expires drivers liscense.  Some folks just don't think the law applies to them.

Yeah, I've seen that one.

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/guns/sheriff-backs-deputy-who-said-military-gear-needed-because-armed-constitutionalists-v

Best $10.74 you will ever spend.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0226320553?ie=UTF8&tag=thefriedrhayeksc&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0226320553

98TJ wrote: Looks like the protesters got what they wanted.

Sick.  Isnt this considered a threat?  Why arent those people being charged with menacing or something?  This is getting really really sick.

NYC mayor Blasio, Holder, Obama, Sharpton, Jackson, Farakhan et al have the blood of those two good cops on their head.  This is the logical outcome of their hate-filled race-baiting.  I hope their hearts are heavy with their guilt.

How about this question for Madison, Huntsville PD:

I'm not saying that they are, just curious.  Some places they are.