![]() The BearCat G3 is made by Lenco Armored Vehicles in Massachusetts. "So it was done as part of the response to the legislature taking away our abilities to keep this community safe." BearCat G3 "This BearCat has the ability to have an arm on it, which can penetrate a wall and deliver gas in it rather than having a deputy have to go into a very unsecured area," Knezovich said. Knezovich said the new armored vehicle will allow deputies to use gas with a bionic arm. The new law banned most military-grade grenades, smoke grenades and some large-gage weapons used to launch the gas cannisters. Reforms passed last year by the Legislature limited how officers can launch tear gas and when it's appropriate. "We have to have the capability to keep this community safe." "What happens if they take our armor away?" Knezovich said. Knezovich said he's concerned with recent proposals by both the state Legislature, Congress and President Joe Biden to limit the use of military sourced equipment by local law enforcement agencies. If the Spokane Police Department is already on a call using their own BearCat and the shared BearCat, then the sheriff's office has to call surrounding agencies to use their armored vehicles in addition to the MRAP, he said. Sometimes there aren't enough vehicles to go around, Knezovich said. "We can safely put people in an area ready to respond if we should have to, but if we don't have to we can sit and negotiate with that individual from a secure platform." "That armored vehicle gives us the ability to deescalate a scene," Knezovich said. In those situations, two armored vehicles are usually needed, one in front of the building and one in back, Knezovich said. The current fleet of armored vehicles is called out about 40 times per year, he said. While the armored vehicles are useful in extreme situations, they're most commonly used by the SWAT team when suspects barricade themselves in a building, Knezovich said. Those types of situations are not uncommon, Knezovich said, noting an active shooter situation took place earlier this week at a Fred Meyer in Richland. "We want to have the ability to rescue members of a church that somebody might decide to go and shoot up or a business." "We want to be able to save our children should one of our schools have an active shooter, that is not necessarily a kid," Knezovich said. They can also be used to evacuate bystanders, he said. The armored vehicles allow law enforcement agencies' SWAT teams to drive up to incidents like shootings, Knezovich said. "Furthermore, militarized uniforms encourage a 'warrior' mindset in police, which emphasizes readiness for violent conflict over the relationship-based work of building community trust." "Military uniforms, vehicles, and weaponry communicate to the residents of Spokane that the police view them as enemy combatants," the organization's platform for change reads. Local groups, including Spokane Community Against Racism, have advocated for demilitarization as well. The push gained steam last legislative session in the aftermath of protests against police brutality sparked in part by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. ![]() ![]() The new purchase comes as state legislators, members of Congress, and activists have sought to demilitarize local law enforcement agencies. ![]() They also co-own a BearCat with the Spokane Police Department, but the vehicle, now nearly 15 years old, has had a slew of mechanical issues in recent years. The Spokane County Sheriff's Office currently owns two military surplus armored vehicles, an MRAP and a smaller Tactical Response Vehicle. Those were Vietnam-era armored personnel carriers, Knezovich said. Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich said the region's long history of extremists is a huge reason the agency began purchasing armored vehicles in 2000. ![]()
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