MRAP Vehicles in Connecticut Civilian Police Service

Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicles in Connecticut Civilian Police Service

Wasted Resources, Duplication of Effort, and Totalitarianism

Back in March, I posted the following in my firearms legislation newsletter.  

“Somewhat off topic but very intriguing is the article DHS Purchases 2,700 Light-Armored Tanks to Go With Their 1.6 Billion Bullet Stockpile at http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2013/03/obama-dhs-purchases-2700-light-armored-tanks-to-go-with-their-1-6-billion-bullet-stockpile/

I have heard about the ammunition acquisition before but this is the first I’ve heard about DHS buying armor.  Despite what little DHS has to say about using MRAPs during Hurricane Sandy (the only mention by the way), one has to wonder why DHS has purchased and refitted 2,717 of them.  Watch the video on the Gateway webpage; it will make you wonder also

I have been unable to confirm either of the acquisitions via government websites, or the mainstream media for that matter.”

Well, I have more to add to that but first some background.  MRAP vehicles are armored fighting vehicles designed for use by armed forces, whose designed purpose is surviving improvised explosive device (IED) attacks and ambushes. The first development in armored vehicles designed specifically to counter the land mine threat were initiated during the Rhodesian Bush War; existing technology was subsequently inherited (and matured) by the South African Defence Force after 1980.  More background information may be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP and here http://olive-drab.com/idphoto/id_photos_mrap.php.  Basic technical data for the Navistar version is at http://www.navistardefense.com/NavistarDefense/vehicles/maxxpromrap/maxxpro_mrap.  

I have been unable to document the transfers of MRAPs from the Department of Defense (DOD) to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in terms of when and how many.  The numbers cited in the media range from 16 to 2,700.  DHS admits to having sixteen units deployed nationwide for serving "high-risk warrants" (http://www.businessinsider.com/homeland-security-serving-warrants-mrap-2013-3).  

I can find no evidence of a program for direct transfers of MRAPs from DHS to civilian police forces DOD, however, is another matter.  MRAPs have been observed employed by the police departments of Manchester and Willimantic and I think these were obtained from DOD.  There are indications that at least ten more Connecticut towns/cities are in the process of acquiring MRAPs.  

Further evidence of transfers to civilian police is at http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/09/30/us-police-obtaining-military-vehicles-to-aid-hunt-for-criminals/ and http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2013/09/dallas_county_now_has_its_very.php?page=all.  This would seem to indicate that the MRAPs acquired by non-DOD or DHS entities acquire them via DOD surplus sales at low or no cost.  Further proof is these extracts from a Dallas County Sheriff’s Department document (http://www.scribd.com/doc/171707759/Dallas-County-Military-SUV-memo pages 21 to 23).  

On October 1, 2012 the Warrants Execution Division requested one (I) MRAPs (Mine Resistance Ambush Protected) Rhino tactical vehicles through the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), Texas 1033 Military Surplus Property.  

At the time, DLA advised all LEAs (Law Enforcement Agencies) requesting MRAPs that they would be available for distribution after the 2012 election due to the MRAPS being demobbed from Iraq. Upon receipt of notification that MRAPs are available, LEAs have three (3) hours to accept a vehicle.

The composition of the 1033 Military Surplus Program does not require Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) pay the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) for the equipment.  Law enforcement agencies are responsible for any cost including transport of the equipment, fuel (if applicable), registration and painting (if applicable).  

There is an unsubstantiated report that the Manchester MRAP “is owned, supported and used by the towns of the Capitol Region Emergency Planning Committee (CREPC), which is part of (Connecticut) DEMHS Region 3. It is moved around between CREPC's towns when not in use and it must simply be time for it to be here for now.”   

I have two questions for the towns and cities acquiring or already having MRAPs in their inventory.  

Did anybody investigate the cost of upgrading, maintaining, and operating an MRAP?  

I found that a MRAP gets 3 miles per gallon.  The tires cost about $925 each and the “run flat” liners cost around $750 each.   There are filters and other things unique to MRAP that are not readily available in the civilian market and are quite expensive.  The cost of outfitting the machine and maintaining that equipment is yet another issue.  

Did anyone think out the operational protocols for their current or prospective MRAP?

There are all sorts of issues within that topic.  The basic issue is in what scenarios are you going to use it?  I have problems conceiving what a small Connecticut town like Montville would do with an MRAP.  Given the trend toward the militarization of civilian police forces, I have grave concerns especially should the police chief be authoritarian with little or no regard for the rights of the citizenry.  

Someone else has explored that concept in an article in HüK Magazine.  You can read it here http://www.hukmag.com/2013/11/huk-looks-into-mraps-coming-soon-to-a-town-near-you/.  The author’s name is a pseudonym but anyone looking to contact the author or converse about the article can contact the magazine's editor-in-chief directly at iancthomas@hukmag.com.