East Brunswick Police Get Military Surplus Vehicle

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — The East Brunswick Police Department recently acquired this 15-ton Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle (MRAP) through the somewhat controversial military surplus program.

The federal program allows the transfer of excess Department of Defense property that might otherwise be destroyed to law enforcement agencies across the United States. The newly acquired armored MRAP, valued at $700,000, holds approximately 8 to 12 people and can cross any terrain, East Brunswick police say.

Under the 1033 Law Enforcement Support Office program, many police departments in New Jersey are able to get free military surplus equipment and vehicles being discarded by the Dept. of Defense. However, as the arsenal for municipal police departments grew — including automatic rifles, armored trucks and even a grenade launcher — some began questioning the safety and necessity of the equipment. Lawmakers intervened, and today, many small towns in New Jersey must first pass a public resolution before they can acquire excess military equipment.

South Brunswick, for example, no longer receives any military surplus equipment. Holmdel receives minor discarded gear, such as backpacks for their officers. Aberdeen Township did receive two Humvees a few years ago, one of which is no longer in service. As the Moorestown Patch reported, two years ago Moorestown, N.J. tried to acquire an MRAP of their own but encountered heavy public backlash, and the police dept. abandoned the proposal. Some residents were concerned about the appearance of a militarized police force, and others said they disliked the idea of seeing a vehicle used in military combat rolling down the streets of Moorestown. This April, the Township decided to get a Humvee instead.

The MRAP was acquired at no cost to East Brunswick taxpayers. The only fee incurred was to transport the vehicle from Florida to East Brunswick for $4,850, which was paid for using forfeiture funds (money seized in drug sale arrests, etc.).

East Brunswick police say they will use the MRAP as a rescue vehicle, as it can operate in all kinds of severe weather conditions, including heavy snowfall and can travel through heavily flooded roadways. Police plan to use it to transport people to the hospital during a severe weather event, such as a blizzard or torrential rainstorm. Officers can also use the MRAP to pull fallen trees and other debris off roadways, East Brunswick police say. It will also be used during SWAT operations done by the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office.