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NAMPA, Idaho (AP) — A southwest Idaho city councilor will work with police to create a policy for using a military vehicle on loan from the U.S. Department of Defense.
Concern about the use of military vehicles by civilian police forces led to a standing-room only crowd at a Nampa City Council meeting Monday, the Idaho Press-Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/1s6DKDI ). Councilors agreed that Nampa City Councilor Bruce Skaug will work with police on the appropriate use of the vehicle.
The policy will be brought before the city council at a future date concerning the mine-resistant ambush protected vehicle, or MRAP, obtained by the Nampa Police Department in September 2013.
"The MRAP is what we have," Skaug said. "We can paint a smiley face on it if we have to, but we need to keep that in the arsenal for our police."
His remarks at that point were interrupted by applause from the audience, the newspaper reported.
Nampa Police Chief Craig Kingsbury said the vehicle has been used 13 times. Total cost to the department so far has been about $3,000. He said he'd rather have an armored vehicle intended to be deployed among civilian populations called a BEARCAT, but those cost $300,000. He said the city was turned down for a grant to obtain one of the vehicles.
He said the military vehicle is more than the department needs, but "the price was right."
The department previously used an armored bank vehicle, but Kingsbury said that in recent years it became too expensive to keep running.
Councilor Stephen Kren said he had concerns about the Nampa Police Department becoming militarized.
"Officer safety has always been a high priority, but when I look at this military vehicle, I really do have some reservations why we need that in Nampa," Kren said. "I guess one thing I'd like to ask is what's changed within the 16 years? We strive to keep our officers safe and we've never had a request before to bring in military-type vehicles."
Skaug said he agrees with Mayor Bob Henry that city leaders need to be involved.
"There should be council approval for acceptance of any military surplus coming into our community," Skaug said.
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Information from: Idaho Press-Tribune, http://www.idahopress.com
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