The Sarnia Police Service (SPS) has been given the green light to purchase a used 2013 armoured rescue vehicle.
The SPS Board approved the $20,000 (plus HST) purchase during Thursday's meeting.
Deputy Chief/ Acting Chief Michael Van Sickle said through networking, they were offered the opportunity to purchase a 2013 Terradyne Gurkha Rapid Patrol Vehicle from Bruce Nuclear, as they go through an evergreen replacement schedule.
The vehicle, which has a Level 6 ballistic rating, is intended to be utilized by the SPS's Emergency Response Team.
"This is a defensive vehicle. It protects our members so that they can put themselves in harm's way with more protection," Van Sickle said.
A report to the board specifically mentioned the arrest of Kyaw Doe in London, in which the London Police Service used their own armoured vehicle.
"If this were to take place in Sarnia, we would be down the street, hiding behind trees, hiding behind buildings," Van Sickle told the board.
The SPS doesn't currently have an armoured vehicle.
A new one can cost between $300,000 and $500,000, while a used or refurbished vehicle can be found for under $100,000, stated the SPS report.
Board Vice Chair and City Councillor Anne Marie Gillis called the acquisition "forward thinking."
"When you look at where we are situated as a border town, we never know what's coming our way," Gillis said. "This makes sense that we have something like this."
It's unknown when the SPS will take ownership of the vehicle, but Van Sickle said they're hopeful for September.
"Optimistically, if we have it by September, we'll be encouraged by that," he told local media.
As stated in the report, an initial investment will be required to prepare the vehicle, such as paint, SPS branding, interior detailing, and equipment installation. However, Van Sickle said estimates are not yet known.
The Chatham-Kent Police Service unveiled its armoured vehicle in 2023, which was donated, and paid $50,000 to repaint the vehicle, refurbish its suspension, ventilation system, and electronics.
Van Sickle said the SPS already has a lot of the equipment needed, and the cost will be minimal compared to a regular outfit of one of their patrol vehicles.
"There's not going to be a lot of work that needs to be done with it," he said. "We are going to put identifiable markings on it so everybody knows it is our product. So, it'll have a similar subdued look to some of our current vehicles."
The armoured vehicle is built on a Ford F-550 chassis, and Van Sickle said considering the majority of SPS vehicles are Fords, they're very comfortable with the line. He also said no specialized training would be needed in order to operate it.
"Every police officer will have the ability to drive it. We are going to exclusively use it with our Emergency Response Team," he said. "I did allude to in the meeting, you're going to see it when they're out but they train every Wednesday, and it's likely going to be mobile the majority of those days as they familiarize themselves with it."
Van Sickle said the vehicle will also be available for the public to see during community events, such as parades.
It will be stored at one of the two locations the service is planning to lease.
"This vehicle has to be stored inside," he said. "In the summertime, it can be outside because we're not worried about frost and cold weather. But the glass on these vehicles is so thick that it would take hours to defrost. So if you were to turn it on to use it operationally, it may not be ready until tomorrow in the winter."
The vehicle's $20,000 cost will be funded through the police equipment reserve.
Board Chair Kelly Ash said the service has pre-budgeted for the armoured vehicle and getting it at the trade-in value from Bruce Nuclear offers a huge cost savings.
