UC Berkeley Drops Plan to Buy Armored Vehicle
BERKELEY, Calif. — The University of California, Berkeley campus police department will not acquire an armored vehicle that it planned to procure using a federal grant.
UC Berkeley police, in partnership with the Berkeley and Albany city police, planned to purchase a Lenco BearCat vehicle to protect officers and civilians in situations involving hostages or active shooters, The Daily Californian reports. Community members, however, were concerned the vehicle would be used to intimidate protestors.
The three departments planned to share the vehicle, with the UCPD maintaining custody when it was not in use. In a statement Thursday, UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert Birgeneau, Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates and Albany Mayor Farid Javendel said that the vehicle would not be “the best choice for a university setting.”
Related Articles:
- Glide Cruisers for Campus Patrol
- 5 Tips for Funding New Patrol Equipment
- USC Campus Security: Taking It to the Streets
- Michigan State Police Test 2012 Patrol Cars
- Vehicle Alternative Stands Out From the Crowd
If you appreciated this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our FREE digital newsletters!
Leading in Turbulent Times: Effective Campus Public Safety Leadership for the 21st Century
This new webcast will discuss how campus public safety leaders can effectively incorporate Clery Act, Title IX, customer service, “helicopter” parents, emergency notification, town-gown relationships, brand management, Greek Life, student recruitment, faculty, and more into their roles and develop the necessary skills to successfully lead their departments. Register today to attend this free webcast!