Sacramento police haven't used armored track vehicle nearly two years since it was purchased for $430,000

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

The Police Department purchased the vehicle, called the Rook, using $430,000 from a federal grant. The Sacramento City Council approved the purchase in late January 2023 after a lengthy and heated debate in which critics, including one council member, said this was “further militarizing” local law enforcement.

The Rook’s armored-plating is designed to protect officers facing the threat of gunfire; the vehicle is not meant for “any of the traditional senses of military use,” Police Chief Kathy Lester said at that City Council meeting. The Rook, Lester said, allows officers the mobility to gain safe positions of advantage and provides opportunities for them to resolve dangerous situations using de-escalation techniques and potentially less force “when dealing with really violent people.”

In June 2019, Sacramento police Officer Tara O’Sullivan was killed in an ambush while trying to help a woman retrieve her belongings from a home where Adel Sambrano Ramos had been behaving erratically. O’Sullivan was mortally wounded by gunfire and lay on the ground nearly an hour before tactical officers were able to secure her rescue. After an hourslong standoff, the armed gunman, later identified as Ramos, surrendered.

In early December, police officials confirmed the armored vehicle purchased 23 months ago has not been used. They said the vehicle was at the city Fleet Services department being outfitted. It’s unclear how the vehicle is being outfitted and whether the service it’s undergoing was the reason the Rook hasn’t been used. Police officials said they would be able to answer these questions after the armored track vehicle is returned to them.

Read more at: https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article297187329.html#storylink=cpy

[displacedvermoter]

1. I am amazed that officers left a wounded fellow officer lying on the ground for an hour.

I cannot believe the lack of a tank prevented the rescue of a fellow officer. The more we spend on equipping and training of these paramilitary, the less actual protection our citizens receive, and apparently their own colleagues are also more at risk.

[bottomofthehill]

5. It's not easy to run to gunfire, even more difficult to run into a hail of bullets

This vehicle could have saved her life. It puts a barricade between the wounded and the shooter so medical assistance can get to the victim and begin. It could be helpful in any active shooter situation. School shooting, concert shooting, grocery store shooting , any domestic situation, church or synagogue shooting, college or university shooting, movie theater shooting, we have seen them all. Think of the lives that could have been saved in Uvalde if they had one of these. Expensive, hell yes, necessary, not until you need one.

[DBoon]

10. The problem is any idiot can legally own weapons

that create a hail of bullets so intense the police cannot manage it.

Too many people who want their "man card" validated

[bottomofthehill]

12. Yes, but the guns are out there

We have to figure out how to deal with the fallout.

[Wonder Why]

18. Think of the lives that could be saved in Uvalde by quick police action instead

of waiting for one of these to show up.

"21 died but we saved one when this baby showed up 30 minutes later."

[bottomofthehill]

19. That would have helped too

Anything armored. It’s easy to think of what you would do until you are confronted with the situation in reality. You can drill, you can train, but until the actual gunfire starts, you don’t know how you will react.

[Wonder Why]

23. That's why you train. In situations like Uvalde where the perp just wanted to kill, armored vehicles

are useless. Quick action to stop the perp is critical.

[Goonch]

3. Rook - Armored Critical Incident Vehicle

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

4. so basically it's... a modified Caterpillar Skid steer loader

[boonecreek]

6. Get a load of this thing.

Maybe they think we're going to be invaded by Wisconsin?

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

13. Ukraine could use a few of those

[boonecreek]

15. Yes they could.

I believe that's actually an MRAP. Here's one that
was sent to the San Diego public school police!
What the hell are those kids bringing to school, bazookas?

[crud]

7. Looks kinda goofy

I suppose if you have to knock down somebody's patio cover, or break up a concrete driveway.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

14. which they do. and do major damages to houses in search for suspects.

[usonian]

8. Madera County "Rescue" with armor plating and gun ports. Police like them big toys.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

21. yes, here they are TODAY using a citizen's vehicle for cover.

[usonian]

22. That's why some stores let shoplifters slide.

Don't want to risk lives for merchandise.

I think that the SF Westlake Mall closed shop. Haven't been there in ages. Looked real familiar.

[multigraincracker]

9. No end to police funding. Next on are guided missiles.

[MichMan]

11. Maybe state and local governments need to quit acting like federal money is "free"

If they had to spend their own local tax money on something like this, they likely would have passed.

[ZonkerHarris]

16. sound like a corrupt cover up to me.

[Old Crank]

17. It is not just the initial cost

You need to have special training for all these fancy macho tanks. Training hours and materials aren't free. Probably need 3 fully trained crews. Then special badges to wear.

Put the money into proper community policing, and de-escalation training.

[Nululu]

20. Send it to Ukraine NT