The Maine State Police is buying a new armored car for its tactical squad, but that’s drawing criticism from lawmakers because it wasn’t included in the state’s public safety budget.
Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Maine State Police got a federal grant to buy a specialized armored car for use by the tactical team in dangerous situations where the team could be fired on. The vehicle is now more than a dozen years old and is showing its age.
Col. Robert Williams, chief of the Maine State Police, says it is time to replace the vehicle, which has capabilities that are really beyond the need of the state police.
“Our existing one is one that was recommended at the time that you can actually drive into a WMD, or weapons of mass destruction zone, where there is hazardous material and survive it. And we realized after we bought it that we have no need to do that,” he says.
Williams says the current armored car is used dozens of times a year at such situations as an armed standoff or a domestic violence scene. He says the new vehicle will be more basic but will fulfill a need that appears to be growing.
“This is just basically an armored vehicle to get our people in and out of scenes safely. We use them to deliver equipment and stuff to the house, we talk to people, we use them to protect our people as we approach the house,” he says.
Williams says the state police have needed that capability for a long time, but never succeeded in getting it included in the budget. The new armored car, which will cost a over $300,000 after it is fully equipped, is being purchased with leftover capital funds in the last two-year state budget.
That money was transferred by financial order approved by the governor, but did not receive any scrutiny by the Legislature. Sen. Kim Rosen, a Bucksport Republican who co-chairs the Criminal Justice Committee, says it should have been reviewed by lawmakers, like other capital purchases.
“If they need to replace shoes or uniforms, they come to us, so this is a big deal,” she says.
Rosen says she did not know of LePage’s financial order to buy the vehicle until told by Maine Public Radio, nor did Westbrook Rep. Drew Gattine, who co-chairs the Appropriations Committee.
Part of the state police budget falls under the jurisdiction of the Transportation Committee, and the Senate Democrat on the panel, Bill Diamond of Windham, says he does not recall the issue being discussed in committee.
“This type of expenditure should have been run by the committee and said, ‘This is what we are doing and this is why we are doing it. It’s a financial order, so we don’t need your approval.’ But it really is a significant amount of money,” he says.
Williams says the existing armored car is clearly deficient, and when he found there was enough money left in the capital account to buy the new vehicle, he decided to seek the governor’s approval for the funding.
“I couldn’t take the chance of sticking our people out there without the protection they needed. So, I am sure there is criticism. I’m a firm believer that no matter what you do, people are going to criticize you. But, I’m not sure they can criticize you for being a good manager of your money,” he says.
The new armored car is expected to be delivered soon, and then it will be outfitted with communications and other equipment by state police technicians. Several other police agencies in Maine have armored vehicles, including the Portland Police Department.
