WTF? Over

[vernal45]

I try to stay away from threads on the militarization of the police since I was banned from THR.  But this is just wrong, on so many levels.  WTF does any police agency need with a BELT FED 50 cal. 


S.C. Sheriff's Department Armored Vehicle with Belt-Fed Machine Gun

The Richland County (S.C.) Sheriff's Department has acquired an armored personnel carrier complete with a turret-mounted .50-caliber belt-fed machine gun for its Special Response Team.

Sheriff Leon Lott told the Columbia State newspaper that he hoped the vehicle, named "The Peacemaker," would let the bad guys know that his officers are serious.

"We don't look at this as a killing machine," Lott told the paper. "It's going to keep the peace. We hope the fact that we have this is going to save lives. When something like this rolls up, it's time to give up."

The Peacemaker has a top speed of 30 mph.

http://www.policemag.com/News/2008/03/06/S-C-Sheriffs-Department-Armored-Vehicle-with-Belt-Fed-Machine-Gun.aspx

[RevDisk]

Wonder how much that one cost the tax payers.  Probably have to write a lot of tickets to cover maintenance costs and such.

[Paddy]

That's over the top.  The citizens of Richland County should find out who authorized that and fire his ass.

[Archie]

Uh, for South Carolina?

Knowing something about bureaucracies...

The department (or city) applied for either a grant of money or equipment for something they wanted and probably needed, like a couple more computers, or an extra jail cell for the lockup.

Whoever they applied to countered with, "We don't have an extra $50,000 this fiscal year, but we've got this surplus bit of equipment you can have - just so you don't go home empty handed, you see."

Figuring (A) this was all they were going to get, regardless of what they wanted, and (B) if they didn't take whatever it was they were offered, NEXT TIME they wouldn't get anything; they accepted.

Now they're putting the best possible face on it.

(You know some neighbor or fellow church member is asking the Sheriff, "Leon, what in blazes is that thingimabob anyhow?")

The late Will Rogers once said, "I don't make up any jokes, folks.  I just watch the government and report what they're doing."

[Standing Wolf]

Somebody's tax dollars at play.

[RocketMan]

I'm sure it won't be abused...

[doc2rn]

I bet they got that out of the bone yard with the LAVs on the weapon station in Charleston, SC. I saw more than one of those just sitting around for over 3 yrs. Now that the city has control of the main base since they refused to put in a draw bridge for aircraft carriers they probably pulled that out to salvage some pride.

[johnster999]

The good news is they won't be able to afford the maintenance and it'll spend it's time sitting in the shop.

When they run out of jail space, they can just lock up the overflow in it (sans belt fed).

[quiet]

I know of two county sheriff departments (the one i live in and the one i work in) that have belt fed machineguns in their inventory.
So far, they only have a few Saco M-60s and FN M-249s.

[vernal45]

For sheer comedy, go over to cop talk on the glock talk forum and read some of the posts justifying this. The should write fantasy. 

[Manedwolf]

Someone wanted a "YEE HAW!!!" toy to "practice" with.

They got the toy. The taxpayers paid for it.

[MicroBalrog]

How much does an M2 cost anyway? I bet it's not all that expensive, it's not like they're some uber-hight-tech equipment.

[Manedwolf]

The question is what on earth they would use it for! There is nothing I can think of that a police department would have to do that would call for a crew-served heavy machine gun of any sort. Especially a .50. That's just asking for friendly fire and accidental killing of bystanders.

If you need something like that, that's what the National Guard is for. They tend to result in less collateral damage to civilians, because they're trained.

Aside from that, if someone is so serious a threat that they'd need to bring this in, it's one vehicle, probably an older one. And one guy with a Garand loaded with a box of old AP could probably take it down by aiming at the driver's area.

[Chris]

I used to serve on a grant committee for the local Sheriff's Department.  One time, they got approval for getting on the Fed. Ddollar a dozen M-14 rifles, select fire.  You know, with "da switch."  They wanted the rifles.  When I asked why, it was like someone turned on the big bright light.  The rifles were legal for civilian sale (Class III).  They had no use for the rifles, but could trade the rifles to a Class III dealer and get two new AR-15's with accessories for each M-14.

Not what they may have in minds down in S.C., 'cause it ain't P.C. for LEO's to sell off weapons any more.  But, there could be a reason.





That, or they may be preparing for Al Quaida to attack.

[Manedwolf]

That, or they may be preparing for Al Quaida to attack.

If that were the case, I'd think they'd want to order a case of Rem 700s and give the officers sniper training. Best way to take down a jihad-yelling AK-waving or suicide-vest-wearing terrorist would be through a scope, IMO. They tend to like to do that "human shield" thing, and a full-auto .50 cal wouldn't be helpful.



Not sexy enough for the police?

[Phantom Warrior]

Am I correct in assuming this is wheeled?  Is it the same thing as the wheeled APC the Brazilian police use?  (Google "Peacemaker Armored Vehicle" and it's the third link or so down.)  Because I would LOVE to see a police department do all the maintenance to keep a tracked vehicle up and running.  I would make popcorn and sit down and watch that.

[RevDisk]

Am I correct in assuming this is wheeled?  Is it the same thing as the wheeled APC the Brazilian police use?  (Google "Peacemaker Armored Vehicle" and it's the third link or so down.)  Because I would LOVE to see a police department do all the maintenance to keep a tracked vehicle up and running.  I would make popcorn and sit down and watch that.

I betcha a dollar it's a M113.

[Manedwolf]

Am I correct in assuming this is wheeled?  Is it the same thing as the wheeled APC the Brazilian police use?  (Google "Peacemaker Armored Vehicle" and it's the third link or so down.)  Because I would LOVE to see a police department do all the maintenance to keep a tracked vehicle up and running.  I would make popcorn and sit down and watch that.

You get your wish.

Here it is. M113A2


http://www.rcsd.net/media/mar08/03-05-peacemaker.html

They'll just hire a contractor to fix it, at taxpayer expense.

The armored personnel carrier (APC) will provide additional assets to the Special Response Team (SRT) as they deal with a wide array of threats to our citizens.

Holy ____ I'm glad I don't live there. Hail of .50's coming through your wall from the adrenaline-tripping non-military-trained cops opening up on a suspect's house with the thing on full auto... 

Fascinating that they're all breaking firearms safety rules by aiming at the cameraman there. If they're that careful with the new toy, we're going to see on US soil what a line of 50 caliber bullets does to a (possibly innocent) human body.

Sheriff Lott stated that the name selected from the entries will be The Peacemaker because that is the APCs purpose and the bible refers to law enforcement in Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

O_o

[Manedwolf]

I should also note, it seems like Sheriff Lott is a crazed wannabe absolute ruler addicted to technology. What the hell? Check this out.

After his 15-year old daughter was harassed by a gang of youths, British citizen Howard Stapleton resorted to extreme measures.  He invented a device which emitted an ultrasonic pulse, four times a second for up to twenty minutes.  The device's 17-18 kHz high-pitched buzz resembled a mosquito.  While the device was imperceptible to anyone past around the age of 25, to teens and children in caused pain and irritation. 

The device has sold largely to local officials and law enforcement agencies, who install the device at shops, schools and railway stations to prevent children and teens from congregating at unwanted hours.  Approximately 75 percent of sales, according to Compound Security Systems are to government bodies.  These agencies see the device as a valuable tool to eliminate gang activity.

Now the device is starting to invade the U.S.  In October of 2007 the Richland County Sheriff's Office in South Carolina became the first U.S. organization to deploy the device.  The test deployment included units being placed at the Columbia Mall, a popular youth hangout.  Compound Security Systems provided the test units free of charge to drum up business stateside.  The police Sheriff Leon Lott was ecstatic at the chance to deploy the technology, stating, "We want to be proactive, we want to have this in place before we have problems like New York, and Boston and New Orleans."

http://www.dailytech.com/Every+Geezers+Dream+British+Bring+Teen+Repellent+To+States/article10720.htm

What the HELL?! At a mall? So this will affect young children and babies, and cause them annoyance and pain? BTW, I can hear that "mosquito" tone, and so can some other adults. Get this clown out of office before someone gets hurt.

[Tallpine]

Someone tell me now that we don't live in a police state ...  

[Bogie]

One of the St. Louis municipalities on the north side of Delmar has a belt-fed MG... And a population of a few hundred... Gotta wonder...
 
Betcha the thing gets called out for parades, etc... Because if it ever has to roll for real, a whole buncha stuff is going to have holes in it.
 

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

where can a guy buy one of those noise makers?  be great to close down parties with

[Werewolf]

I try to stay away from threads on the militarization of the police since I was banned from THR.  But this is just wrong, on so many levels.  WTF does any police agency need with a BELT FED 50 cal. 

Wha' hell son. Caint ya ask sumpin a bit harder to ansuh? Ta control the proles uh course.

[Finch]

Someone tell me now that we don't live in a police state ...   

There is room up there in Montana....right?

[seeker_two]

Anyone got a Molotov cocktail handy?....