Issue: How to add more power with ex-military equipment.
The DuPage County Police motor pool includes Humvees® to transport
prisoners, plus an armored personnel carrier for a S.W.A.T. team equipped with M16s.
Sound like a lot of power for an area of suburban homes, high tech
research labs and Fortune 1000 companies? DuPage County is located just 20
miles from Chicago and includes nearly one million residents.
"After events like Columbine, we became aware that we might need
additional protection to be ready for anything," says Staff Sergeant Bob Reogner.
In fact, because of Sheriff John Zaruba's experience as a member and Executive
Officer of the Special Operations Team, he insisted that they pursue the
acquisition of this type of equipment.
Approach: About four years ago, Reogner and Deputy Randy Groh both started
to hear about a government program that could help provide the equipment
they wanted at little or no cost.
The Department of Defense Law Enforcement Support Office (LESO) program
transfers used military equipment to police departments.
Today, the DuPage S.W.A.T. team uses its armored personnel carrier when
responding to hostage situations and other calls where an armed suspect is
barricaded or threatening to harm the public. Officers can approach a scene,
protected inside the vehicle or walking beside it, equipped with M16 rifles
also acquired through LESO.
The vehicle is equipped for maximum effectiveness. "We were requested
to put on so much lighting and other equipment, we were concerned that the
electrical system could break down in the middle of a S.W.A.T. operation," says Groh.
Result: "I talked to Code 3, and they custom-designed four light bars,
one with six flood lights, and all with LED packages to reduce the current
draw," he says. "Code 3 made them extremely compact, so we could put a ton
of lights in a very small space."
It makes an impressive display. "Suspects have taken one look at
the vehicle and given up without a fight," Groh says. |
