General Discussion

Savannahmann

(3,891 posts) Sun Sep 29, 2013, 08:45 AM Sep 2013

So why do the cops need a tank? [View all]

The Dallas cops just got a tank worth more than half a million dollars for free.

Dallas County sheriff's deputies traveled to Fort Hood earlier this month and picked up their very own International MaxxPro MRAP. This particular truck has never seen any actual combat, having only been deployed stateside for training exercises, so it doesn't have any cool battle scars, but with the dealer's $600,000 price tag knocked down to nothing, and with just 10,000 miles on it, the deal was too good to pass up.

Gee, if only it had cool battle scars right? Seriously, why do the police need a vehicle intended to fight a war? Are they expecting to get shot at by RPG's? Are they expecting roadside bombs to go off on a daily basis?

So why do the cops need a tank? What's next? Why not give the Police Department an Apache Helicopter? I mean, imagine how fast they could serve warrants and raid drug houses with an armed attack helicopter. Imagine how short those shootouts would be if they could call in fire from a 20MM cannon that is circling overhead to provide assistance.

Is there no end to this nonsense?

110 replies

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Highlight:

So why do the cops need a tank? [View all] Savannahmann Sep 2013 OP

To play cowboys and indians when on a coffee break? darkangel218 Sep 2013 #1

Well 1st its not a tank Duckhunter935 Sep 2013 #2

It will make it easier to blend in with the military....just in snappyturtle Sep 2013 #3

There is NO earthly reason for police to have such vehicles Cooley Hurd Sep 2013 #4

(((((((Cooley Hurd))))))) TeeYiYi Sep 2013 #64

Thank you! Cooley Hurd Sep 2013 #70

I think you hit the nail on the head when you said no "earthly" reason. Pterodactyl Sep 2013 #89

To support the scoopers... HereSince1628 Sep 2013 #5

. eppur_se_muova Sep 2013 #88

Misleading headline intaglio Sep 2013 #6

The purpose of that vehicle is primarily protection from landmines? HereSince1628 Sep 2013 #14

It is still not a tank intaglio Sep 2013 #22

I think it's not worth getting hung up on such things, tank was a slang term HereSince1628 Sep 2013 #32

Firstly it is not now a slang term intaglio Sep 2013 #36

and I think you're using it as a strawman to avoid addressing the central point of the post. HereSince1628 Sep 2013 #43

Read my original post in this sub-thread intaglio Sep 2013 #46

I think people just don't know any better wercal Sep 2013 #104

I posted below, but I'll reiterate here. Savannahmann Sep 2013 #33

More armour - what do you mean by that? intaglio Sep 2013 #39

By more armor I mean resistance ability Savannahmann Sep 2013 #50

So you have the ability to look up the reality intaglio Sep 2013 #60

I think there is something deliberate going on. Savannahmann Sep 2013 #71

I did not avoid the point of the post originally intaglio Sep 2013 #94

I don't buy for a second that that thing has more armor than modern AFVs. (nt) Posteritatis Sep 2013 #40

Perhaps you might want to rethink that. Savannahmann Sep 2013 #45

The MRAP is an APC designed to stop a particular type of ordinance intaglio Sep 2013 #48

The Bradley was designed to be an APC Paulie Sep 2013 #58

Not unique, the Scorpion light tank is a similar beast intaglio Sep 2013 #63

That's how it is here with any kind of weapon or weapon system Paulie Sep 2013 #67

If people generalise and use false descriptions intaglio Sep 2013 #92

They can be, but it's usually troop transport. sakabatou Sep 2013 #62

Coaxial machine gun? Not even. You don't know what you are talking about. GreenStormCloud Sep 2013 #109

LOL, their is always some literal genius on the DU who misses the whole point of a post! n-t Logical Sep 2013 #61

No there are persons trying to incite outrage intaglio Sep 2013 #65

There should be outrage. You just are too hung up on one word. I get it. n-t Logical Sep 2013 #66

I'm "hung up" on people lying intaglio Sep 2013 #93

LOL, sure you are! nt Logical Sep 2013 #98

Maybe they were inspired by the scene in "Michael Collins" TexasProgresive Sep 2013 #7

That is not a tank. It's an armored personnel vehicle. MineralMan Sep 2013 #8

They want to use it for serving warrants. Really. muriel_volestrangler Sep 2013 #87

Zombie Apocalyse. leveymg Sep 2013 #9

It's not a tank, and for free, the price is right Renew Deal Sep 2013 #10

care and maintenance Duckhunter935 Sep 2013 #11

They want to be "Boston Stong" too! RandiFan1290 Sep 2013 #12

The Chief and the Mayor can wave to the peasants from it in parades. lpbk2713 Sep 2013 #13

You may recall that at Waco they had to wait until the Army supplied then with Tanks 1-Old-Man Sep 2013 #15

Gee, what could go wrong? RedCappedBandit Sep 2013 #107

So they can defend the morons who do this sort of shit: Stinky The Clown Sep 2013 #16

It's for when they see little women and old folks make a 'sudden movement' jsr Sep 2013 #17

Barney would have loved the tank DefenseLawyer Sep 2013 #18

All the evidence suggests that the government believes that it is at war with the populace Taitertots Sep 2013 #19

+1 Very sad, but I fear you are right. Live and Learn Sep 2013 #56

The very way cops refer to 'civilians' is evidence enough. RedCappedBandit Sep 2013 #108

this is why the pentagon eats half our taxes. mopinko Sep 2013 #20

One word... demwing Sep 2013 #21

As many others said, it's not a tank... But here in the US, it might as well be penultimate Sep 2013 #23

I find it interesting don't you? Savannahmann Sep 2013 #24

Looks like a tank to me. :>)) pangaia Sep 2013 #26

It seems similar to why people get corrected when they use the term battleship instead of warship... penultimate Sep 2013 #37

Battleships during the 19th Century Savannahmann Sep 2013 #44

Some people don't care about the precision of their language .... oldhippie Sep 2013 #59

"Is there no end to this nonsense? " pangaia Sep 2013 #25

To get in between shooters and victims. aikoaiko Sep 2013 #27

MIC plying their goods, nothing more . orpupilofnature57 Sep 2013 #28

Ohio State University recently got one too. thatgemguy Sep 2013 #29

That's *The* Ohio State University to you, buddy. winter is coming Sep 2013 #74

The LEOs don't need it, but the manufacturer's love the tax writeoff. Thor_MN Sep 2013 #30

To manufacture... canuckledragger Sep 2013 #31

Several reasons... Lithos Sep 2013 #34

At most, each county should have an armored vehicle... penultimate Sep 2013 #41

Ludicrous Savannahmann Sep 2013 #47

Completely disagree Lithos Sep 2013 #84

I see what you are saying but, gejohnston Sep 2013 #69

I assume the question is rhetorical. nm rhett o rick Sep 2013 #35

Blame the second amendment. Donald Ian Rankin Sep 2013 #38

And a band-aid from time to time, What's your point ? orpupilofnature57 Sep 2013 #51

That outrage about this purchase is probably misplaced. N.T. Donald Ian Rankin Sep 2013 #54

so they can do what they did in Fresno in 91 reddread Sep 2013 #42

To deescalate highly tense situations and calm everyone down, of course! NuclearDem Sep 2013 #49

follow the dollar grasswire Sep 2013 #52

It's not a tank...it's a truck. EOM aristocles Sep 2013 #53

To intimidate the People, pure & simple. We are the terrorists, now. CrispyQ Sep 2013 #55

The oil companies are behind it. It gets 0.5 miles per gallon. JEFF9K Sep 2013 #57

Close. Very close. jmowreader Sep 2013 #96

Right or wrong -- to keep up with the increasingly armed populace, and militia loons. Hoyt Sep 2013 #68

Why? To quell the masses from agitating ... davekriss Sep 2013 #72

Because... jmowreader Sep 2013 #73

And if they were a serious threat Savannahmann Sep 2013 #75

I'm going to disagree with you on this jmowreader Sep 2013 #83

Technically, it is NOT a tank. It is an armored vehicle. Not that I'm saying they need one. Pterodactyl Sep 2013 #76

Check out some of the replies upthread Savannahmann Sep 2013 #80

You should change your username. A HERETIC I AM Sep 2013 #85

Have you ever BEEN to Dallas? jazzimov Sep 2013 #77

Well, since we don't allow use of our military for domestic enforcement... ljm2002 Sep 2013 #78

The official did say they were going to deliver warrants with it. PDJane Sep 2013 #79

Perhaps they're afraid that Batman will come to Dallas. Savannahmann Sep 2013 #81

That ain't even a APC. Rex Sep 2013 #82

Boi-oi-oi-oi-oing. Iggo Sep 2013 #86

It's not a balloon ... It's an airship. Alkene Sep 2013 #90

Because granny might be smoking a joint in her kitchen. Warren DeMontague Sep 2013 #91

So that they can approach bad guys without getting shot Recursion Sep 2013 #95

They need an armored personnel vehicle Enthusiast Sep 2013 #97

Last time I looked, that ain't no tank. That's to cart around some pigliCON governor somewhere. lonestarnot Sep 2013 #99

We got one like that here a few years ago only has more wheels klyon Sep 2013 #100

You seem to approve Savannahmann Sep 2013 #102

I think you read too much into my post klyon Sep 2013 #105

THe same reason middle aged men get corvettes AngryAmish Sep 2013 #101

Magic Word "FREE" One_Life_To_Give Sep 2013 #103

As soon as the technology allows for it, kentauros Sep 2013 #106

The Apache's chain gun is a 30mm, not a 20mm. N/T GreenStormCloud Sep 2013 #110