Open meeting needed prior to APC purchase

Briefly, we would like to address the purchase of the new Lenco BearCat armored personnel carrier. We feel the plan to make this lease/purchase was not well thought out to say the least.

First, we have concerns about the practicality of purchasing a vehicle which will carry deputies into an armed confrontation who are not able to wear tactical gear inside because of cramped quarters. They would have to exit the vehicle to rescue someone and then where would the protection be? Are they going to yell, “time out” when they exit the vehicle to don their protective gear and then go for the assault on the perpetrator?

Second, couldn’t we borrow one if need be from a larger municipality who is financially more capable of maintaining this type of vehicle in the event that we should need to use one?

Third, how many times in the past 10 years in Bonner County could we have used this in an active shooter scenario? There was also a statement that purchasing a used one from military surplus would not work because the maintenance would be too high. If you dollar cost average the purchase price of a used versus a new and factor the maintenance and repair, we think you might be surprised at the savings and wisdom to looking at a used one. However, our feeling is, Bonner County does not need such a vehicle in its’ inventory.

The commissioners should have held an open town meeting to address this possible purchase. They might be surprised at the number of people who would have come up with alternatives that made a whole lot more sense than this. If this is discretionary spending money we should question the budget of the sheriff’s office. If there is a need to purchase four new vehicles a year and suddenly they can do with three because they want this new “show of force,” then perhaps we need to look at the overall budget as well.

MARLENE PETERSEN

LOUIE BARBEAU

ERIK DAARSTAD

MICHAEL SPURGIN

MARTY STITSEL

Sandpoint