BCSO unveils new BearCat

SANDPOINT — A piece of equipment deemed vital by the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office has finally dropped into place.

The department has acquired a Lenco BearCat armored personnel carrier that can safely insert deputies or extract wounded personnel and civilians in the event of an active-shooter scenario.

It’s purchasing the vehicle over a four-year period at a total cost of  $270,000, a sum which includes loan interest, according to Undersheriff Bob Bussey.

The BearCat replaces a 40-year-old U.S. Air Force Peacekeeper on loan from the Department of Defense. The Peacekeeper has proven unreliable, cramped and ill-suited for modern law enforcement.

The department’s acquisition of the BearCat is not without controversy.

The purchase proposal has drawn fire from some residents who see it militaristic overkill in a rural community that’s not besieged by the problems of urban areas or war zones.

But sheriff’s officials stand behind the acquisition.

Undersheriff Bob Bussey acknowledges the BearCat cuts an imposing image that may appear off-putting to some who view Bonner County as a place of tranquil, bucolic splendor, but adds that the area is not immune to problems typically associated with urban areas.

“No matter where we live, we could face the next school crisis or mall crisis,” said Bussey. “If the event happens tomorrow, we have the capability, ability and tools to respond quickly.”

One of the vehicle’s main capabilities is its ability to soak up gunfire while safely ushering deputies into a scene or evacuating the wounded or vulnerable. Ballistic curtains can be hooked to the BearCat’s running boards to shield those underneath the vehicle.

“It’s not an offensive weapon,” said Bussey.

It’s not outfitted with any weaponry, although it does have an ample number of gun ports that enable deputies to return gunfire. It also has an extendable, remote-controlled ram that can punch through doors or other obstacles without exposing deputies to gunfire.

By contrast, the Peacekeeper’s armor is so questionable that the department constructed new interior walls and stuffed the resulting void with old bulletproof vests.

“We do not know the ballistic capability of that steel,” said Bussey, adding that the front of the rig is particularly vulnerable to incoming fire.

The BearCat is entirely clad in armor that can withstand .50-caliber rounds. Some argue that the armoring itself is overkill, but Bussey notes that such heavy artillery is actually present in Bonner County.

Bussey concedes the there is an intimidation factor to the BearCat, which is accentuated when placed up against the Peacekeeper.

The BearCat is built on a Ford F-550 chassis, has four-wheel drive and offers a vastly improved field of view over the Peacekeeper. It can hold up to 13 deputies dressed in tactical gear, compared to the seven-person capacity of the Peacekeeper.

Although the interior of the BearCat is climate controlled and has video and thermal imaging capabilities, the rest of the vehicle is decidedly spartan. Deputies pressed for other bells and whistles, but Bussey said those requests were deemed nice to have but not necessary.

Contrary to the some perceptions in the community, the vehicle was not purchased through a federal grant, which often comes with strings attached.

“This is paid for with Bonner County funds,” said Bussey.