The Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners held a special meeting on Wednesday to approve the purchase of a BearCat armored rescue vehicle.
“Our request for this purchase is all about being prepared and able to respond quickly when needed,” said Grand Traverse County Sheriff Tom Bensley.
Sheriff Bensley had been pushing for another BearCat in Northern Michigan, despite opposition.
State Police already have one in Gaylord, and one in Roscommon.
The sheriff says those were requested 45 times in the last seven years.
“In that seven year period, the emergency response team has been requested nine times by the Traverse City Police Department,” said Sheriff Bensley.
The nearly $260,000 dollar vehicle has blast-proof windows and hardened walls.
Sheriff Bensley says it will be used primarily for major events like the National Cherry Festival—where extra security is be needed.
Those against the purchase said funds would be better spent elsewhere.
“Housing, mental health services, child care, elder care, are all demonstrated needs in our community,” said one individual. “Approving the purchase of a BearCat would, when such basic human needs remain unmet, be fiscally and socially irresponsible.”
Another woman said the presence of the vehicle would make her feel uncomfortable.
“I read some of the comments about how this would be used for public safety, but I do not feel safer with a para-militaristic law enforcement agency in my community, I feel threatened by that,” she said.
Others supported the purchase.
“This isn’t a military vehicle, and there’s no difference between this armored vehicle and the armored vehicle that delivers money to banks, or the armored vehicle that our president rides around in–the reason for this is protection,” said one man.
One county commissioner was on the fence for most of the two-hour meeting.
“I hear their needs and I don’t want to say no to them, but it feels like this whole thing is about more than this individual budget request,” said Commissioner Bryce Hundley.
In the end, all but one county commissioner voted in favor of the BearCat.
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