Newberg-Dundee police have been gifted a vehicle that officials say will be utilized locally primarily as a means of keeping officers and the citizenry safe, rather than its original designation as a military weapon of war.
The armored vehicle came to Newberg after the NDPD successfully applied for a grant through a government surplus program, a release from the agency said. The rig, similar in size and configuration to the military’s mine-resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicle deployed during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, cost in excess of $672,000, but came to Newberg for free.
“It was remarkably given to us at no cost under the stipulation that it be used for rescue purposes only,” the release said. “This program allows these vehicles to continue to serve a protective purpose in our communities even after their military functionality has been disabled.”
The NDPD can deploy the large vehicle, which is roughly the size of a fire engine, to transport officers and equipment to a scene while providing armored protection from pistol and rifle fire.