LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a request from the Lake County Sheriff's Office to accept a used light armored vehicle from the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office.
The board approved the receipt of the 1994 Cadillac Commando light armored vehicle in a 4-0 vote. Board Chair Denise Rushing was absent for the meeting.
Undersheriff Patrick Turturici and Capt. Chris Macedo went to the board with the request to accept the vehicle from the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, which it was noted during the meeting is upgrading to a new $300,000 SWAT vehicle and so offered the vehicle to Lake County.
Sheriff's command staff also took the Cadillac Commando to the courthouse, parking it on N. Forbes St.
“It does turns heads,” Turturici noted during the discussion.
The Cadillac Commando has a top speed of 65 miles per hour, has a hydraulic ram, can withstand a .50-caliber round and has tires, not metal tracks, like the sheriff's current SWAT vehicle, a Vietnam-era M113 that Macedo said the sheriff's office acquired about 10 to 15 years ago from the military.
“In high risk operations, this can be used to keep the officers safe when they're attempting to breach residences on search warrants,” said Macedo, adding the vehicle also can be used in situations involving injured officers.
The vehicle also is free, Macedo said. The sheriff's office just has to pay maintenance and upkeep.
“It will provide the officers a safer environment to work out of in these types of operations instead of doing it the way we currently do it now,” said Macedo.
Farrington asked during the discussion if the M113 assault vehicle LCSO already owns had ever been used. Macedo said it had been used a few times. “It's just too cumbersome and burdensome to try to utilize that vehicle in these operations, especially when time is of the essence in a lot of situations.”
Farrington asked if the sheriff's office already had taken possession of the Cadillac Commando, which community members have reported seeing being driven through Lower Lake and Clearlake.
Macedo said the sheriff's office was borrowing it – and had used it in an operation – in anticipation of the board's approval.
Board members noted during the meeting that they had been contacted by concerned constituents about the vehicle, with some community members believing it was an armed assault vehicle or a tank.
Supervisor Rob Brown said he understood the concerns. “The first thing that people react to is the military aspect of law enforcement.”
Brown said he researched the diesel vehicle, which has 3,600 hours of use and overall is in good shape.
“It's not an assault vehicle. It's not armed or anything like that,” he said, explaining that it can get 10 men up close to an incident. “It's a big shield.”
In the end, “I think it's justified,” Brown said.
Supervisor Jeff Smith agreed.
“Really, you don’t have to sell this to me,” said Smith, adding that it's a matter of officer safety.
Smith asked if the sheriff's office planned on getting rid of the M113. Macedo said they are working on it right now, with the process requiring it to be returned to the military.
Smith said of the new vehicle, “If it helps one time it’s paid for itself.”
Supervisor Jim Comstock asked if it would have tires that a suspect can't shoot out. Macedo said yes.
Farrington requested a short break so the board could go out and take a look at the vehicle.
After returning to the chambers, the board reconvened. There was no public comment.
Before the 4-0 vote, Farrington said he couldn't resist asking, “Is this going to be a take home vehicle?”
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