Toledo Police return armored tank to federal government

TOLEDO -- The Toledo Police Department is complying with a federal request to return a Vietnam War-era armored tank it received from the government years ago.

A federal recall of local law enforcement's military-style equipment and weapons requires the return of the tactical equipment by April 1; however, Toledo Police says it will return is earlier than the deadline after an executive order signed by President Barack Obama.

Lt. Joe Heffernan says the M113A2 Armored Personnel Carrier, now considered outdated technology, was loaned to the police department in 2005.

The tank was utilized by police to remove people from shooting incidents as well as deploying officers into dangerous situations. Heffernan says the vehicle was used only sparingly.

"We have something that's a little better anyways, that's more suited for our purposes," said Toledo Police Lt. Joe Heffernan. "It's called a Bearcat, and that's something we got regionally from the Department of Homeland Security. That also has armored plating on it, that's a wheeled vehicle, and that's what we use when we have those types of situations now."

Officials say federal authorities had planned to pick up the tank last week but its return was postponed to an undetermined later date.

The federal government is recalling the military equipment after photographs responding to protests in Ferguson, Missouri depicted local police appearing like a military force.

(The Associated Press contributed to this article.)