County getting armored ATV
BY SUZANNE WERRE
BHG News
The McLean County Sheriff’s Department will be getting a new armored vehicle following approval by the McLean County Commission at its meeting on Aug. 20.
The M-ATV is a smaller version of the MRAP the county currently has. The MRAP has been put into service several times, and McLean County Sheriff J.R. Kerzmann anticipates the M-ATV will, too.
“I’d rather hide behind one of these than a patrol car any day of the week,” said Kerzmann. “It’s not a matter of if, it’s when,” said Kerzmann.
The M-ATV will aid the department in responding to violent calls, gun calls, and when executing search warrants, he added. It will be an invaluable addition to the department’s arsenal.
According to Sheriff’s Deputy Richard Johnson, the federal government is giving 19 of the vehicles away, and North Dakota is fortunate to be getting one of them.
The commission approved a request of $3700 from forfeiture and auction funds to be allocated to the Sheriff’s Department for the procurement of the M-ATV.
