Police special response team puts a $345,000 armored truck to work, retiring a donated MRAP that rarely left the lot

The Princeton Police Department's Special Response Team has a new armored vehicle, and it has already been used on calls for service, according to the Princeton Herald.

The department has received a Gurkha Multi-Purpose Vehicle from Terradyne Armored Vehicles, a manufacturer based in Ontario, Canada, the Herald reported Thursday. Residents may have seen it last month at the city's Pumpkin BooLooza, one of several community events where it has been on display.

The cost and how it was paid for

The Herald reported a base price of $244,000 plus $101,000 in optional upgrades, about $345,000 in all. The money came from sales tax revenue that the Princeton Community Development Corporation authorized for the purchase, and the City Council approved it on March 9.

What it replaces

The Gurkha takes the place of a surplus military MRAP, short for mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle, that the Wylie Police Department passed to Princeton two years ago. A police sergeant told the Herald that the MRAP was used only twice, was impractical on city streets and was stuck in first gear.

What the new truck is

According to the Herald, the Gurkha rides on a Ford F-550 four-wheel-drive chassis with a 6.7-liter turbo-diesel V8 rated at 330 horsepower. Its armor is designed to stop .50-caliber rounds and hand-grenade blasts, and it carries run-flat tires, thermal imaging and several cameras. Inside, it has a standard Ford infotainment screen.

Public Safety Director James Waters told the Herald the vehicle is "another tool to help safeguard our officers and citizens" and said it has proven useful for officer safety and critical operations. He said the public reaction at community events has been positive.

Sources

princetonherald.com

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