Redondo Beach, CA – The City Council approved the purchase of a Lenco BearCat armored assault vehicle for the Police Department this week. Funds for the $240,000 truck were obtained by the Police Department as part of a $560,000 Governor’s Homeland Security Grant last year.
The truck is capable of carrying eight officers into extremely precarious situations. The BearCat can withstand direct fire from up to a 50-caliber gun and is rated to travel through chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents.
The vehicle will be shared with the nine South Bay cities that participate in a mutual aid agreement and will also share maintenance responsibilities.
As another cost saving measure, the vehicle will be driven cross-country by overtime-exempt police staff from the plant in Pittsfield, Mass., to Redondo Beach for delivery. Shipping would cost around $8,000, whereas picking up the vehicle will only cost a little more than $3,000. This money will also come from the grant funds.