Chatham-Kent’s police chief is welcoming a recent donation of a new state-of-the-art armoured rescue vehicle (ARV), which he says will save lives in the community.
The Chatham-Kent Police Service unveiled a 7.28 metric tonne armoured vehicle during a media conference on Wednesday that will be utilized by the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT).
“I have to emphasize the fact that it is not an armed military vehicle, it has no offensive capabilities [and] is purely defensive in nature,” said police Chief Gary Conn “It can and it will save lives. Not just officer lives but the public and other emergency service personnel as well.”
Conn compared the new ARV to a ballistic shield, but instead of protecting one person, it can provide mobile cover for up to 10 people.
General Dynamics Land Systems in London, which manufactures armoured vehicles for various institutions around the world, donated the vehicle to the police service after developing a professional partnership with Chief Conn and retired Sgt. Paul Pomajba over the past six years.
General Dynamics has donated similar vehicles to only two other police services in the past, Conn said.
The new ARV will replace the police department’s armoured vehicle currently utilized by CIRT, which is well past its recommended lifecycle. The 32-year-old vehicle will no longer be used in the field, but will instead be used for training purposes.
Situations where the armoured vehicle might be used could include rescue operations, negotiations, evacuations, barricaded persons, an active killer, and other high-risk critical situations involving weapons and firearms.
“Thankfully this vehicle will not be called upon on a regular basis,” said Conn. “Our current armoured rescue vehicle averages approximately three to four operational deployments per year. However, when it is deployed, it is an invaluable tool.”
Conn added that the all-wheel drive armoured vehicle can also utilized during times of natural disaster or extreme weather incidents.
“For example in Chatham-Kent, we all remember the flood in Thamesville and the flood down in Erieau. It could have been put to use in both of those cases. Or during the blizzard of this past Christmas where every road was shut. We could not get any of our vehicles or fire vehicles down some of these roads. This vehicle will have no problem,” Conn said.
According to Conn, the cost of this type of armoured vehicle can range from $750,000 to $1 million. However, the police service only needed to spend $50,000 in refurbishing costs, which included new exterior paint, suspension, ventilation system and some dashboard and engine parts.
Conn added that many other police services have the same or similar armoured rescue vehicles, including those in London and Windsor.