New $346K light-armoured vehicle sought by Fredericton police

Fredericton police Chief Leanne Fitchsays the new $346,000 light-armoured vehicle her force is asking city council to fund would be known internally as an "armoured rescue vehicle" and be a "significant improvement."

Fitch made a pitch to city council recently for funding in the 2017 police budget to lease the vehicle. City council will vote Monday night on its budget for next year.

If approved, the armoured vehicle would be leased over six years with an estimated annual lease payment of $57,777, or $346,662, said city spokesman Wayne Knorr.

In 2015, the Winnipeg Police Service purchased a four-wheel, tactical armoured rescue vehicle, or ARV1, for $342,800. It is not known if the Fredericton force is eyeing the same model or vehicle, or something similar as police spokesperson Alycia Bartlett declined to provide any further specifics until a new vehicle is purchased.

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Someof Fitch's budget pitch to city council was held in closed session "so as not to reveal current operational limitations with the existing outdated vehicle," said Fitch in her statement Monday.

"Withholding some specific information at this time is to preserve both officer and public safety."

Fitch said replacing the force's Emergency Response Team vehicle is part of the the force's capital improvement process.

'More like a security vehicle'

"Please think of it more like a security vehicle," stated Fitch.

The vehicle will have four wheelsbut will have all-wheel drive capability something the current ERT vehicle does not have.

Fitch said the vehicle won't be green, grey or camouflage colour but will match the current colour scheme of the Fredericton force.

"This new equipment will have significant light-armour improvement, which will provide for greater citizen and police safety when needed," Fitch said.

"The Fredericton Police Force is currently one of only three fully operational Emergency Response Teams (ERT) in the province" and serves not just the city but other jurisdictions on an as-needed basis, she said.

"The replacement of our old ERT truck with a new and improved model is [in] no way, shape or form, a signal that our core values and dedication to crime preventionand community policing has changed."

'Another tool in our toolkit'

"This is but another tool in our toolkit to help our citizens in the safest possible way."

Fitchsaid she expects to provide a more detailed public discussion about the vehicle once the currentvehicle has been replaced.

In December 2015, police forces in Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Winnipeg, London, Sault Ste. Marie, Peel, Durham and Ottawa had light-armoured vehicles, with the cost of those vehicles ranging from $250,000 to $400,000. The RCMP had 18 armoured vehicles distributed across Canada.