Sioux City, Iowa — The Sioux City Police Department has received approval from their city council to apply for grant funding from the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department to purchase an armored rescue vehicle for their swat unit.
Police chief Rex Mueller says the vehicle would protect officers in dangerous situations.
The chief says this vehicle would replace a larger military surplus vehicle that was donated by the military and the vehicle itself has only been deployed once or twice a year.
Councilman Alex Watters shared his concerns as well as from a citizen that the vehicle was militaristic.
Chief Mueller responded that’s why he wants to replace the current vehicle, because it is a military design and not as practical for many police needs. He would turn the current vehicle back over to the government if the grant is approved. The homeland security grant is for 240 thousand dollars. If funding is awarded, the police department plans to utilize 50-thousand dollars in state asset forfeiture funds to complete the purchase of the new armored rescue vehicle.
