About $339,000 invested in new armored vehicle for Boone County Sheriff's Office

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Boone County Sheriff's Office is receiving a new armored vehicle.

Capt. Brian Leer of the Boone County Sheriff's Office said the department had discussed adding a Lenco BearCat for years, but the Boone County Commission approved a contract to purchase one in 2023.

A few weeks ago, the Boone County Sheriff's Office responded to a standoff in which BearCats from the Columbia Police Department and the Callaway County Sheriff's Office were used. During the lengthy June 4 standoff in Sturgeon, gunfire was exchanged between a man and law enforcement multiple times over a period of several hours.

Four years ago, the Sheriff's Office received an MRAP, a military-grade armored vehicle designed to withstand the effects of explosions, from Pulaski County. However, Leer said the vehicle had several limitations, which prevented the officer from using it frequently.

“On the one hand, MRPA is so heavy. It is a mine-resistant vehicle. There are bridges we can't cross in Boone County with it, because it's too heavy,” he said. “There are roads we can't really go on. When you go off-road, you have to take the risk of sinking because it's too heavy. It's also huge.

According to Leer, Boone County's new BearCat will cost approximately $339,000 and will be paid for through the sheriff's forfeiture fund. For reference, the Columbia Police Department purchased its BearCat for almost $250,000 in 2013, which was also funded by forfeiture fees.

“If it saves one life, it’s worth well over $339,000.” You know what? What kind of price can you put on a life? And it's not just about our lives, but it comes down to giving them to people, you know, for example, we have a hostage or an innocent person that we have to go and rescue,” Leer said. “We can be used to save many lives.”

Columbia Police Department Deputy Chief Lance Bolinger said earlier this month that he believed that if CPD's BearCat had not been used, several law enforcement officers would have been killed during of the impasse at Sturgeon.

The Boone County Sheriff's Office BearCat was expected to arrive by mid-2024. However, Leer said the federal government has issued several orders that override local orders. The ministry hopes to receive it between October and December.

Each order is customized based on departmental needs with over 50 different features and accessories to choose from.

“There are different versions you can get, different accessories, different options you can order it with. So we tried to be as frugal as possible and figure out exactly what we needed,” Leer said. “We placed this order in August 2023.”

In the meantime, the sheriff's office is still deciding what to do with its MRAP.

“There are many benefits to keeping both for different aspects,” Leer said. “The MRAP is a type of mine and explosion resistant vehicle. So you have this. However, the BearCat will be much more versatile. We'll be able to use it in a lot more situations where we couldn't use MRAP, so they could definitely complement each other.

Leer acknowledged that some people might think that militarization of police is unnecessary.

“I think the simple answer is: it's not about looks. It’s about the usefulness and usability of the equipment,” Leer said. “As long as we use it correctly, which is no doubt in my mind, you know, we are a professional law enforcement agency that strives to always do the right thing at the right time.” And I think that will be the key.

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