WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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The Bloomington City Council will review the procedures for the use of the police department’s armored vehicle during their meeting tonight.
The procedures were approved last night in a Board of Public Safety meeting. The quarter million dollar armored vehicle purchase has drawn intense scrutiny from Bloomington residents, who worry about the militarization of local police forces.
The city has, in the past, used a bank truck to convey members of its Critical Incident Response Team. According to the Bloomington Police Department, the CIRT team is used in high-risk situations, when a firearm is likely to be present, or people may be in danger.
Bloomington Police Chief Mike Diekhoff and CIRT Commander Scott Oldham have cited the prevalence of high-powered rifles as a justification for the purchase; according to Diekhoff, bank truck armor cannot withstand a 5.56 or 7.62 rifle round, two prevalent types of rifle ammunition. Furthermore, the police department has cited incidents where the CIRT team has been delayed in hostage situations while waiting for an armored car from Indianapolis, including the fatal hostage situation that occurred on Blue Bird Lane, in 2000.
Last month, Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton announced the city will be continuing with the purchase, which local activists—including members from Bloomington Black Lives Matter—had asked the city to put on hold.
Tonight, the Bloomington City Council will vote on whether or not to approve the Board of Public Safety’s recommendations and guidelines for how the vehicle can be used.
