Photo: www.courant.com
When you usually see one of these dark blue wheeled armored personnel carriers the last thing you aspect is Santa cheering out of the bulletproofed rear window. But that is exactly what police officers from Manchester, Connecticut did this Christmas when they adorned a ten-passenger war machine with winter decorations and delivered gifts to needy children.
The families who needed the gifts were identified through the Salvation Army and the Blue Angels Foundation, run by Sgt Hughes at the Manchester Police Department. The toys are donated by the local Elks Club and this year they had enough to make 44 children happy.
Sure, the officers did deck the vehicle with lights and even an inflatable snowman poking up through the turret, but we’re still looking at a military vehicle.
In case you didn’t know, we’ll remind you that BearCat is an acronym that stands for Ballistic Engineered Armored Response Counter Attack Truck. These machines are usually used as armored rescue vehicles primary to transport tactical officers to and from hostile situations. The Bearcat is designed to provide protection from a variety of small arms, explosives and IED threats.
Now, we all know how these machines got to be driven around town by local police officers ever since the government has decided to donate its older military machines. But people really started realizing how serious the situation is ever since the riots in Ferguson went on, with all the following protests that happened in several cities around the country.
Apart from these obvious reasons, vehicles like the Bearcat remain as scary as any armored military machine is, which is why we find it hard to believe there’s any sane kid that would actually like Santa using it as his sleigh.
In fact, it rather looks like police forces are trying to improve their public image, which has been pretty altered the last few months. Not that we don’t appreciate the charity venture, but did they really have to use a Bearcat?
Sure, the officers did deck the vehicle with lights and even an inflatable snowman poking up through the turret, but we’re still looking at a military vehicle.
In case you didn’t know, we’ll remind you that BearCat is an acronym that stands for Ballistic Engineered Armored Response Counter Attack Truck. These machines are usually used as armored rescue vehicles primary to transport tactical officers to and from hostile situations. The Bearcat is designed to provide protection from a variety of small arms, explosives and IED threats.
Now, we all know how these machines got to be driven around town by local police officers ever since the government has decided to donate its older military machines. But people really started realizing how serious the situation is ever since the riots in Ferguson went on, with all the following protests that happened in several cities around the country.
Apart from these obvious reasons, vehicles like the Bearcat remain as scary as any armored military machine is, which is why we find it hard to believe there’s any sane kid that would actually like Santa using it as his sleigh.
In fact, it rather looks like police forces are trying to improve their public image, which has been pretty altered the last few months. Not that we don’t appreciate the charity venture, but did they really have to use a Bearcat?
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