Carly Thurlow
Contributing Writer
A week after Keene N.H’s public hearing regarding the grant to obtain a LENCO Bearcat vehicle controversy continues to stir and city council vote is canceled.
Keene Police captain Bryan Costas said the Bearcat would, “For certain have been used in Tuesday’s (February 14) event,” when a man in Keene was allegedly distraught and armed with a gun causing four public schools to be put on “lock- in” mode.
It would have been used with, “no question,” Costas said. “It would have been a platform to first responding officers.” Costas also said the thermal imaging would have been used when they were scanning the woods for the gunman.
The vehicle will have a $28,000 thermal image camera, showing differences in temperatures.
“They would be protected by the vehicle,” he said, “Instead of being out in the open.” This was the second emergency the region faced this week with guns being directly involved.
The $285,933 grant came from the $3,302,538 budget that New Hampshire got in Fiscal Year 2011 from the State Homeland Security program. The program provides grants focused on homeland security and emergency management. It is used to obtain various equipment that can be purchased by the state.
Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Chris Pope said, “The emergency grants are intended to enhance capability for local fire and law enforcements.”
Pope said the grants can include everything from training equipment to emergency shelters. “The federal government has an approved, pre-determined equipment list,” Pope said.
“There is X number of dollars to each state, 80 percent each year goes to local communities,” he said, “The federal government process can take a long time, it is evaluated at local, state and federal level. The grant review committee, both state and local, review all grants to make sure they are fully eligible and make sure it is a piece of equipment that can be used regionally.”
The LE model of the LENCO Bearcat that Keene is looking to obtain will be used to service all of Southwestern New Hampshire. “To my knowledge the closest on to Keene is one hour away,” Pope said.
At last week’s meeting several community members and activists voiced their opinions opposing the Military Vehicle. According to the Free Keene website, www.freekeene.com, several activists returned to the February 16 City Council meeting to sing, “Thanks but no Tanks,” to the tune of Three Dog Night’s “Joy to the World.”
Free Staters continue to protest against the issue in the community, handing out flyers saying, “Thanks but no tanks.” The vote on the BEARCAT attack tank was put off until the March 1 meeting.
