Shelby council briefed on SWAT vehicle purchase
The city of Shelby is being approached to provide about $50,000 in financial assistance toward the acquisition of a new Bearcat SWAT vehicle by the Mansfield Police Department and Richland County Sheriff’s Office.
Shelby City Councilman Derrin Roberts, who leads the Safety Committee, presented details about the new vehicle, highlighting its enhanced capabilities.
Roberts presented the matter during a meeting of the Shelby City Council on May 15 and based on a report from the committee meeting earlier in the month.
The upgraded Bearcat offers increased size and capacity, allowing more equipment and officers to be transported.
The proposed new vehicle is estimated to cost approximately $333,000.
“This unit would replace an older one, and the new one is bigger,” Roberts said. “It’s four-door instead of two-door and can carry more equipment and officers if that need arrives, and it has.”
“The old unit may remain in the county as Ontario is interested in buying the old one,” Roberts added.
To finance the purchase of the new SWAT vehicle, the county and Mansfield Police Department have sought assistance from neighboring municipalities within the county.
Shelby’s $50,000 would go toward the acquisition cost for the SWAT vehicle.
Shelby Police Chief Lance Combs thinks he can find a way to come up with a way to contribute the funds over a span of five years, Roberts told council.
Roberts also emphasized the current Bearcat’s significant role in safeguarding law enforcement personnel within the county.
“It is reported that the current Bearcat has saved many officers from harm and possible death, and has been an integral part in law enforcement in the county,” he said.
In other updates, the council was briefed on a forcible entry training class for firefighters in Shelby. Officials thanked Milliron Auto Parts and Bluescope Recycling for donating $1,500 for the class.
In addition, an Emergency Management Agency was planned for later in the month, and Roberts reported that Shelby police officer Joe Artrip would be resigning effective May 20.
The officer is taking a job closer to his home in Ashland, council was told.
“We would like to thank him for the time he did spend here in Shelby,” Roberts said.
As far as first-responder communications equipment, the cost of the state MARCS radio system is still up in the air, with concerns about it becoming fiscally insolvent by 2027, Roberts said.
Shelby Fire started moving to the MARCS (Multi-agency Radio Communication System) system in late 2020.
MARCS provides statewide, secure, reliable public service wireless communication for public safety and first responders, the Ohio Department of Administrative Services website has noted.