Humvee Tuscola

The Tuscola County Sheriff's Department recently received a HUMVEE from the military and plan to paint it for police use.

((Courtesy | Tuscola County Sheriff's Department))

CARO, MI — The Tuscola County Sheriff's Department has a new military vehicle that officials believe could come in handy during winter weather.

Joining several other departments in the region, the sheriff's department obtained a Humvee from the military's 1033 program.

The vehicle comes at no cost to the department and is valued at more than $50,000, Undersheriff Glen Skrent said.

The Humvee is not armored or weaponized, the sheriff's department reports, and is capable of going through 30 inches of water or a 60 degree grade. The department's mechanic removed a military turret from the vehicle, Skrent said.

"You never know what you need until something bad happens," Skrent said, noting that Huron County has one and used it last winter to clear a path in the snow for ambulances. Tuscola County has had similar problems in the past, he said.

It could help officers extricate a patient either from an area blocked by floods or snow or victims in a field. It could also be used for traffic control during a parade or for static display for children, the department reports.

"It's available to us for free," he said. "It's better than the military shredding it."

The four-wheel-drive diesel gets an estimated 10 miles per gallon, Skrent said, and the department will pay for fuel. He said the department's mechanic should be able to perform maintenance and parts on the vehicle can usually be obtained at no cost from the military.

The Humvee came with a winch and the department will add a police radio and a few other items to make it operate safer, Skrent said. They plan to have the Humvee painted and are looking for donations from the community to help with the cost.

Anyone who would like to donate to the cause is asked to contact the department at 989-673-8161 ext. 2226.

Nearby in Saginaw County, the Humvee is the most common military vehicle being used by police agencies. The heavy-duty vehicles are stations including Buena Vista, Frankenmuth, Saginaw and at the Saginaw County Sheriff's Department.

Below is the Frankenmuth Police Department Humvee, customized for police work and put into service in January 2013. Hover the cursor over the image to see how it looked coming from the military and how it appears now.

The Saginaw Police Department received an armored personnel carrier from the military in 2006.

Saginaw County Sheriff William Federspiel said he decided in July to get rid of the large Mine-Resistant Ambush Proof (MRAP) vehicle that he received from the U.S. Army earlier this year as a cost-saving measure.

Police agencies in Saginaw County with military vehicles 22 Gallery: Police agencies in Saginaw County with military vehicles

— Brad Devereaux is a public safety reporter for MLive/The Saginaw News. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Google+