Law enforcement seeking military-grade protection

While some national dialogue focuses on whether police should obtain and use military weapons, at least two Mississippi sheriffs say it's about protection, not militarization.

DeSoto County Sheriff Bill Rasco obtained a Mine Repellant Ambush Protected vehicle, or MRAP, through the Department of Defense's Law Enforcement Support Office program, which offers military surplus equipment to law enforcement because they've already been paid for by taxpayers.

Rankin County is trying to obtain an MRAP. Sheriff Bryan Bailey said he's not yet sure how much the vehicle, which is worth $650,000, will cost, but DeSoto County Chief Deputy Macon Moore said his department's cost it only $10,000.

"It's all about saving taxpayers money, it's all about officer safety and it's all about public safety," Bailey said.

The MRAP would not be an addition to the Rankin County fleet as much as a replacement. The department uses a refurbished 1987 bank truck for SWAT situations, and while it is armored, Bailey said he's confident it wouldn't stop a .50 caliber round — and probably not one from a .308 rifle either.

"You couldn't pay me enough money to sit in the armored truck we have now and let someone shoot a .308 rifle at it," Bailey said. "We had to refurbish the whole thing. It was rusted out when we got it. We built new plates and stuff in it, but still I don't trust it enough to keep risking my officers' lives."

Moore said before obtaining an MRAP two months ago, DeSoto County was using a 1985 armored vehicle similar to Rankin County's. He said it's been used close to a dozen times a year for situations like standoffs. He also said a medic stays in the vehicle in case an officer is injured in a "hot zone," or a crossfire situation. However, Moore said he's not sure what size rounds it would deflect.

That's where the MRAP comes in handy. Officials know it's updated for the latest weaponry.

Bailey said recently there was a situation in the Ross Barnett Reservoir area in which a man had barricaded himself in his home and threatened to shoot any deputy who approached the house.

"We were able to get up there and set a perimeter around the house to protect the public and closed down the road and actually used the armored truck as cover to get a robot inside the house," Bailey said. "Eventually we talked the guy inside to give himself up. If it had been reversed and he'd started shooting or something like that, I'd have needed something to protect my officers."

Also, because one of the criteria in the application process is population, Bailey said if Rankin County obtains an MRAP, it will be available to respond in surrounding counties as well. In addition, it's built on a dump truck chassis, so maintenance can be done locally.

Moore said DeSoto County has the only MRAP in North Mississippi. According to a recent New York Times graphic, Mississippi does not have any others.

Both departments also have been able to get weapons through the LESO program. Guns that would have cost up to $1,200 through a private retailer are available to law enforcement from military surplus for $100 each.

Both Bailey and Moore acknowledged that police using military equipment is a hot-button topic.

"I'm definitely not going to try to militarize the sheriff's department," Bailey said. "Remember the sheriff is directly responsible to the public. If I get out there and do something stupid, I'm not going to get voted back in office. My job is to provide customer service, and that amounts to a safe community for people to live in and raise their families in, and I need these tools in my toolbox to do it with."

Moore pointed out that police are still using the same equipment for offensive measures. He said officers are still issued a handgun and a rifle or shotgun. He said the marked upgrades are being made in equipment that protects officers' lives.

"The big catchphrase now is the 'militarization of SWAT teams,' and I think the thing I'd like to stress more than any is the offensive weapons we use have not changed. The changes are all defensive for us," Moore said. "But defense — more advanced ballistic protection, helmets, K9 cameras, pole cameras, window cameras and armored cars are just another advancement in our defensive level."

Bailey said there isn't a value on protecting the lives of his officers, as far as he's concerned. He buys top-notch, lightweight daily body armor for deputies on the road and heavier-duty body armor for the special response team.

"I guess some people look at that as militarizing, but it's not. Whatever I can do to protect them, I'm going to do it," he said. "We're also protecting suspects because we're buying less lethal measures like pepper spray and Tasers and pepper ball guns."

Both Moore and Bailey said they'd be happy if they never had to use their MRAPs.

"I may not use that armored vehicle but once a quarter or once every few months, but I need it to be available. And I'm confident with a military-grade vehicle that there's nothing in Rankin County that's going to penetrate it, so therefore I don't have to worry about my officers," he said.

Contact Therese Apel at tapel@gannett.com or (601) 961-7236. Follow @TRex21 on Twitter.