Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – When it came to be the third week in a row to hear about a military-style armored vehicle for Springfield police, there was not much left to talk about.
Discussion was relatively brief leading up to a 7-2 vote in favor of the $445,000 purchase, which was in the budget for the fiscal year which began March 1.The two No votes came from the leading voices against the purchase, Alds. Roy Williams and Jennifer Notariano. Williams Monday asked when the last time the city’s current Bearcat was used, and chief Joe Behl told him March 5.
Williams has consistently spoken against what he called the “militarization” of city police, adding that an Illinois National Guard base is just down the street, and its personnel and equipment could be called upon if necessary. Notariano’s misgivings were about the cost.
Behl had defended the purchase by saying the 20-year-old vehicle would not start on a recent occasion on which it was needed. Monday he said the battery terminals had rotted. Behl added the Bearcat can protect both the public and police in situations which call for a SWAT team or which involve a standoff.
Ald. Lakeisha Purchase was absent from the meeting.
The council met Monday so as to avoid a conflict with Election Night. There is no council meeting March 24, because March this year has five Tuesdays, and the council typically meets only four Tuesdays per month.
