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Peace at any cost is a prelude to war!
Big and bulletproof
By Jay Schlichter
Daily News
EAST PALATKA - The Florida Highway Patrol is now ready for just about
anything. And people who pass by the FHP station in East Palatka can
certainly see that.
Sitting between regular patrol cars in the FHP parking lot, a 16,000-pound
armored personnel carrier causes passersby to nearly break their necks to get
a better look at the thing, something that has FHP Capt. Brent Coates a
little concerned.
“I’m worried that we’re going to have a bad accident,” he said, somewhat
jokingly.
But people can’t help but stare. The massive tanklike-looking thing sticks
out like a sore thumb.
The same thing happened when Coates took the vehicle, known as the Commando,
for a quick spin through an East Palatka residential neighborhood Tuesday
afternoon.
Such odd glares and gaping mouths are the reactions the Commando is meant to
draw when it is needed during events like riots, hostage situations,
barricaded suspects, high-risk felony searches or felony arrests.
Instead of getting a ho-hum reaction from a crowd of demonstrators when
police arrive in basic patrol cars and riot gear, the Commando would probably
make even the most adamant dissidents back off, or at least think twice about
protesting.
But the Commando is meant to protect its occupants, rather than act in an
offensive mode, Coates said. He said the Commando, which can carry up to 12
officers in full tactical gear, can be used to control crowds or help rescue
people.
While the Commando can be used for riots, it was not acquired in anticipation
of riots or problems related to the Y2K bug, or the recent terrorism scare.
Coates said the Commando was one of three obtained by the FHP through the
U.S. Marine Corps surplus program, which allows law enforcement agencies to
get such items for free or at a fraction of the actual cost. The FHP only
paid $250 for the Commando, and that was just to cover the paint job costs.
And what a nice paint job at that. Even though it towers over its neighboring
FHP patrol cars, the yellow and black paint job makes it look like a twin
with a height and weight disorder.
After painting the three Commandos, Coates said FHP officials decided to
space them out geographically in the state’s major metropolitan areas.
So why Palatka, you ask?
Because Coates is the commander of the tactical response team for the FHP’s
northern region. And even though it will be stationed in Palatka, it is
considered assigned to the Jacksonville area.
But the Commando can be used by more than just the FHP.
Since its the FHP’s mandated duty to help other law enforcement agencies,
Coates said the Commando can be requested by sheriff offices and city police
departments.
Along with putting one in Palatka, the FHP put two others in Orlando and
Miami. Coates said the FHP has three other similar, but smaller vehicles
called Peace Keepers in Tampa, West Palm Beach and Miami.
Specifically, the armor-plated Commando can withstand small munitions fire,
can bulldoze barricades or trees and can climb up to 60-degree grades. Coates
said it can also go over vertical obstacles up to 24 inches high and drive
through deep mud, snow or water – and even float. It reportedly can also go
up to 60 mph.
Although a .50-caliber machine gun can be mounted on the top, Coates said the
FHP will not use any high-powered guns on the Commando.
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