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WESTON, Conn. Heavy snow, downed trees and flooded streets will be no match for the Weston Police Department after the Police Commission unanimously voted Tuesday night to approve the departments use of two military-issued Humvees.
The 1992 and 1994 Humvees were picked up in Fort Drum, N.Y., last month by the Police Department under an agreement with the U.S. Law Enforcement Support Office, which leases used military vehicles to police agencies.
The acquisition comes at no cost to the town.
During Tuesdays meeting, Police Chief John Troxell said the Humvees would not be used for routine patrols. They will be designated as emergency vehicles and used only in bad weather to safely move officers and their gear. He also plans to share the trucks with the Weston Fire Department and EMS during search-and-rescue situations in wooded areas.
Troxell also said that even though the trucks currently sport camouflage colors, they will be painted black, outfitted for radios, and have lights and sirens installed by area vendors all for free.
Originally, the Police Commission approved the acquisition of one Humvee last month. But the matter had to be revisited when Troxell came back with two. The acquisition process angered First Selectman Gayle Weinstein, who stated multiple times publicly that she was not consulted before the acquisition.
During Tuesday nights meeting, Weinstein told the commission, I should have been informed of any major purchases beforehand.
Although she expressed concern with the way the matter was handled, Weinstein commended the department for looking into alternative ways to acquire vehicles. I really do applaud them for thinking outside the box, she said.
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