Committee approves purchase of new Bearcat in La Crosse

Grant will help pay for most of armored vehicle

Sheriff Steve Helgeson used the Dallas police shootings to justify La Crosse County’s need for a new armored Bearcat vehicle for the police dept.

The reasoning, apparently, was well took, as a judiciary committee, Tuesday, gave the county first approval to purchase a new Bearcat. The next step will be the county board’s approval at a July 21 meeting.

Another reason for the unanimous approval, was a grant for $225,000 the county will receive to help pay for a new Bearcat. It will be provided by the Dept. of Military Affairs – Division of Emergency Management.

A new Bearcat will cost at least $300,000. To help offset the difference, the county has also been given permission to sell the existing Bearcat to another law enforcement agency, which could bring in $80,000. If that still doesn’t cover the difference, the sheriff’s dept. was also given permission to spend another $10,000 in savings. No funding from the county will go toward purchase of the new Bearcat.

The idea of La Crosse County having an armored vehicle for emergencies was ridiculed by some, when the Bearcat was first obtained 11 years ago, costing nearly $200,000.

“This is a way to keep our deputies safe,” Helgeson said. “The citizens of our country are more heavily armed than they’ve ever been. I think it’s very important that we have the tools to keep our officers safe.

“There’s a concern over the militarization of law enforcement. I don’t see it that way in this case at all. This is a safety vehicle, a rescue vehicle.” 

The county used the Bearcat in 10 high-risk situations in 2015 and has had it out nine times already this year, according to chief deputy Jeff Wolf.

Helgeson said having the Bearcat saved the lives of deputies in a Richland County incident – which happened before 2010 – when the vehicle was hit by 15 to 20 bullets. He also mentioned that the Bearcat would have been ideal in Dallas for protecting officers.

“Something like the Bearcat is exactly what you would use,” he said. “I’m not sure if you’re aware of rifles and their power, but a squad car would not stop a rifle bullet.

“As a matter of fact, it would probably go completely through a squad – go through both doors and through the trunk.”