The relief that people in crisis feel when they hear the rapidly approaching sirens of their local policemen can be difficult to describe. It's a feeling that is bolstered by the dedication and ferocity with with local law enforcement protects Cañon City residents -- but also by the newest addition to the Cañon City Police Department's fleet of vehicles.
On Saturday, the CCPD will officially unveil the completed International M1224 MaxxPro Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle at AMR Safety Jam at Rudd Park.
The 13-ton vehicle, equipped with a 350 horsepower engine, an industrial winch, and a mounted turret at the vehicle's apex, can transport a payload of 12,000 pounds and rises more than 10 feet into the sky. However, those statistics are just the beginning for those who have worked tirelessly on the project.
When Chief of Police John Schick took the reins of the department in late 2020, he had numerous goals and plans in mind -- one of which was to obtain a fully equipped and functional MRAP to use as the primary transport for the department's SWAT team.
After conducting hours of research through the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service Agency, Schick located the optimal candidate.
DRMS is responsible for re-commissioning surplus military equipment and vehicles, such as the MRAP, for use in various sheriff and police departments and the CCPD was previously located in La Plata County as part of its sheriff's department.
However, locating the right vehicle was just the beginning.
Originally a sand beige meant to blend in with the terrain of Afghanistan, Schick and others at the department wanted to give the vehicle a different life with a new coat of paint and updated, Cañon City decals.
The Cañon City High School and the Royal Gorge Train Depot were both approached to potentially paint the vehicle, but because of its massive size and/or scheduling conflicts, officials were forced to search elsewhere. Ary Vice President Josh Ary and his crew came to the rescue, however, and offered their massive hanger and expertise to paint the giant vehicle.
Ary and Procurement Manager Travis Jenkins were instrumental in organizing the vehicle's new life.
"Our big worry was how much this was going to cost," said CCPD volunteer grant writer James Felton. "We had our initial meeting ... and Travis said, 'I thought we were doing this for free.'"
As if acquiring the services for the painting wasn't enough, the paint and other supplies were donated free of charge by Mike and Chris Coleman from Coleman Auto Supply. The vehicle's decals were supported by a $200 donation from the Cañon City VFW Post 4061, and the community rallied behind the MRAP.
"Our community ties have literally made this happen and we did it without having to tap into taxpayer dollars and that's huge," said CCPD Commander Tim Bell.
The painting itself was completed by 10-year Ary employee Thomas Tilton, and the vehicle will not only be on full-display for the community to view but also on full-alert for the times its services are required.
"This was a really cool project, how often do you get to paint a big military vehicle for the police department?" Tilton said. "It's really a once-in-a-lifetime project."
The Cañon City SWAT team was re-instated in 2021 and Bell knows the full value of having a military-grade vehicle on hand for emergencies. The 12-man SWAT team trains twice a month for a myriad of emergency and high-risk situations and Bell recalls a time, in years past, when an armored vehicle saved an officer's life.
"In an RV park shooting years ago, we had an individual who killed his wife...and he barricaded himself inside...the SWAT team pulled up with their MRAP to get him to comply...and he came out shooting, one of those shots went right into the driver's side window of the MRAP," Bell said. "Because of how the MRAP is designed, the windows are bullet-resistant, the bullet stuck where the driver's head was. He would have, otherwise, taken that round to the head had it not been for us having that kind of vehicle there."
The MRAP's unique qualities lend it to a large variety of emergency situations, whether it be unexpected flooding from the Arkansas (as the four-foot wheels can traverse most terrains), or domestic situations, the vehicle will surely earn its spot in the fleet.
"It is an insurance policy, you don't want to have to use it but you certainly want to have it if you need it," Schick said. "I want people to know that their police department is ready to respond...I'm so grateful to Carquest and Ary...I can't express my appreciation enough."
It's estimated that the community collaboration on the vehicle saved approximately $10,000 and the MRAP itself will stand as a tangible example of the unity of those who live in Cañon City for years to come.
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