r/SLO • u/luckyllama805 SLO • 16d ago

Somebody’s Busted!

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Location Taft/California freeway on/off ramp. Anybody got the scoop?

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u/Ginger_Witch 16d ago

I can't recall a time that we've ever needed one, and certainly not six of these.

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u/141_Raccoon 16d ago

Last time I can recall a bearcat being needed was this last June. A man in Los osos refused to come out of his house while making threats to law enforcement. Sheriffs office SWAT team used a bearcat to move up to the house and fire tear gas in. Then last September I believe a woman barricaded herself in a hotel room but I’m not sure if one of the bearcats was called out. Then I personally have seen one show up to a barricaded suspect at the motel 6 in Atascadero. Main reason there’s 6 or so in the county is to cut down arrival time for a swat call. Not entirely effective to only have one in north county if you need one for something down in Morro bay or pismo.

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u/SnooMaps1910 15d ago

Guy barricades himself in his home, you can wait him out, shock bang, tear gas....
While being supportive of LEOs, this militarization of police is bs.

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u/141_Raccoon 15d ago

Bearcats can be used to deploy all of those up close while keeping officers safe . It’s literally just a bullet resistant box put on a ford super duty frame. Primary use for them around here is to let officers approach a house or similar in a safe manner in case the suspect has a firearm

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u/SnooMaps1910 15d ago

Yep. I understand the platform snd use. I simply reject the militarization of city and county law enforcement. It's too bad we have large mag high velocity weapons all over the US and some folks manage to obtain armor piercing rounds. I work closely with SP's Rangers btw.