BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — Battle Creek police officers responded to calls regarding stuck vehicles all day long. However, they didn’t respond in a traditional patrol car. It takes heavy duty wheels to get through these current snowy conditions.
“They’re not very comfortable. They weren’t really designed for patrol or road use, but again, they get us where we need to in a timely manner so that we can continue to serve the people. We’re supposed to do,” detective Jim blocker with the Battle Creek Police Department said.
Blocker said Humvees can go where Crowne Victorias and Chargers can’t in the wintry conditions.
He said the department has three Humvees in its arsenal, courtesy of the United States Department of Defense. They were provided through a program designed to give unused military equipment to law enforcement agencies, free of charge. Blocker said they’re worth around $100,000.
“They certainly don’t heat up as well. As you can tell, this particular model has a gun sealed. And in this kind of weather, these negative temperature weather, the heater in this thing just can’t keep up in this all metal vehicle,” Blocker explained.
It gets the job done, despite the rugged ride. FOX 17 spotted numerous residents whose vehicles were stuck in the snow. Blocker said a stuck car is no problem for the department’s big machinery.
Military might clearing the streets one car at a time so the plows can clear the snow.
“So this is where an all-wheel drive vehicle, something that’s heavy duty, allows us to get to the neighbors, to get to those streets that, that the street department has not been able to get to and go right and serve the community and the public in their time of need,” he explained.
The Humvees are out tonight as well.
