Alex Lloyd Gross Photo-Delaware Valley News.com, State Rep KC Tomlinson, who represents Bensalem and Hulmeville Borough speaks during the press conference as the old SWAT vehicle is behind her.
State Funding was made available to the tune of $350,000 and A new SWAT vehicle is going to be in service in Bucks County. Senator Frank Farry held a press conference today, outside of the Bensalem Township building. Farry and the state legislature were able to secure the money to replace the aging vehicle which was on display.
It is not just SWAT call outs, this vehicle can be used for water rescues and major storms that roll through the area. When serving high risk arrest warrants, this vehicle is used as well. “It’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it,” said state Representative KC Tomlinson.
Bucks County currently has three SWAT teams that cover the county – the south, south central and the central teams. Bensalem Township is part of the south team and maintains the highest number of operators, commanders and medics on the team. That is why this vehicle, a Lenco BearCat is going to be housed in Bensalem.
Currently, Bucks County’s three SWAT teams share a single BearCat that has been in service for more than 15 years. Housed in central Bucks County, this vehicle often has a response time of up to two hours, particularly for incidents in the southern part of the county. The addition of a new BearCat stationed in Bensalem Township will drastically reduce response times, particularly in the densely populated southern regions of the county.
Alex Lloyd Gross Photo-Delaware Valley News.com Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn speaks during the press conference.
Vehicles like this are not in a showroom waiting to be driven off the lot. They must be custom built and that takes time. According to Farry, it will take about 14 months until the vehicle is delivered.
The money to buy this vehicle was obtained through a grant through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Community and Economic Assistance Program.