HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-1-14 Rupp-Our Magnificent New Armored VehicleFrom:Gretchen Rupp
To:Agenda
Subject:Our Magnificent New Armored Vehicle
Date:Wednesday, October 01, 2014 8:41:02 AM
Dear Commissioners:
This event is deeply troubling, for two reasons. First, the acquisition of a quarter-million-dollar item of equipment that would surely be contentious took place withoutCommission knowledge - it may even have been deliberately concealed from theCommission - and that is an outrage.
Second, police militarization has no place in Bozeman (or pretty much anywhere inthe U.S., but definitely here). I'm sure the commission of Ferguson, Missouriapproved acquisition of military armored vehicles to handle a "shooter situation." Butin the end they were used to menace citizens exercising their free-speech rights. Ihave no confidence the same would not happen here.
The City should:
- send it back
- put policies & procedures in place so this cannot happen again
- at the very least, the City Manager and the Police Chief should be publiclycensured. More appropriately, they should forego raises for the next year or two,and have the full event entered into their personnel records..
I suggest the city also postpone coming to the voters for a "jail bond" at this time.You have lost our faith that city law-enforcement has regard for the people ofBozeman, and this will not be restored before November 4.
Yours in respect and anger,
Gretchen Rupp