ZPD Acquires Armored Tactical Vehicle

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – The Zanesville Police Department recently acquired a brand new armored tactical response vehicle that is fully funded through drug arrest, forfeitures and seizures.

The new vehicle is a 4-wheel-drive, F-550, dually, that has been outfitted by Lenco Armored Vehicles and retitled as the BearCat. It is  powered by a 7.3 liter, gasoline fueled engine.

“What this does for our community and the department is really increase our capabilities in our officer safety on responding to high risk scenarios. So the Zanesville Police Department has a special response team… It’s comprised of officers. And any time we have a high risk search warrant, any kind of a high risk warrant, or a standoff, our special response team is usually activated to respond to that,” Zanesville Police Department Chief Scott Comstock said. 

The $300,000 BearCat is expected to serve a 15-year-plus lifespan, consisting of 5-to-10 anticipated missions per year, along with regular training exercises and the holiday parade schedule added in. 

“The vehicle was completely funded through drug forfeiture, seizures. So there’s no taxpayer dollars here. This was fully funded by the criminals that we’re going to use it to go after. And it’s quite an addition to the team,” Comstock said.

The BearCat can safely transport 12 officers into an active crime scene and replaces a 12-year-old repurposed ambulance that is prone to gunfire. The former vehicle is still in good condition and is planned to be converted into an incident command center.