”Critical Incident Response Vehicle” to provide conference room on wheels
Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel
The Arcata Police Department is the proud recipient of a tank-like vehicle on wheels to roll command brass out to riots, civil disturbances and all other sorts of emergencies.
A philanthropic gift from the Orvamae Emmerson Endowment purchased a $370,000 high-tech, 36 foot-long commercial grade public safety craft dubbed a “Critical Incident Response Vehicle.” Constructed by MBF Industries in Sanford, Fla., a customized state-of-the-art work center attached to the vehicle’s chassis provides for a conference room, dispatch center, restroom and galley, with top-flight communications and technology systems built in to allow APD to operate an independent command hub.
For their part, APD personnel suggested the vehicle would primarily be used to respond to the natural disasters that often strike the North Coast, from winter storms to floods to potential tsunamis.
“The Arcata City Council has identified emergency management, planning and preparation as a ‘high priority project.’” APD lieutenant Ryan Peterson stated in a release. “The Arcata Police Department is charged with the tremendous responsibility of ensuring the citizens of our community are provided with the highest functioning public safety during the most difficult and dire of times including natural disasters, emergencies and other critical incidents.”
City brass patted themselves on the back for avoiding the use of taxpayer funds to make this project happen; they effusively expressed appreciation to the late Orvamae Emmerson for her endowment’s donation, administered by the Humboldt Area Foundation, to make the CIRV a reality.
APD showed off the truck at the Arcata Fire Department’s open house today, suggesting its use would range beyond Arcata’s city limits to become a resource for other local jurisdictions for all sorts of en masse police deployments.
“Public safety is a community effort,” APD chief Tom Chapman stated. “We’re all in this together and when a disaster strikes we all need to work side by side to get through it successfully. I must ensure that we have done everything possible to be the most prepared and best equipped when that time comes.”
