Lang
8/20/21
Thursday’s informal Johnson County Board of Supervisors meeting turned heated during debate on whether the county should sell its Mine Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicle, or MRAP, and replace it with another armored vehicle.
Critics have argued that using a military vehicle for civilian law enforcement militarizes the police, and that it traumatizes residents who see it in their neighborhoods.
On Thursday, the supervisors discussed a proposal to sell the MRAP and replace it with a BearCat armored personnel carrier, which would serve the same functions but without the military overtones. A number of members of the public addressed the board, most arguing that the county should sell the MRAP without replacing it. The board eventually voted to shelve the proposal until the next budget season, with supervisors Lisa Green-Douglass and Jon Green voting “no”.
Green then took to Twitter early Friday morning to call out fellow supervisor RoyceAnn Porter. Green took Porter to task for what he calls “offensive” comments about those with mental health issues.
Green also took issue with the fact that Porter directly addressed some of the public commenters, saying supervisors should address ideas, not specific people. He also noted that those who were being called out were not allowed to respond.
The sheriff’s office acquired the MRAP for free in 2014 under a federal program that distributes military equipment to local law enforcement agencies. It’s been used as cover when law enforcement officers have confronted active shooters. It has also rescued residents from flooding.
