By Police1 Staff
SAN DIEGO — Officials in San Diego are defending their acquisition of a mine-resistant ambush protected vehicle in response to media coverage of the purchase.
KPBS reports the San Diego Unified School District acquired the vehicle for use in rescues, according to the district’s police chief, Ruben Littlejohn.
“It’s not police militarizing schools,” Chief Littlejohn told KPBS.
The MRAP was acquired through the military’s 1033 surplus program. The school district only had to pay shipping for the vehicle.
The district cited the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut as a factor in the decision.
“There will be medical supplies in the vehicle. There will be teddy bears in the vehicle. There will be trauma kits in the vehicle in the event any student is injured, and our officers are trained to give first aid and CPR,” Chief Littlejohn said.