In 2018, the Bloomington Police Department purchased a Lenco BearCat for approximately $225,000. This was done without the knowledge or consent of the general public. Since then, it has been deployed a total of five (5) times. This purchase has proven to be wasteful, unethical, and harmful.

As part of a serious commitment to police reform, and to honor the requests of the BLM organizers and community members, the City of Bloomington must divest itself of the BearCat—at a loss, if necessary—and invest the resulting funds in positive community programs not associated with the police department, such as stable housing for those members of our community who are experiencing homelessness and programs for families facing food insecurity. We request that this vehicle not be allowed to go to any other police departments to be deployed against American citizens. Please find some way to relieve our community of this burden that does not simply shift it onto others.

Further reading:

https://blmbtownvotersguide.weebly.com/the-peoples-report.html?fbclid=IwAR0HueXLNBPK16NKxdj7Yh52L6XBXxH7H092iSj85AaILeDyHZvsYm-sTP4

Image Credit: Jeremy Hogan, The Herald Times ​("CIRT truck makes first appearance")