It was a win-win for the Guthrie Police Department and several kindergarten students at Cotteral Elementary. The focus point was the department’s armored vehicle.
School Resource Officer Anthony Gibbs (left) and Detective Jeremy Thorne help children into the MRAP.
School Resource Officer Anthony Gibbs and Detective Jeremy Thorne visited Laura Beeby and Deanna Davenport classes on Monday morning. Gibbs spoke to the students and let them know that if an emergency was to happen the Mine Resistant Ambush Protective (MRAP) could be there to help.
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The police department wanted to see how many students could fit in the MRAP if an emergency were to occur. For the kids, they were excited to ask questions and better yet go inside the big machine.
The MRAP is capable of withstanding fire, high water, storm related debris such as large hail and wind thrown projectiles, gun shots and even explosive blasts.
A total of 34 kindergarten students and one teacher went inside to fill the machine up two-thirds. Officer Gibbs said the MRAP would be able to hold 50-60 young students if needed.
“Due to its armoring and go-anywhere capability, it provides the City the ability to better help our citizens in dangerous situations such as tornadoes, floods, fire evacuations, hostage or barricaded subjects, or an active shooter incident,” Guthrie Police Chief Damon Devereaux said.
The MRAPs are retired military vehicles made available to law enforcement agencies nationwide through local Law Enforcement Support Organizations operating under the Federal Surplus Property Donation Program and the Department of Defense.
The price tag for a MRAP is $733,000, but only cost the department $2,000 using seized drug money from past operations.
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