Cities eye teaming up to buy armored SWAT vehicle
NEW PHILADELPHIA – Dover and New Philadelphia officials want the cities to split the cost of a new $400,000 armored vehicle.
New Philadelphia Safety Director Kevin Milligan says the combined Dover-New Philadelphia SWAT team is increasingly finding itself in dangerous situations, with nine officer-involved shootings in the county since 2019 and SWAT team calls up about 20 percent over that same time. He says the lack of an armored vehicle is a glaring hole in their response.
Milligan referenced a hoax call in Dover last month. The SWAT team responded with body armor, assault weapons, shields and drones, but would have benefited from the protection of an armored vehicle had it been an actual emergency situation.
Milligan and other officials are working on the details of the potential purchase, but he says both cities’ mayors have voiced support.
The armored vehicle purchase would require approval from both cities’ Councils.