MURRIETA HAS DRUGHUNTING HUMVEE;
MILITARY TRUCKS AND TECHNOLOGY GIVE POLICE AN EDGE IN FINDING AND ARRESTING METH
COOKERS AND POT GROWERS. by Joe Vargo, The PressEnterprise
Copyright (c) 1997, The Press Enterprise Co.

MURRIETA

Murrieta police are using military gear and technology
to wage war on drugs. Recognized for their prowess in
picking up castoff military stuff, department officials
say the five "special enforcement vehicles" won't prevent
people from cooking methamphetamine or growing marijuana.

But the military trucks, including a Humvee similar to
the workhorse of Operation Desert Storm, give police an
edge in locating and arresting drug violators.

"If you're a bad boy, this is what's coming after you,"
said Sgt. Michael Payne, glancing over at the Humvee, which
normally sells for $ 50,000. "This gives us the ability
to respond to clandestine labs where we couldn't take a
patrol car. It's much more effective. "

The department's military haul came from a federal
program that makes surplus military equipment available for
municipal antidrug campaigns. For Murrieta police, it has
meant $ 200,000 in gear and vehicles from the feds.

Not included in the federal surplus is an $ 89,000
armored truck obtained from a Los Angeles armored transport
company. That assistance led the Governor's Office of
Criminal Justice Planning to cite Murrieta as an example of
a small agency able to reap a harvest of additional
resources.

The department's military vehicles are on display this
week at a conference of California police agencies in San
Diego. A part of the conference include getting
information on how city and county agencies can obtain
military surplus.

"We would never be able to acquire this equipment with
our budget or from using taxpayers' dollars," Payne said.
"By acquiring it, we can make it available to other
agencies and task forces and have an impact on drugs in our
region. "

Murrieta police have agreed to make the Humvee, which
has been on the streets since January, available to the
Riverside County Sheriff's Department and officials from
the state Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement.

The department's "Hummer" has been used on four raids
and drug sweeps in Murrieta and southwest Riverside County.
The armored vehicle carries 12 officers and tackles the
steepest hills and widest ravines.

Another military handmedown, a converted ambulance,
carries extra equipment for officers in the Humvee, Payne
said. The other ambulance may one day become a mobile
command center with radios, telephones and dispatching
equipment. The department's castoff military pickup is
used as a "scout vehicle," checking out possible drug labs
before the Humvee goes into action.

Two trailers, desks and uniforms, a fax machine,
ammunition containers and field packs picked up from the
Marine Corps Supply Center in Barstow are all used in
antidrug policing, police officials said.

The department's nonmilitary acquisition, an armored
truck from the Los Angelesbased Armored Transport, could
be called on if the department ever encounters a sniper or
heavily armed and barricaded suspect or if officers and
civilians are pinned down by gunfire.

All the vehicles probably would be used if a major
earthquake struck. Murrieta has obtained far more military
gear than most other departments.

Temecula, Perris, Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake and Moreno
Valley have contracts with the Riverside County Sheriff's
Department.

Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Mark Lohman said the department
is "exploring the option of procuring equipment if it
becomes available and meets the needs of the Sheriff's
Department. "

Hemet Police Chief Lee Evanson said his department has
inquired about obtaining bulletproof helmets and vests and
possibly semiautomatic weapons from the military.

The Allied Riverside Cities Narcotics Enforcement Team,
which works throughout western Riverside County, has
obtained helmets and binoculars from military stockpiles
and "would love a Humvee," said Supervisor Orlando Lopez.

San Bernardino County sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Paul
Cappitelli said the agency has obtained surplus aircraft
parts, clothing, trailers and trucks from the military in
the last several years. Murrieta police said the acquired
vehicles are maintained through donated labor. Payne said
Richard Gaskey, who owns Classic Auto Body of Temecula, has
donated $ 20,000 worth of fender body work and painting to
the Murrieta department.

Department officials believe that when all the special
enforcement vehicles are in full use drug seizures in and
around Murrieta will go up. Any money seized from the use
and sale of drugs by Murrieta police pays for the
department's reserve, cadet and chaplain programs and
supplements officer training.


Military connections

Murrieta police have obtained an assortment of military
surplus vehicles and other equipment during the last two
years. The list includes: 1 Humvee truck ambulance 1 GMAC
armored car (nonmilitary donation) 2 Chevrolet ambulances 1
Chevrolet 4x4 pickup 1 Trailer Dual generator set 1
Trailer Cargo 1 Truck body expandable (storage
container) 1 Telefax 2 Breathing apparatus 1 Overhead
projector 36 Student desk chairs 38 Assorted ammo cans 4
Field packs 12 Hats 10 Shirts 20 Trousers