RCMP'S TACTICAL VEHICLE USED TO ACCESS RURAL GROW OP

One of the tactical vehicles recently added to the RCMP's arsenal has
been used in a drug raid close to Agassiz.

Last Tuesday, RCMP used their new Tactical Armoured Vehicle, or TAV,
to gain access to a property on Fielder Road, between Agassiz and
Harrison Mills.

Corporal Scott Stoughton says that the use of the vehicle is "a sign
of the times" and that the public will notice the TAV being used regularly.

"I think the plan, from what I understand, is to use it frequently,"
the Agassiz RCMP member says.

The TAV is based in Chilliwack and will be used in high risk
situations that "meet certain thresholds," he says.

Stoughton wasn't part of the raid on the grow op at 2061 Fielder
Road, but he says that the TAV was needed to gain access to the property.

Police seized 924 marijuana plants at the property, a loaded .38
caliber hand gun and growing equipment at the property. They consider
it a sophisticated operation, due to the value of the equipment and
number of plants being grown.

Suspects in this case are also believed to have been stealing power
from B.C. Hydro, by-passing the hydro meter.

One man was arrested on the scene and police are recommending charges
including production of a controlled substance, possession for the
purpose of trafficking, possession of a prohibited firearm and unsafe
storage of a firearm.

Stoughton says that while they can suspect certain levels of criminal
activity, they are never fully aware of what lurks behind a door, or
even on a property.

"My experience has been that some of them (grow operations) are booby
trapped, or they have cameras or security in place and things like
gates that make it difficult to breach," he says. "That can make it
hard to get enough police officers in place."

And those initial minutes of a raid are key to officer safety.

The new armoured vehicle "is just another tool and it's there to
maintain our safety and send a message to potential criminals that
we're going to be prepared to deal with them," he says. "If officers
can't maintain their own safety, they can't maintain the safety of the public."

About the TAVs

The RCMP acquired two Tactical Armored Vehicles (TAV II) for the
Emergency Response Team Program in B.C. in March of this year.

The TAV II's were first used by the Canadian Forces and known as a
Cougar Armored Vehicle General Purpose. The RCMP National
Headquarters in Ottawa acquired the TAV at no cost from the Canadian
Armed Forces and retrofitted both to RCMP standards.

RCMP say the TAV II's can be deployed in a variety of environments in
response to threatening situations where the safety and security of
RCMP officers and/or the public is at risk. There are no weapon
systems on the Tav II's as their primary purpose is the safe
transportation of police officers and to provide bullet proof cover
in situations that may involve firearms. The Tav II is a fully
functional six-wheel drive, all terrain vehicle that can be used in
urban and rural locations.

As a regional asset the Tav II's may be used in support of any police
or rescue situation in BC including municipal police departments as
required. The Tav II's will be strategically located at various
locations within the Lower Mainland. RCMP ERT officers will be tasked
with routine operation of the vehicles to provide for public
awareness and to gain experience operating the vehicles in an urban
environment. The operators are serving police officers presently
assigned to duties with the Lower Mainland Regional District
Emergency Response Team.