LOS ANGELES POLICE TO USE NEW DOD TECHNOLOGY TO TRACK Y2K TROUBLE

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from drudge:

L.A. Law Enforcement Ready For Y2K

Updated 6:21 PM ET December 28, 1999

(LOS ANGELES) -- Los Angeles area police, fire and National Guard officials say they are ready for whatever may happen on New Year's Eve. They say there will be more law enforcement personnel on the streets of L-A than any time in history. L-A county sheriff Lee Baca says they will monitor Y-two-K events from New Zealand working west and that L-A has the advantage of about 24 hours notice of any problems. Baca says new technology from the department of Defense will help track people who fire guns into the air to celebrate the holiday.

-- a (a@a.a), December 29, 1999

Answers

12/23/1999 Big and bulletproof By Jay Schlichter Daily News

EAST PALATKA - The Florida Highway Patrol is now ready for just about anything. And people who pass by the FHP station in East Palatka can certainly see that. Sitting between regular patrol cars in the FHP parking lot, a 16,000-pound armored personnel carrier causes passersby to nearly break their necks to get a better look at the thing, something that has FHP Capt. Brent Coates a little concerned. "I'm worried that we're going to have a bad accident," he said, somewhat jokingly. But people can't help but stare. The massive tanklike-looking thing sticks out like a sore thumb. The same thing happened when Coates took the vehicle, known as the Commando, for a quick spin through an East Palatka residential neighborhood Tuesday afternoon. Such odd glares and gaping mouths are the reactions the Commando is meant to draw when it is needed during events like riots, hostage situations, barricaded suspects, high-risk felony searches or felony arrests. Instead of getting a ho-hum reaction from a crowd of demonstrators when police arrive in basic patrol cars and riot gear, the Commando would probably make even the most adamant dissidents back off, or at least think twice about protesting. But the Commando is meant to protect its occupants, rather than act in an offensive mode, Coates said. He said the Commando, which can carry up to 12 officers in full tactical gear, can be used to control crowds or help rescue people. While the Commando can be used for riots, it was not acquired in anticipation of riots or problems related to the Y2K bug, or the recent terrorism scare. Coates said the Commando was one of three obtained by the FHP through the U.S. Marine Corps surplus program, which allows law enforcement agencies to get such items for free or at a fraction of the actual cost. The FHP only paid $250 for the Commando, and that was just to cover the paint job costs. And what a nice paint job at that. Even though it towers over its neighboring FHP patrol cars, the yellow and black paint job makes it look like a twin with a height and weight disorder. After painting the three Commandos, Coates said FHP officials decided to space them out geographically in the state's major metropolitan areas.

So why Palatka, you ask? Because Coates is the commander of the tactical response team for the FHP's northern region. And even though it will be stationed in Palatka, it is considered assigned to the Jacksonville area. But the Commando can be used by more than just the FHP. Since its the FHP's mandated duty to help other law enforcement agencies, Coates said the Commando can be requested by sheriff offices and city police departments. Along with putting one in Palatka, the FHP put two others in Orlando and Miami. Coates said the FHP has three other similar, but smaller vehicles called Peace Keepers in Tampa, West Palm Beach and Miami. Specifically, the armor-plated Commando can withstand small munitions fire, can bulldoze barricades or trees and can climb up to 60-degree grades. Coates said it can also go over vertical obstacles up to 24 inches high and drive through deep mud, snow or water - and even float. It reportedly can also go up to 60 mph. Although a .50-caliber machine gun can be mounted on the top, Coates said the FHP will not use any high-powered guns on the Commando.

-- Nikoli Krushev (doomsday@y2000.com), December 29, 1999.


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