The Calgary Police Service is adding a new Mobile Command Vehicle to its fleet this week, police said Thursday.
MBF Industries of Florida was chosen after a 2015 request for proposals and seven CPS members helped in customizing the vehicle.
The vehicle required a number of unique specifications which included being multi-functional and capable of deploying in natural disasters and emergencies such as floods and fires. It also had to be able to handle large community events and able to fully function in search and rescue situations. It can also act as a command centre in the event of a prolonged, high-risk situations where space is required for police negotiators to operate, if needed.
The body of the vehicle was custom designed by MBF. The vehicle also has the technological capabilities to access existing CPS networks, as well as HAWCS. The vehicle is unique in that its body is re-mountable, which means the chassis can be replaced in coming years if needed.
The vehicle was made possible through the Flood Resiliency Program funding that was approved by Calgary City Council in 2014.
After the 2013 flooding in Alberta, a need was identified for such a vehicle to be able to help with other disasters.
There was $1.3 million set aside for the vehicle, but police said it came in well under budget at $900,000.
The money was made available through the City of Calgary’s Flood Recovery Task Force which identified areas of need across the city. The Mobile Response Vehicle was deemed as a community priority because of its ability to provide specialized support in the event of a disaster.
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