It’s a piece of equipment Rice County Sheriff Jesse Thomas hopes never to use in a real-life situation, but if the need does arise, he’s glad it’s nearby. 

Early this month, the Sheriff’s Office officially made space in its garage for a tactical armored security vehicle commonly known as a BearCat. Prior to its arrival, the closest BearCat was an hour away. When a situation calls for this type of machinery, an hour can be too long to wait, said Thomas. 

Enhancing Response Time and Officer Safety

The new BearCat will be available during any call outs of the South Metro SWAT, a unit comprised of officers from Rice and Dakota County law enforcement agencies. In 2024, South Metro SWAT called out its existing BearCat 15 times, including the Feb. 18 incident in which two Burnsville Police officers and a firefighter/paramedic were killed by a suspect holed up inside his home. 

And though the BearCat took 41 rounds that day, none of the officers inside were harmed. Thomas says the vehicle allows officers, including crisis negotiators, to get close to dangerous situations and reduce the likelihood that they’re injured or killed, allowing them to more effectively de-escalate crises. 

Built for Protection and Longevity

To say the vehicle is heavy duty would be an understatement. Each BearCat is custom-made by LENCO Armored Vehicles in Pittsfield, Mass. It has seating for 10 and includes emergency lights, a PA, a turret up top and graphics that thank those who’ve served in the nation’s military. The vehicle, which cost $338,000, is expected to last for at least 20 years, said Thomas. At that point it could be sold, he said, or refurbished.

“The world we live in is more violent than it used to be, said Thomas. “The BearCat will give us the ability to quickly respond to high-risk situations, de-escalate whenever possible and protect any victims.”