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Armored ambulance proposal leads to protests in Calif. community

San Leandro police want to equip EMS with armored vehicle for hot zone medevac

By Laura Anthony and Alan Wang
ABC7

SAN LEANDRO, Calif. — About 100 people attended a meeting Thursday night in San Leandro and people from the community expressed their concerns about a medevac vehicle the San Leandro Police Department says it wants to acquire.

The armored vehicle was the subject of the special San Leandro City Council meeting. Police officers from the region said the vehicle would enable paramedics to help victims trapped in a hot zone, since EMS doesn’t go into a hot zone unless it’s been cleared. The medevac is able to withstand a rifle round, but is also equipped like an ambulance on the inside.

Police say that in the last two years, they’ve had to borrow a vehicle like it nine times. Opponents, however, don’t think there’s a need for it. If approved the medevac would be the only dual purpose medevac and SWAT vehicle in Northern California.

Read Full Story: San Leandro Residents Oppose Use of Armored Ambulance

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