BILLINGS – The Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Department has bought a 13-foot-high armored vehicle and paid for it with $385,000 in federal Homeland Security money.
The vehicle meant to withstand bullets is known by the acronym BEAR, for Ballistic Engineered Armored Response.
Officials say it will be available for the sheriff’s department and the Billings Police Department to use in volatile situations, such as approaching a barricaded, armed person. They say investigating devices that have raised suspicion is another use.
Staff training in use of the BEAR began last week. Law enforcement agencies in Missoula have a smaller version of the vehicle.