Following February Burnsville Shooting, Rep. Angie Craig Introduces Bill to Allow Local Law Enforcement to Purchase Tactical Vehicles Using Federal Funding

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, in response to the February shooting that killed two Burnsville police officers and one firefighter/paramedic, U.S. Representative Angie Craig introduced new legislation to allow local law enforcement to purchase tactical vehicles like the one law enforcement used in Burnsville using federal funds.

Under current Justice Department policy and a Biden Administration executive order, local entities must go through extensive certifications to purchase a tactical vehicle with federal funds, and once purchased, the vehicle can only be used for its certified purpose.

For example, if a Minnesota county used federal funds to purchase a BearCat to assist in natural disaster recovery, it would not be permitted to use that vehicle as part of a law enforcement response to a mass shooting or other public safety emergency.

Rep. Craig’s Protect Local Law Enforcement Act would nullify the Biden executive order and remove DOJ restrictions on the types of vehicles that can be purchased with federal funds.

“Our community experienced an unimaginable loss on February 18^th – and it's hard to fathom what more could have happened if first responders did not have access to the equipment and tactical vehicle they needed that day. In emergency situations, every second counts, and we must make sure local law enforcement has every tool at their disposal to stay safe and keep the community safe,” said Rep. Craig. “I worked closely with law enforcement across the Second District to write this bill because we saw on the ground in Burnsville how a tactical vehicle saved lives. It doesn’t make sense that the federal government restricts the use of these vehicles and puts up so many barriers for their use in whatever emergency situation requires them.”

During the law enforcement response in Burnsville on February 18^th, a BearCat that belonged to the Rosemount Police Department sustained heavy gunfire as it approached the scene of the shooting, with SWAT officers from Apple Valley and Rosemount inside. The vehicle took 41 shots from a rifle as it was used to extract the fatally shot officers and firefighter and prevent further harm to first responders.

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The Rosemount Police Department’s armored vehicle took 41 shots from a rifle during the shooting.

The Protect Local Law Enforcement Act is endorsed by the National Association of Police Organizations and the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA).

“Law enforcement’s multiple missions are harder and more dangerous than ever. Our officers are regularly placed in harm’s way in public safety emergencies and natural disasters. Our access to lifesaving equipment and vehicles often represents critical support in our effort to respond to these crises. The Protect Local Law Enforcement Act would provide peace officers and communities across Minnesota access to critical lifesaving equipment and save lives,” said MPPOA Executive Director Brian Peters.

Full text of the Protect Local Law Enforcement Act is available here.

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