WINNIPEG - The Winnipeg police service has spent $343,000 on a new armoured tactical vehicle, saying the decision was made in part because of last year's targeted attack on police officers in Moncton, N.B.
Supt. Gord Perrier says the force had opportunities in the past to buy a used one from the armed forces, but didn't because they were concerned about the militarization of police.
He says that changed after last year's deadly shooting rampage in Moncton, where three police officers were killed and two wounded by Justin Bourque, who was 24 at the time.
Bourque is now serving a life sentence with no chance of parole for 75 years.
Winnipeg had been one of the few large cities in Canada without an armoured vehicle, though RCMP in the province do have one of their own.
Perrier says it will be used primarily for rescue missions and transporting personnel in high-risk situations, such as armed standoffs or explosives investigations.
