Guelph police buy armoured vehicle amid rise of firearms calls

Guelph Police have added an armoured vehicle to its fleet, with the chief saying it will help the force respond to firearm incidents.

“Calls involving firearms are unfortunately becoming more commonplace,” Guelph Police Chief Gord Cobey, said. “The community rescue vehicle will provide an elevated level of safety. On those rare occasions when it is required, the community rescue vehicle (CRV) will be an invaluable resource to our citizens and our members.”

He emphasized the service has an obligation to protect the community, as well as its own members.

A statement from the service said, “Our new community rescue vehicle will be utilized exclusively by Tactics and Rescue Unit officers responding to high-risk situations involving significant risk to the safety of the public or police.”

A high-risk situation is defined as one with “a reasonable expectation of encountering an active shooter, armed resistance or significant violence.”

The Guelph Police statement said the CRV will not be out on the streets on routine patrols, and will only be used for specific incidents, training, or maintenance purposes.

The vehicle was bought third-hand from the Waterloo Regional Police Service for $20,000, and staff from WRPS will help train Guelph Police staff on its use.

WRPS originally bought it second-hand from Ontario Power Generation.

Regional police still have an armoured vehicle of their own, buying one in 2023 for $523,635.

Both were made by Terradyne Armoured Vehicles, based in Newmarket.

A statement from WRPS said, “Our current tactical armoured vehicle is utilized in high-risk situations that involve elevated risk(s) to the safety of the public, police, and/or subject(s).”

Those include hostage rescues, armed barricaded persons, conducting high-risk search warrants, and arresting subjects believed to have weapons.

The tactical armoured vehicle is also used when “responding to calls involving aircraft or elevated areas that our officers would not be able to reach otherwise.”