Dramatic shootout spurred Providence police to purchase new 'Bearcat' vehicle
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) -- In February 2022, Providence police heavily relied on another law enforcement agency's armored vehicle to shield them from a hail of gunfire during a shoutout on Denison Street.
Providence Police Col. Oscar Perez said there's no doubt in his mind the vehicle, which came from the R.I. State Police and is known by its brand name "Bearcat," helped save lives that day.
"If it wasn't there, we could have buried a lot of police officers," he said.
Perez said the Denison Street shootout spurred the police department under then-Col. Hugh Clements to purchase its own Bearcat. In November 2022, during the final days of the then-Providence Jorge Elorza Administration, the department put in an order to the Bearcat manufacturer, Lenco.
Two years later, Lt. Patrick Potter, who was at the Denison Street gunfight, drove to the factory in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, to pick up the Bearcat.
"It’s a very heavy vehicle," Potter said. "It's not going to stop on a dime."
The city tapped into speed-camera revenue to purchase the Bearcat model G3 for $350,000. The cameras are located in school zones throughout the city.
Perez calls the Bearcat a vehicle of "last resort," meaning he only wants it used in situations where officers or civilians need to be protected. For example, he said it could be used if there's an active shooter where an officer or civilian is injured but the suspect is still at large.
"If an officer, God forbid, got shot, and we’re taking rounds ... this vehicle will facilitate the Special Response Unit to get close to the scene," Perez said. "Get close to the house where the rounds are being fired and rescue that police officer that is on the ground, or a civilian for that matter."
He said the Bearcat can also be used during extreme flooding as a rescue vehicle because it can push through 30 inches of water.
The truck is a stripped-down Ford F-550, outfitted with a thick steel shell and windows that can stop a high-caliber bullet, according to Potter. The tires can also continue to work if they get shot.
"They’re run-flat tires and can go up to 30 miles," Potter said. "So you could operate throughout the city of Providence for quite a long time with these run-flat tires."
Perez said he has heard concerns about the Bearcat being a symbol of the militarization of law enforcement. But he asked people to "see beyond" the bulky, tank-like exterior and understand its role in the department.
"Our officers wear bulletproof vests to protect themselves," Perez said. "This vehicle actually provides that ballistic protection."
With the city's newest acquisition, there are now three Bearcats in Rhode Island. The State Police received theirs first in 2006 -- and upgraded to a new model in 2018 -- followed by East Providence six years ago.
Along with active shooter situations, the State Police Bearcat has been used in the execution of search warrants, notably in the dramatic police raid of the Hells Angels Providence clubhouse in 2019. The vehicle was outfitted with a long pole that smashed the reinforced door of the biker gang's Messer Street headquarters.
The incident led to the arrest and conviction of Hells Angels Rhode Island president Joseph Lancia on gun charges after he shot at a passing truck driven by a former gang prospect he was beefing with.
Lancia was released from prison early this month after being granted parole.
The Hells Angels case was a State Police operation, but Perez said he would authorize the city's Bearcat to be used in search warrant operations if conditions called for it.
"It’s a process that we go through before it gets deployed," he said. "I’ll tell you we’re not taking it out to buy ice cream."
Target 12 has learned the city's Bearcat was used for the first time in the arrest of robbery suspect Malick Santos on June 14. Police also executed a search warrant on his Vicksburg Street home.
"It’s better to have something and not need it than need it and not have it," Perez said.
Tim White ([email protected]) is Target 12 managing editor and chief investigative reporter and host of Newsmakers for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook.
Close
Thanks for signing up!
Watch for us in your inbox.
Subscribe Now
Special Coverage & Notices
SIGN UP NOW
Welcome to Billionaire Club Co LLC, your gateway to a brand-new social media experience! Sign up today and dive into over 10,000 fresh daily articles and videos curated just for your enjoyment. Enjoy the ad free experience, unlimited content interactions, and get that coveted blue check verification—all for just $1 a month!
Account Frozen
Your account is frozen. You can still view content but cannot interact with it.
Please go to your settings to update your account status.
Open Profile Settings