Government reclaimed armored vehicle from Bannock County

Bannock County Sheriff Lorin Nielsen was not happy about an armored vehicle being taken away from his office Monday morning. The vehicle was taken by presidential executive order and taken to a Nevada testing site.

Nielsen says the government is taking back armored vehicles after the order prohibited civilian law enforcement possession last May. In fear that it would jeopardize the community’s trust with overuse or misuse of the vehicle. Before that, it was the military that gave the vehicle to Nielsen, but still owned by the military.

But Nielsen says officers only used it for protection only. Such as protecting civilians and police officers during stand-off incidents in the last few years.

“In Nevada, it might just sit and rot or be blown up for target practice,” he said.