Officials switch on SWAT truck

HOWELL — The Howell Police Department’s Special Weapons and Tactical (SWAT) unit will get the truck it requested from the Township Council after all.

One week after citing lean economic times and directing the township attorney to draft a resolution denying the purchase of a $129,750 Ford truck, the council did an about-face at its next meeting.

With the exception of Councilman Peter Tobasco, the members of the governing body had voted on Feb. 24 to deny the purchase. They changed their minds on March 2 following an executive session meeting with Police Chief Ronald T. Carter and Township Manager Bruce Davis.

Mayor Timothy J. Konopka and council members said they were apprised of sufficient homeland security concerns that established the necessity of the SWAT unit having the truck. The purchase of the 2003 Ford truck will mean that the SWAT team can retire three vehicles that were donated to the unit more than 20 years ago.

According to Davis, the SWAT team is presently equipped with two 1989 ambulances that have high mileage on them and a 1983 armored car. He said the new Ford truck is necessary for the SWAT unit to continue "to effectively do what they do now."

According to Davis, the Ford truck will not only be used to mobilize the SWAT unit at a time of crisis, it will also be used to store critical equipment such as breathing apparatus that is needed for the 15-man unit.

Howell is one of four municipalities in Monmouth County that has a SWAT team. The other three communities are Wall, Middletown and Ocean Township.