South Tahoe SWAT team adds Humvee to arsenal of tools

In 1986, when the Humvee was brand new, the price was $173,000.

In 2012, the used Humvee cost the South Lake Tahoe Police Department zero dollars. It came to the department from the military.

South Side Auto Body painted it for free.

South Lake Tahoe Police Department's latest toy. Photo/LTN

Some cash will be put out by the department to equip it the way they want it so it can be used by the SWAT team. This will be the department’s first armored vehicle.

Officer Travis Cabral told Lake Tahoe News the special windshield that is on order weighs 100 pounds. He said the whole vehicle has been overhauled, has an engine with 4,000 miles and all new tires.

Police Chief Brian Uhler said it’s already been used to rescue a climber off Twin Peaks. Without the Hummer, rescue crews would have had to carry the injured woman out on a stretcher. The vehicle got her down faster and easier.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report