Palm Springs Police Seek New Armored SWAT Vehicle to Replace 20-Year-Old BearCat

The Palm Springs City Council will consider approving the purchase of a new armored vehicle for the Palm Springs Police Department's SWAT team during its meeting Tuesday evening.

The department's current BearCat is approximately 20 years old and has logged more than 20,000 miles, well beyond its expected service life. Police officials say replacing the vehicle will help ensure officers have reliable equipment during high-risk operations.

The proposed purchase would authorize spending approximately $450,000 for a new 2026 BearCat armored vehicle.

Palm Springs Police say the vehicle serves more than just the city. It is also shared with the Cathedral City and Indio police departments during regional SWAT responses, making it an important resource for law enforcement agencies across the Coachella Valley.

Officials emphasized the armored vehicle is deployed only during high-risk incidents, such as barricaded suspects, hostage situations and other tactical operations. They noted it is not used for crowd control.

The Palm Springs City Council meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. at Palm Springs City Hall, where council members will discuss the proposed purchase along with other items on the agenda.

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