Cheyenne police propose replacing aging MRAPs with two Lenco Bearcats at about $975,000

Cheyenne Police Chief Mark Francisco asked the council to approve funding to replace two aging military MRAP vehicles with two Lenco Bearcat‑style multipurpose rescue vehicles, estimating a delivered cost of about $975,000.

Francisco said the department’s current MRAPs are approaching 15 years old, are mechanically complex and can be oversized for some urban operations. He described Lenco Bearcats as purpose‑built for law enforcement, able to carry 10–12 personnel, and available with options for off‑road capability and tear‑gas injectors so officers can deploy certain tools without exposing personnel.

Francisco also noted that Bearcats are widely used in Wyoming and nationally and suggested they would offer better mobility and lower maintenance complexity because they are built on common commercial chassis. “They’re based on a Ford F‑550 chassis, easy to get parts, easy to work on,” Francisco said. He added the vendor vehicles are largely ballistic‑resistant and that a Lenco option list includes off‑road packages suitable for snow and rough terrain.

Council members raised storage and timing questions. Francisco said the department’s current military vehicles are stored at the Fire Training Academy and that the Lenco vehicles are typically easier to maneuver in town. Councilman Esquivel asked whether retired MRAPs could be sold; Chief Francisco said the equipment typically returns to the military under the federal surplus agreement and is not sold locally. Councilman Moody asked about utility in natural disaster situations; Francisco said the vehicles are off‑road capable and useful for transportation and access but not firefighting.

The work session included no formal motion or vote; procurement, painting and delivery timing would be determined during later budget and purchasing steps if the council funds the purchase.