The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department Special Response Team replaced their old SWAT vehicle, a 1986 ambulance, when a 2003 Ford F350 turbo diesel pickup truck and 2009, 26-foot goose neck trailer recently entered service.

The trailer was ordered by Highway 51 sales in Merrill, and built to their specifications by American Hauler in Indiana. The truck was purchased at a substantial discount from Breaman Merrill Ford and painted by Stark Auto Body who donated their time. The paint used was donated by Motor Services of Wausau.

The entire team can now store their equipment in the trailer instead of storing it in their squad cars or at home. The members of the team can ride to where they are needed inside the trailer while donning their equipment, cutting down on response times.

The team can also use the truck alone in some tactical instances.

In addition to space for storing the team’s gear, the trailer has an area where a crisis negotiator can use a telephone and laptop computer in relative isolation.

The new combo was given its first outing Dec. 5 during a standoff with an armed man in Township of Rock Falls.

Lt Grant Peterson of the LCSD and leader of the SRT said that given current budget constraints, getting the new vehicles outfitted without the generous donations from the businesses would have been impossible.

The truck and trailer are stored in the new garage at the Lincoln County Jail when not in use.