LAUDERDALE COUNTY, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed) – Lauderdale County Sheriff Ward Calhoun announced Friday, April 4, 2025, that the department has acquired a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle (MRAP) through the federal Law Enforcement Support Office (LESO) program. The MRAP, a vital addition to the department’s arsenal, was obtained after years of effort to secure the vehicle.
The MRAP, worth almost half a million dollars, was made available through the LESO program, a federal initiative that allows local, state, and city agencies to acquire surplus military equipment. Calhoun explained that the program operates on a leasing model, where agencies pay a one-time fee for equipment, maintain it, and return it when no longer needed. The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department secured the vehicle after being informed two months ago that they were in the running with the New York Police Department and Chicago Police Department for an available MRAP.
“We’ve had to borrow MRAPs from neighboring counties in the past for certain situations,” Calhoun said. “We’ve been trying for years to get our own.”
The department won the bid, and a representative drove to Pasco County, Florida, to pick up the MRAP, which was made in 2008 and had been in service in Pasco County since 2013. Pasco County no longer needed the vehicle, making it available for Lauderdale County’s use.
Calhoun emphasized the importance of the MRAP, noting there have been two instances in the past year where the department had to request MRAPs from neighboring counties for high-risk situations. “It’s a great tool for getting people either in or out of a dangerous situation,” Calhoun added.
The MRAP, named Hercules II, is a nod to the department’s history with an old surplus bread truck they previously used, which was also named Hercules. The new MRAP is bullet-resistant, weighs about 40,000 pounds, and can be used in a variety of high-risk scenarios, including serving high-risk warrants and driving through high water.
Although the vehicle may not be used frequently, Calhoun likened it to a fire extinguisher: “You don’t ever want to have to use one, but if you need one, you want it handy.”
The department paid a one-time fee of $10,000 for the vehicle through seized drug funds, avoiding the use of taxpayer dollars. The MRAP has already been utilized in training exercises and is expected to be an invaluable asset in future operations.
While the vehicle is a significant addition, it comes with limitations. Due to its weight, the MRAP cannot cross certain bridges with weight restrictions, and it also cannot fit through the 26th Avenue Tunnel in Meridian, as it is 11 feet, 3 inches tall. Operators of the MRAP must have a commercial driver’s license, and officers will undergo specialized training to handle the vehicle.
Sheriff Calhoun also mentioned that the department is willing to assist other local agencies, such as the Meridian Police Department and neighboring counties, with the MRAP when needed.
“I believe there are about 8-10 MRAPs across the state of Mississippi in various counties,” Calhoun said. “This will be another tool to better serve our community.”
