COWARD, SC – ONE newly acquired Lenco Armored Vehicles BearCat® is being credited by the Florence County Sheriff in South Carolina for saving his life, the lives of his officers and close civilians during a recent confrontation. In addition to protecting officers from gunshots, the vehicle was successfully used as a barricade to protect civilians across the street from the incident.
“This is exactly what BearCat was designed for: providing coverage for police respondents so they can do their job. We are proud that one of our vehicles has managed to keep the men and women of the Florence County Sheriff’s Department, as well as passers-by, safe, ”said Lenny Light, Lenco’s vice president of Armored Vehicles.
Sheriff TJ Joye and 10 other officers responded to the scene in Coward, SC, after 9-1-1 calls reported that a suspect was threatening to set a house on fire and shoot outside his home. The suspect fired at least two rifle shots at the police as soon as they arrived, hitting the BearCat in a window and back door, inches from where the sheriff was sitting. After an impasse, the suspect again opened fire on the police before being taken into custody. No officers or civilians were injured during the incident.
BearCat was acquired by the department approximately two weeks before the incident, a purchase decision made by the sheriff and approved by voters in Florence County to bring a rescue and response vehicle to his community.
“Upon learning of previous response missions and, of course, with the latest news, it is clear that the department will benefit from having a BearCat,” said Light. “Our vehicles are tools used by highly qualified and skillfully trained individuals and we are honored to play a role in their efforts to serve and protect.”
To learn more about Lenco, visit LencoArmor.com. To learn more about Lenco vehicles suitable for police or government use, visit LencoArmor.com/Police-Government/.
About Lenco armored vehicles
Since its founding in 1981, Lenco Armored Vehicles has been the most trusted manufacturer of tactical safety armored vehicles for law enforcement, fire and rescue and government entities worldwide. The private, family-owned and managed company revolutionized the tactical response with the advent of BEAR® and BearCat®, and has since designed and manufactured more than 6,000 armored vehicles in service by more than 700 state and federal agencies in all 50 states. Lenco prides itself on protecting defenders around the world and serving as an industry standard. For more information on Lenco armored vehicles, visit LencoArmor.com.