Whats wrong with a police department having a tank? I'd say it's a waste of money, but if it's completely free there's no downside.
There's a hit to their public image too. When your home or car is burgled you don't want to see a tank.
And, as toomuchtodo hints at, heavily arming a police force leads to those guns being used. Ignoring "bad guys" for a moment, shooting innocent dogs of innocent people is probably a bad thing. Shooting innocent bystanders is probably a bad thing.
http://www.popehat.com/2013/12/05/nypd-baby-you-know-we-love...
Obvious Popehat bias, but still, it's pretty alarming.
True but it's really no different than a truck or existing police vehicles cost-wise. And it's free. In fact it looks pretty similar to police vehicles already in use: http://i.imgur.com/DQFJESy.jpg
>And, as toomuchtodo hints at, heavily arming a police force leads to those guns being used.
Perhaps, but this is a vehicle, not a gun. It's just a big bullet proof truck.
The first SWAT team was established in 1964. They have grown considerably in the past few years and with their growth they are being used more and more for very simple reasons, to execute simple warrants for example.
Example: http://www.salon.com/2013/07/07/%E2%80%9Cwhy_did_you_shoot_m...
This man had a SWAT team raid his house for gambling $2000 on a college football game, and he ended up dead. Was a friggin SWAT team needed for a gambling arrest!???
First, it's not all about the money. Second, the tools you use, shape your practice ("If you have a hammer", etc).
Those tanks only reinforce the idea of the militarization of the police forces. Next time, they'll be tempted to use it to crack down some student shit-down or such. Or go bust some small time drug dealer. Perhaps killing a few innoncents in the process.
See, for example: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/comment/2013/08/swat-t...
If you have a tank, you don't need to negotiate a peaceful surrender.
Think about how Icelandic cops are wringing their hands over killing their very first person ever, in their entire history. Now think about American cops driving tanks over someone's family dog on the way to punching a hole in a house and using flashbangs and tasers indiscriminately on the people inside.
It was a mistake to give Barney Fife even the one bullet.
The military spends a massive amount of money for maintenance - now the police can do that, too! Very cool, except you pay for it and they'll need more money.
APCs use a lot more fuel, have more expensive parts and need special training to operate = more money from the local budget (= more taxes).
Next thing, they'll be buying jets and drones for $10 each and spending millions on their maintenance.