SAN DIEGO – School district police departments are now taking part in the militarization of American law enforcement.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports the San Diego Unified School District is the proud new owner of a “Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected” vehicle. It’s receiving the battlefield-ready equipment, thanks to a “federal grant.”

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The vehicle’s estimated value is $700,000 and reportedly comes at no cost to the district. It should be operational in October.

But school officials are downplaying the combat aspects and instead are saying it will be used as a “victim rescue vehicle.”

The paper reports:

Known as an MRAP, the armored mobile will be converted into a victim rescue vehicle that will be stocked with thousands of dollars in advanced medical supplies and be able to take heavy fire in case of an attack on campus, the San Diego Unified School District Police Department said Tuesday.

“We recognize the public concern over perceived ‘militarization of law enforcement,’ but nothing could be further from the truth for School Police,” Capt. Joe Florentino tells the paper.

Rueben Littlejohn, chief of the school district’s police department, says on his website, “As Chief of Police for our district, which serves 132,000 students and 14,000 staff members, my aim is to lead the way in creating a culture of respect and a safe environment free of crime, bullying, harassment, and intimidation.”

Florentino tells the Union-Tribune the district’s MRAP is the county’s only specifically designated victim rescue vehicle.

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“It will be clearly marked “rescue,” as well as display large red cross on all sides, similar to an ambulance. It is able to climb up rapid floodwaters, pull down walls or ram through buildings to rescue trapped victims, Florentino said,” the paper reports.

“We can actually fit an entire classroom of elementary students inside our Rescue Vehicle; that’s 30-40 students evacuated with armor protection during every trip into a danger zone,” Florentino says.