Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Department rolled out its newest weapon Tuesday: a 13-foot-tall, 35,000-pound BEAR.

[efoods]That’s BEAR as in Ballistic Engineered Armored Response vehicle.

The $385,000 vehicle is encased in metal that is meant to withstand bullets. It was purchased with a Homeland Security grant.

The vehicle will be used by the Sheriff’s Office and Billings Police Department in tactical situations such as approaching a barricaded shooter. Manufactured in Massachusetts, one of the goals of the BEAR is for law enforcement to enter a volatile situation in the security of the vehicle, rescue those in need and protect others, and maybe even intimidate the bad guys.

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