“It’s imperative. We can’t do it, without it”: Why Do the Police Need Tactical Armored Vehicles in Canada?

The police tactical armored vehicle (TAV) has become the beacon for criticism underpinning police spending, overreach, and police militarization. Consistent with how patrol cruisers indicate police presence, the TAV shows police tactical (TAC) team presence. Missing among contested arguments surrounding police TAVs is an understanding from practitioners as to why the police need the TAV and how it is used to maintain human safety during rapidly unfolding and high-risk calls for service. In response, we analyzed a national sample of 117 semi-structured interviews with police TAC officers to nuance their occupational experience with the TAV and to reveal how the vehicle is crucial during high-risk events to uphold human safety. Implications are discussed both as academic contributions and as applied policy considerations for police services across Canada.