Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Mt. Pleasant police propose purchase of armored vehicle using data center tax revenue
Brian Rosenzweig
The Mount Pleasant Police Department is considering the purchase of a $363,000 armored rescue vehicle using property tax funds generated by the Foxconn and Microsoft Tax Incremental District.
The Lenco BearCat G3 would be used by MPPD and the Caledonia Police Department as part of their Joint Tactical Response Team.
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A Lenco BearCat G3. Mount Pleasant Police Department is considering the purchase of one of the armored vehicles, which retails at about $363,000, utilizing property tax revenue generated by TID 5. Photo by Matti Blume, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons |
The BearCat boasts an all-steel exterior construction and can seat 10-12 fully-outfitted officers, according to the company’s website.
The Mount Pleasant Committee of the Whole discussed, but did not make a decision about the purchase during its Oct. 26 meeting.
In a letter to the Village Board, MPPD Police Chief Robert Botsch said the BearCat would be an “essential” tool for assisting the JTAC in situations that involve an active shooter, barricaded subject or hostage situation.
“A BearCat would allow TRT operators to move protected personnel (Police, Fire & EMS) into the danger area, provide a ballistic shield and protected platform, and remove injured or endangered citizens and officers when a conventional police or fire vehicle cannot safely do so,” the letter stated.
Botsch said the BearCat would be an important community safety asset as Mount Pleasant’s population grows. Additionally, he said the armored vehicle could help to protect infrastructure and properties in Tax Incremental District 5, home to the Foxconn and Microsoft data center campus.
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Construction continues on a second Microsoft data center May 20, 2026, in Mount Pleasant. The company’s first data center in Mount Pleasant went online in early April. USA Today Network |
“The sheer size and scale of these campuses present unique challenges during an emergency, including the potential for incidents to occur a significant distance from an access point or emergency staging area and the need to move police, fire and EMS responders safely across large properties,” Botsch said. “Our public safety response capabilities need to evolve to meet these challenges.”
He said the fortified vehicle also could support rescue and evacuation missions during severe weather, flooding and “other large-scale emergencies.”
The proposed purchase was supported by the Racine and Caledonia’s police chiefs and by Alan Karr, a special agent at the Milwaukee Field Office of the FBI.
“The addition of an armored vehicle for these two communities will increase JTAC’s capabilities and effectiveness supporting collaborative investigations requiring tactical assets to safely execute high risk arrest warrants while ensuring safety for the public and law enforcement,” Karr said in a letter of support.
A motion to approve the purchase of the BearCat could be considered by the Mount Pleasant Village Board during a future meeting.
Botsch said the police department could either purchase the vehicle in full, or lease-to-own through seven annual payments of about $63,879.
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Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Pleasant Prairie man pleads not guilty in father's stabbing
RACINE — An 18-year-old Pleasant Prairie man pleaded not guilty Wednesday in connection to the stabbing of his father.
Joseph Niemiec faces one count of attempted first-degree intentional homicide with use of a dangerous weapon.
Allegations
According to a criminal complaint, Racine Police Department officers were sent to the 4200 block of 21st Street about 12:51 a.m. Aug. 12 and found a man covered in blood and putting pressure on his neck.
An officer examined the man and saw a puncture to the left side of his throat.
The man told officers that he had heard a sound at his back door as if someone was trying to get in, the complaint said.
The man reportedly banged on the door from the inside to scare off the person. A voice from outside of the door claimed it was the man's son, Niemiec, so the man opened the door and let him in.
Niemiec reportedly sat in the kitchen with his father and told him he was having a rough time and had attempted suicide.
Niemiec’s father told officers that his son went to the bathroom and asked for a hug when he returned.
As they went to hug, Niemiec allegedly stabbed his father in the neck.
The father ran to a neighbor's house to call 911 and Niemiec reportedly ran away, according to the complaint.
According to a news release, the Nebraska State Patrol was told that an attempted homicide suspect was believed to be traveling through the state on Interstate 80 in a Chevrolet Malibu.
A trooper saw the vehicle about 11:45 a.m. Aug. 12 and initiated a traffic stop near Grand Island.
The trooper confirmed the driver was Niemiec and arrested him on a warrant from Wisconsin.
Niemiec was taken to Hall County Jail in Nebraska and extradited to Wisconsin.
He is scheduled to appear in court for a status conference Dec. 9.
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