Sarnia's new Mobile Command Unit (MCU) has finally arrived, four years after the contract was awarded.
Sarnia Police Service (SPS) members were given the opportunity to tour the vehicle earlier this week.
In a social media post, SPS said the new unit is "built-for-purpose."
"[The unit] will be used by police at critical incidents, special events, and scenes where an extended police presence is required," the message read.
The vehicle is a shared asset with Sarnia Fire and Rescue Services and Sarnia-Lambton BASES (Bluewater Association for Safety, Environment and Sustainability).
The former vehicle, a converted recreational vehicle (RV), served the city for over 30 years.
It was set to be retired in 2022, but the arrival of a new unit was delayed.
In January 2023, Sarnia's General Manager of Corporate Services, David Stockdale, said the MCU was finally being built after equipment procurement delays as a result of global supply chain issues.
The new unit has three pull-out bays, 360 degree cameras, and two separate office spaces.
The $800,000 budget for the project was approved in 2020 and Sarnia council accepted a $200,000 donation from Community Awareness Emergency Response [CAER] to outfit the rig in May, 2021.