'Tone deaf' - Poughkeepsie community outraged over Santa's tactical vehicle
The City of Poughkeepsie Police Department has been busy spreading holiday cheer this season. But their decked out MRAP tactical vehicle has not been a hit with everyone.
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Dec 10, 2020, 3:41 PM
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Updated 1,324 days ago
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63ds agoThere is some controversy in Poughkeepsie over what Santa was riding on.
The City of Poughkeepsie Police Department has been busy spreading holiday cheer this season. But their decked out MRAP tactical vehicle has not been a hit with everyone.
"I've been receiving phone calls since it was announced and emails from constituents who have taken issue with the use of the vehicle to escort Santa," said Sarah Salem, chair of the Common Council City of Poughkeepsie.
Salem, their Common Council colleagues and a few county legislators are asking for Santa to ride in a firetruck and not an armored sleigh through the largely minority community, considering the year's focus on social justice issues.
"Because of the climate, I think it's tone deaf to pull that thing out and put Santa on top of it," said Salem.
The police department confirmed to News 12 that the vehicle will not be used for holiday events while the PBA announced online that Santa's flyover event scheduled for Friday has been canceled. The PBA says they are scrambling to arrange for alternate equipment to be used for Saturday's Candy Cane Express.
