The Marshall (Texas) Police Department has acquired an armored vehicle to be used as a rescue vehicle during natural disasters.

Jesus "Eddie" Campa, chief of police, said in a statement that the department plans to use this primarily as a rescue vehicle, as it will allow officers to reach places they were not able to reach in the past due to rising water or trees blocking the roadway. The department may also use the vehicle in the event of an active shooter situation of during SWAT situations.

The mine-resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicle was acquired through the Department of Defense's 1033 program, which is managed by the Defense Logistics Agency's Law Enforcement Support Office. The 1033 program permits the transfer of excess Department of Defense property to federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

Last year, President Obama ordered the federal government to limit provisions of military surplus equipment for police. Prohibited equipment includes grenade launchers; weaponized vehicles, vessels and aircraft; bayonets; firearms of .50 caliber or higher; ammo of .50 caliber or higher; camouflage uniforms and tracked armored vehicles. Wheeled armored vehicles, like the MRAP vehicle and other equipment issued through the 1033 program, are still allowed. Some believe that these limits may change once President-Elect Donald Trump takes office; he defended the use of military surplus earlier this year, reports The Guardian.