Sometimes Largo Police officers have to go into wooded and swampy areas, as they did recently to find a hiding suspect.

Now, a new Largo Police vehicle will allow them to patrol in city parks and other wooded areas without worrying about rugged terrain or off-road conditions.

The new off-road vehicle is a 2013 Kawasaki Mule, which seats two officers. It was paid for with federal forfeiture funds and delivered on Dec. 5. A Mule is an off-road vehicle that can navigate rough and hilly terrain, city officials said.

The Largo Police Department plans to use the vehicle for park patrols, special events and monitoring homeless camps in wooded areas, according to a city report.

Nearby, the Fire Department in Indian Rocks Beach also recently received an off-road vehicle, which allows it to rescue people on the beach.

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