Published: August 20, 2008 10:46 am         

New vehicles approved for sheriff’s department

Delay in budget means fewer squad cars

The Cass County commissioners have OK’d the sheriff’s request for new vehicles to replace older models that are beginning to rack up maintenance bills.

On Monday, Sheriff Gene Isaacs received permission to buy three new squad cars and a new pickup truck for the K-9 unit. Because of a 6-month delay in the state ratifying the county’s budget, the commissioners granted the sheriff’s request six months after he initially made it, a delay that cost the department a squad car.

“With the increase in price, I won’t be able to order the fourth new car,” Isaacs said.

Inflation drove the price up more than $2,500 a car, according to the sheriff’s report to commissioners. So, instead of ordering four marked squad cars, he cut back to three and plans to use money from the fourth car to equip the new cars with radios, lights and sirens.

For the K-9 unit, the sheriff is getting a 2008 Dodge Ram pickup from Mike Anderson Dodge Chrylser in Logansport for a cost of $19,212 after rebates and trade-in.

“With the rebates and everything, I feel we’re getting a good price,” Isaacs said.

Commissioner Jim Sailors asked if he was going to keep a squad car on the road longer, and Isaac said that’s what he planned to do.

The department has 24 vehicles in its fleet for 18 full-time officers and 10 reserve officers.

The current truck is a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado extended cab with about 152,000 miles on the odometer. The cars include three Ford Crown Victorias that have traveled between 121,000 and 128,000 miles.

Commissioner Dave Arnold said age was no longer the sole determining factor in replacing vehicles. A new preventative maintenance program has been implemented to track the costs of repairs to each vehicle.

“We’re going to have to stretch the mileage out the best we can,” Arnold said.

In the future, the sheriff will have to provide maintenance records as justification for replacing police vehicles.

Arnold once again asked the sheriff to reduce window tint on the squad cars, which is so dark no one can see inside.

“It needs to be lighter,” he said.

Arnold said it’s not fair for police to disregard laws they are charged with enforcing. Isaacs said the only new unit with tinted glass would be the K-9 truck to protect the dog.

Kevin Lilly can be reached at (574) 732-5117, or via e-mail at kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com