Trumbull officials get free rides

Trumbull Sheriff’s Office acquires free vehicles from Defense Department

Officials with the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office have found a way to acquire vehicles they can use to transport prisoners, travel through deep snow or cut grass essentially free of charge.

Staff report

WARREN

Officials with the Trumbull County Sheriff’s office have found a way to acquire vehicles they can use to transport prisoners — essentially free of charge.

Among the vehicles are three Humvees from AM General, a 1985 Chevy Suburban, 2006 Chevrolet pickup truck and three vans of various sizes.

All came free to the county for the price of having a deputy travel to Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia and pick them up from various U.S. Defense Logistics Agency locations, said Maj. Harold Firster of the sheriff’s office.

There also has been cost associated with equipping some of the vehicles with police equipment, body work and other repairs.

Deputy Ty Kata has been in charge of scouring roughly 100 websites and placing bids on vehicles the U.S. Department of Defense no longer needs, Firster said.

The vehicles are provided free of charge to law enforcement, Firster said. The sheriff’s office has about 10 of these vehicles.

One of the best ones is a 2006 Ford van with 19,000 miles on it that the sheriff’s office uses to transport prisoners to the penitentiary.

A smaller 1996 Dodge minivan is used to transport prisoners to and from courts in Cortland, Brookfield and Newton Falls.

A 1994 Dodge 10-passenger van is used to transport prisoners to locations where they cut grass and shovel snow for senior citizens.

A 1985 Suburban was equipped by the county maintenance department with equipment so that it could serve as a patrol car. The smallest Humvee also was equipped to serve as a patrol vehicle.

The department acquired a bucket truck that could be used to place surveillance cameras in trees, he added.

“It’s an excellent program,” Firster said. “We’ve gotten backup generators, lighting, about 150 blankets for the jail.”