Published: October 08, 2008 10:00 am         

Adair purchases new police car

Adair trustees voted to buy a new Dodge Charger for the police department at their regular meeting Monday.

Police Chief Anthony Benton said the department’s Impala is not reliable and the town is spending more than a payment would cost on repairs each month. Town Clerk Melissa Crawford said the Impala has had problems from the start.

Currently, the department is making payments on two Dodge Chargers. The payment comes from their equipment account. For each ticket written, $15 goes into the police equipment fund. Other charges, such as $50 for a deferred ticket and $244 for failure to appear in court also go into the equipment fund.

“The police equipment fund has financed the whole car thing,” Crawford said.

“They’re totally self-sufficient right now,” said trustee Jonny Terry.

The department has three full-time officers and three reserves, Benton said. The two Chargers and a Crown Victoria are “take home cars” and only used by the officers who keep them. That leaves only the Impala for reserves to drive.

The 2001 model Impala was used when it was purchased in 2005. It has drained numerous batteries with several garages unable to find the cause. The air conditioning has been a constant problem and the transmission slips. Officer Justin Hale said the car stalled with him seven times in one day.

“Before a car would last us years,” Crawford said. “Now it gets at least 200 miles a shift.”

“One patrol averages 50 miles,” Benton said.

Benton presented a quote for a new Dodge Charger which is approximately $35,950 equipped.

“I don’t think we’ve got the money to do it right now, but that’s just me,” trustee Trent Peper said. “It’s not that I don’t think you guys need it.”

“The town’s not paying a dime for the cars and equipment that we have,” Benton said.

Benton told trustees the Cherokee Nation has given the department a grant in the amount of $3,930.37 for equipment.

After a long discussion, Terry made a motion to purchase the new car and equipment outright using money from the town’s capital outlay account, with the Cherokee Nation grant used toward the equipment. The Impala will be

surplussed. The town will accept sealed bids and the proceeds of that sale will go toward the new car purchase. Mayor Steve Hall seconded the motion and Peper voted yes. Trustee Devin DeLozier was absent.

During September, Adair’s Police Department issued 82 citations and 18 warnings. Tickets included 12 disobeying stop light, four disobeying stop sign, three driving under suspension, two driving under the influence, one improper passing, four no insurance, one non-traffic offense, six other traffic offenses, one possession of paraphernalia, one public drunk, one reckless driving, 38 speeding, seven speeding in school zone and one transporting an open container. Six arrests were made on city charges and one arrest was made on a felony warrant from Texas.

Officer Michael Pappe has completed Council on Law Enforcement and Education Training. Officer Justin Hale is applying to be put on the CLEET waiting list. Hale is riding for a few more weeks with Pappe before he goes on overnight patrol Oct. 14. Benton said two reserves have been coming out and the extra manpower has been helpful.

     

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