BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office will be seeing a substantial equipment upgrade in the near future as the department received approval from the Raleigh County Commission on Tuesday for the purchase of four vehicles.
The development follows prior discussions between the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office and Raleigh County Commission regarding the need for updated police vehicles. This need, as explained during Tuesday’s Regular Session meeting, stemmed in part from vehicles in use by the department exhibiting various issues such as roof leaks and mechanical issues, with some even being taken out of service as a result of such issues.
Totaling to the amount of $262,506.69, the purchase will reportedly entail the purchase of four utility police interceptor utility vehicles for the department. One vehicle discussed as part of the purchased will be utilized by the RCSO’s K9 Unit and, as such, will come equipped with the required K9 insert, heat alarm, and remote door lock-release mechanism to allow an animal inside to exit the vehicle in a situation in which heat inside the vehicle could be detrimental.
The vehicles will also come equipped with camera systems for the vehicles themselves along with bodycam systems for officers and radars inside the vehicles.
Raleigh County Commission President, Greg Duckworth during the session reiterated his own understanding that the expenses in question were planned expenses which occur on roughly a yearly basis due to the expectancy of frequently used equipment to require maintenance and eventual replacement, which the Lieutenant Jason Redden of the Sheriff’s Office confirmed as accurate.
A motion for consideration of the purchase for the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office in the amount of $262,506.69 successfully carried during the meeting, which also saw consideration of funds as pertaining to several drawdown projects currently underway throughout the Raleigh County area.
The full Regular Session meeting of the Raleigh County Commission is available to stream exclusively at the LOOTPRESS YouTube page.
