WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS TO DISCUSS SHERIFF’S VEHICLE PURCHASES
The Washington County Commissioners will discuss a number of vehicle purchases for the Sheriff’s Office during their meeting on Tuesday.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is requesting the authority to purchase a crime scene trailer using funds from their donations account. In addition to the trailer, the Sheriff’s Office would like to purchase four Chevrolet Tahoe SUVs and one Ford Expedition using funds from its 2017 budget.
The Sheriff’s Office will also ask the Commissioners Court to grant them the authority to purchase a 2016 Chevy Tahoe with money received from a vehicle insurance claim.
In other business, the Commissioners Court will consider a variance request from the subdivision rules and regulations for a land division fronting Crane Lane in Precinct 3.
The County Commissioners will also act upon approving a number of proclamations including: making October “Domestic Violence Awareness Month”, proclaiming October 27th as “Think Pink Thursday”, and declaring October 2nd through the 8th as “Texas Extension Education Association Week”.
The Washington County Commissioners Court will meet at 9 a.m. at the courthouse in Brenham in Chambers 103.
The Ford Expedition is the companies top SUV at $46,000. That is a luxury vehicle. There are other suv’s on the market that cost less. How about spending less on vehicles and more on officers salaries? Ask the officers if they need more dollars for raising their families, or leather upholstery in work cars?
The Sheriff has practically begged the Commissioners for increased salaries and has repeatedly been shut down by this court. Commissioners control what gets spent and where – not the Sheriff. This court rarely ever gives salary increases. Our deputies get paid less than cashiers at Buccees. It’s embarrassing.
Law enforcement agencies do not pay MSRP or dealer price. Agencies typically purchase vehicles at substantially lower prices through a state contract with a particular dealer, Caldwell Country, locally, I believe.
Also, they aren’t stock vehicles. Most come with a law enforcement package i.e. a cage, computer mount, gun rack, heavier duty shocks and struts, and no head’s up displays, sun/moon roofs, etc…
The sheriffs dept. has one Expedition for sheriff. Who needs another luxury vehicle? Suvs are more likely to flip over than sedans. What year models and vehicles are they replacing? More information would be helpful, thanks.
What about the lost computer? Where is that and let me guess is tax payers have to pay for it and someone not be fired over it???
Check with the Washington CO. Commissioners Court, they should be able to answer
this request.
As far as the SUVs, most police agencies are going to all SUV fleets because they hold up better in crashes and can carry more equipment. Most agencies also have agreements with dealerships to buy in bulk or to continue purchasing them. They’re not too much more expensive than the Chargers or Tauruses offered, and are more reliable (hey spend way less time in the shop).
The Captain of the Patrol division would be the person to contact in reference to these vehicles.
After constant us on all types of roads in the county they are worn out. Suvs are better suited for the Sheriff’s patrol to use. Check on the cost of vehicle repairs. As for the replacement of the Ford Expedition, (non luxury), this a replacement for an Investigator to work out of. This vehicle is a carry over from Sheriff Jankowski’s term, of which there were three or four of these. Stay informed!