News
Meigs County Sheriff’s Office Upgrades Cruisers For The First Time In 16 Years
By: Susan Tebben | The Athens Messenger
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Through the collaboration of the Meigs County Sheriff's Office and local officials, the first new fleet of vehicles has come to the office in nearly two decades.
Five new law enforcement vehicles were purchased to replace older vehicles in need of maintenance and with more than 160,000 miles on them, according to Meigs County Sheriff Keith Wood.
"It's a way of moving forward for us," Wood said. "These (vehicles) will be a lot safer for our deputies."
The cars, including a 2014 Dodge Charger and four all-wheel drive 2015 Ford Interceptor Utility vehicles were purchased through a lease program approved by county commissioners Mike Bartrum, Tim Ihle and Randy Smith. The purchases were made using forfeited drug money, other sheriff's office funds and county funds approved by the commissioners, Wood said.
"Had it not been for the hard work of the deputies on drug cases, this could not have happened," Smith said. "Also, if it weren't for the hard-working citizens of Meigs County this couldn't have happened either … they make progress possible."
New vehicles hadn't been added to the sheriff's office fleet since 1998, Wood said. The five Ford Crown Victorias were bought after several cruisers were deemed "unsafe," according to a news release by the sheriff's office. Now, the 1998 vehicles are reaching their end, Wood said.
"These older vehicles were costly to maintain with several breakdowns and repairs being done to keep these vehicles on the road for the county," Wood stated in the release.