Community

Ohio County Sheriff’s Department Presses Commissioners for New Cruisers

WHEELING - The process for purchasing vehicles for law enforcement is changing, and the Ohio County Sheriff's Department is pressing county commissioners to act now to buy needed automobiles while they are available.

Deputy Maj. Rod Vaught has compiled an analysis for county commissioners that details "what we need to do" to assure Ohio County maintains a healthy fleet of vehicles for its sheriff's department.

Presently there are five vehicles in the sheriff's department fleet that have exceeded 100,000 miles of usage, and others that will in the coming months, Vaught reported.

The county bought five vehicles last year - only four of which have arrived at the department due to shortages, he said. Prior to these purchases, the last time the county bought automobiles for the department was in 2019.

Vaught explained to commissioners they need to act quickly if they are to take advantage of purchasing what vehicles are most readily available.

"I need to impress upon the commission that there is a time crunch," he said during the commission's Tuesday night meeting. "The automotive industry - as a result of the COVID shortages - are changing how they are selling police vehicles.

"They are no longer manufacturing a certain number and taking orders from dealerships then manufacturing the vehicles."

They have an issue with some dealerships purchasing large numbers of them, hoarding them, then selling them at a higher cost to law enforcement agencies that needed them, according to Vaught.

"Consequently, they will not manufacture a vehicle unless they have a written commitment from the agency that is purchasing the vehicle," he continued.

That policy begins at the start of next month, Vaught said.

"If we don't have a commitment by the end of January, we will not be able to order vehicles," he told commissioners.

Vaught noted he has received the same information from both Victory Chevrolet at The Highlands and Whiteside's in St. Clairsville.

Victory Chevrolet has told him they have been allocated 10 law enforcement vehicles for order this year, while Whiteside's is willing to hold as many as nine vehicles for Ohio County.

But a written commitment is still needed from the county before they can be ordered and manufactured, Vaught continued.

Car companies also no longer manufacture sedans for law enforcement, but only the all-weather sport utility vehicles, he said. Chevy Tahoes, Ford Explorers and Dodge Durangos are the only options available.

Commissioners told him they would have to put the vehicles out to bid under state law, and that there would be a time crunch to have the bidding completed by Jan. 31.

Vaught said he has the information ready to go out immediately to bid out for Chevy Tahoes similar to those the county purchased last year.

Commissioner Zach Abraham expressed concern about getting the best cost, and wondered if Vaught couldn't also put together soon the requirements for a second brand of vehicle so that the prices could be prepared.

Vaught said he would attempt to make that happen in the coming days.

Once vehicles are purchased, there would also be additional time needed before they could be used as necessary equipment is installed, he said.

Sheriff Tom Howard was not present at the meeting to discuss the vehicle purchase.

The commissioners are next set to meet at 6 p.m. on Feb. 6 at the City-County Building, 1500 Chapline St., Wheeling.