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Police Pick Up Humvee Free of Charge
Menard County Sheriff Charles Jones is pretty excited about his department's newest vehicle.
"We'll be able to get out to people that need assistance," Jones said. "And I'm not only talking criminal. I'm talking medical, I'm talking emergency services, where we can put EMTs, persons qualified, in the vehicle, and maybe get them to where someone has had a heart attack, or some type of illness where they can't get out, that we can help."
The ex-military Humvee is on a permanent free loan thanks to a program through the CMS Law Enforcement Support Office.
"In the last 18 months, we've transferred about $30 million worth of federal property to law enforcement agencies throughout the state," CMS Program Coordinator Curtis Howard said.
The program also enables the taxpayers to get more mileage out of their tax dollars.
"We're taking that taxpayer-funded equipment and rather than let it be salvaged or shredded, or scrapped out, and we can put it back into service for law enforcement that is really fighting for every dollar that they can get," Howard said. "So if they can pick up something free through this federal military program, then they're going to be able to keep another deputy or sheriff out on the street."
In the last year, CMS has transferred $70 million worth of surplus equipment to state and local governments, agencies, and even non-profit organizations.
"Not only Humvees, but generators, light sets, tools, outdoor equipment, office supplies, office equipment," Howard said. "Everything that's excess to the federal government's needs."
The goal is the same for all the surplus property.
"It allows us to utilize federal tax dollars, which we've already paid for, and put this back into our community," Jones said.
This particular Humvee ended its military tour in camouflage, which is done with a paint that is very durable and notoriously hard to remove.
Bill Matthews Auto Body performed the flat black facelift, which would have cost $5,500, free of charge.
--
Reporting in Springfield, Mike Brooks, ABC NewsChannel 20.
Police Pick Up Humvee Free of Charge
Menard County Sheriff Charles Jones is pretty excited about his department's newest vehicle.
"We'll be able to get out to people that need assistance," Jones said. "And I'm not only talking criminal. I'm talking medical, I'm talking emergency services, where we can put EMTs, persons qualified, in the vehicle, and maybe get them to where someone has had a heart attack, or some type of illness where they can't get out, that we can help."
The ex-military Humvee is on a permanent free loan thanks to a program through the CMS Law Enforcement Support Office.
"In the last 18 months, we've transferred about $30 million worth of federal property to law enforcement agencies throughout the state," CMS Program Coordinator Curtis Howard said.
The program also enables the taxpayers to get more mileage out of their tax dollars.
"We're taking that taxpayer-funded equipment and rather than let it be salvaged or shredded, or scrapped out, and we can put it back into service for law enforcement that is really fighting for every dollar that they can get," Howard said. "So if they can pick up something free through this federal military program, then they're going to be able to keep another deputy or sheriff out on the street."
In the last year, CMS has transferred $70 million worth of surplus equipment to state and local governments, agencies, and even non-profit organizations.
"Not only Humvees, but generators, light sets, tools, outdoor equipment, office supplies, office equipment," Howard said. "Everything that's excess to the federal government's needs."
The goal is the same for all the surplus property.
"It allows us to utilize federal tax dollars, which we've already paid for, and put this back into our community," Jones said.
This particular Humvee ended its military tour in camouflage, which is done with a paint that is very durable and notoriously hard to remove.
Bill Matthews Auto Body performed the flat black facelift, which would have cost $5,500, free of charge.
--
Reporting in Springfield, Mike Brooks, ABC NewsChannel 20.
