Sheriff's Office purchases command center vehicle

After nearly a dozen years of trying to secure sufficient funding, the Bartholomew County Sheriff's Office is purchasing a mobile command center.

“If we have a disaster or something like that, (the command center) will basically be a way to continue operations,” Sheriff Chris Lane said. “Some communities across the state have experienced major events such as tornadoes. We hope that if something bad happens, the department can continue to operate.

Originally purchased by Columbus Township Fire and Rescue as a District 3 command unit, the Cummins-powered 1998 Freightliner will be made available to any local public safety agencies that need it, Lane said. The command center, which has less than 30,000 miles on the odometer, has been in storage by the fire department for most of its life, according to the sheriff.

The purchase price is $43,550, Lane said. An additional $49,156 will need to be spent to purchase and install accessories or augmentations to meet the needs of law enforcement and emergency dispatchers.

That development will involve a total remodel of the interior, so the command center will have five law enforcement workstations that can serve as a mobile emergency dispatch center, Lane said.

Such a unit likely would have resolved the issues on July 1, 2023, when half of Bartholomew County's 911 system was destroyed by a lightning strike. It took over two months to complete all the necessary repairs.

An additional $7,350 will be spent to bring the vehicle to peak mechanical performance, the sheriff said. This includes replacing all tires, as well as repairing minor leaks, he said.

In total, the investment will amount to $100,056.

Additional funds may be needed to ensure the truck's new computers work. An application has been submitted for a Homeland Security Program grant to purchase seven new laptop computers for mobile dispatch. Bartholomew County should know if it will receive the grant in August or September.

Bartholomew County Commissioner Tony London said his research indicates a new mobile command center would cost at least $500,000. Commissioners unanimously approved the purchase of the vehicle from Columbus Township Fire and Rescue on Monday.

The sheriff emphasized that all costs of purchasing, upgrading and maintaining the vehicle will be paid either with commissary funds collected at the jail or with forfeiture money from property confiscated during the drug seizures, the sheriff said.

“No taxpayer money will be involved,” he said.

Having the truck also has a PR benefit. It will be on display at community engagements such as the annual Bartholomew County 4-H Fair, downtown celebrations and Heritage Days of Hope, Lane said. Rather than calling the truck a mobile command center, Lane said his department will call it a community command vehicle.

“In today's world, especially in law enforcement, these community commitments are invaluable,” Lane said. “We need to seize as many moments as possible to participate. »