Trending
PARKERSBURG - The Wood County Sheriff's Department is looking for help from the Wood County Commission to replace its armored response vehicle.
Wood County Sheriff Rick Woodyard appeared before the commission Thursday to detail a proposal to replace the 20-year-old vehicle that has been used by the department for the last 15 years and has been deployed repeatedly during high-risk incidents involving armed or barricaded subjects.
The Wood County Sheriff's Department is asking the Wood County Commission to authorize bids for five new 2027 SUV patrol vehicles and begin the process to purchase a new armored response vehicle.
"Traditionally, the Sheriff's Office replaces six patrol vehicles annually through its fleet-replacement program," Woodyard said. "We are proposing replacing five vehicles this year and using the funding allocated for the sixth vehicle towards replacing … the armored response vehicle."
The sheriff said they are able to do this because their vehicle fleet is "in the shape it has been in a long time."
A new armored response vehicle runs around $370,000, according to the sheriff.
"Our armored response vehicle has served the county well," he said adding the vehicle is a 2003 model they bought used.
Recent deployments include incidents on 25th Street, 30th Street, Buckeye Street, Elm Street, Lynn Street, Forrest Drive/Abbey Village, and 13th Street at Avery where people were armed and firing on police.
"During the 25th Street incident, the vehicle sustained multiple 9mm impacts while being used to support law-enforcement operations," Woodyard said. "The vehicle has also provided protected positions for deputies, officers and specialized equipment, assisted with rescue and extraction operations and provided a secure platform for communication and de-escalation."
In the majority of the incidents, no officers, civilians or suspects were injured, Woodyard said.
"These are real world things that happened here in Wood County, not hypothetical," he said of protecting officers from gunfire and officer rescue/extraction.
Although the current vehicle remains operational, Woodyard said its age makes replacement a long-term planning issue. A replacement armored vehicle could take approximately one year to be prepared and delivered after an order is done, the sheriff said.
Commissioner Jimmy Colombo said people who see a vehicle like that may think it is a sign of force.
"It is for protection," he said.
Unfortunately, with the world the way it is, Colombo said, these kinds of vehicles are needed to protect lives.
The department is exploring multiple potential funding sources to reduce the county's overall cost, including using funding for a sixth patrol vehicle, state/federal grants, budget carryover at the end of the fiscal year and available funds for law-enforcement and equipment funds. Money could also be gathered from selling the current armored vehicle.
Woodyard said they would only sell the current vehicle to another law-enforcement agency. A similar vehicle was sold for around $43,000, officials said.
Woodyard said other law-enforcement agencies in the area are looking at getting their own armored response vehicles. The sheriff's vehicle has been used in operations with other agencies.
"We share our vehicle," he said of operations with local agencies. "In critical situations, we all pool our assets."
Having more than one vehicle available during an incident gives local law enforcement options in how they can deal with the situation, Woodyard said.
Commission President Blair Couch said protecting officers and the public through the use of this kind of vehicle can save lives.
"Although you are not called out to use that vehicle 20 times a month, there are uses where it is really needed," he said. "It is so needed."
The commission agreed to proceed in allowing the sheriff's department to begin the process to replace its armored vehicle.