Earle Police Department in the market for new car

Earle Police Department in the market for new car

Insurance check will help cover cost of replacement squad car

news@theeveningtimes.com

Earle will go ahead and search for a replacement police car now that the insurance claim has been paid.

The city received $2,700 from the insurance company as payment for a 2009 Crown Victoria police car that was damaged after an officer drove it through deep standing water.

“They came and took the car and they sent the check for $2,700,” said Mayor Sherman Smith.

Smith said they do plan to find a new car for the police department. The city paid $3,500 for the vehicle originally.

“They are going to need something,” Smith said.

Councilman Kenneth Cross asked how many cars the police department has.

“Do we need it?” Cross asked. “We only have six police officers.”

Police Chief Jerry Eaves said the department has two Dodge Chargers and two Crown Victorias and in his estimation the department does need a replacement for the one that was damaged.

“I think we do,” Eaves said. “The cars we have are pretty old. If one breaks down then we’re going to be in trouble.”

City Clerk and Treasurer Cynthia Conner told Cross that the money can only be used to buy a new police vehicle.

“Regardless of whether we need the car or not, we have to spend the money because it was allocated and came from insurance,” Conner said. “The auditors will want to see that it was spent on a police car.”

Cross questioned whether they needed to buy one right away.

“But we don’t need to purchase it immediately,” Cross said. “When will the auditors be here?”

Conner said they never known when auditors will visit the city. Auditors have shown up as early as March, she said.

“I’m just saying we need to spend it before they come,” Conner said. “You don’t want to just wait.”

“We’ll go ahead and start looking,” Smith said.

By Mark Randall