Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin can order one of two 2015 Ford Police Interceptor SUV’s he plans to buy for his department this year and a light bar to go on the vehicle. The Starke County Council last night approved that expenditure. The vehicle will replace the department’s high-mileage Dodge Durango, which will be reassigned to Starke County Coroner Adam Gray for use as a body transport vehicle. The Starke County Commissioners previously approved the purchase, but the council’s approval was needed to spend the money.
Last night the commissioners approved the purchase of a second, identical vehicle and a light bar. However, the council will need to approve the expenditure at their next meeting before Dulin can place the order. Their next regularly-scheduled meeting is Monday, March 17. The commissioners did advise Dulin some equipment from the previous patrol vehicles will need to be transferred into the new ones, and a new kennel for the department’s recently acquired K9 will need to be purchased with funds from the sheriff’s commissary fund.