OTTAWA — Franklin County Sheriff Craig Davis went for the traditional-styling of the Ford Crown Victoria patrol car rather than the sleek Dodge Charger. The game was a-foot, but his explanation was elementary. The Chargers don’t have adjusting foot pedals, he said. Because of the varying heights of his deputies, he insists that all of the patrol cars have adjusting pedals rather than have shorter deputies run the seat closer. Having the seat closer to the steering wheel poses a risk if an air bag deploys during an accident, he said. Commissioners voted 4-1 to buy three new cars – two from the department funds and another from drug-seizure money — this morning. Commissioner Don Hay cast the dissenting vote, sayings the county should wait before buying new cars. However, Davis defended the buy, saying it’s cheaper to replace county vehicles on an established rotationi schedule rather than pay increasing maintenance costs. He said he had cut the rotation to two cars a year from four. He noted that after the county ignored the rotation in past years, he had to buy seven cars in one year and he said he wanted to avoid a repeat.
Wednesday, May 19, 4 p.m.
