OTTAWA — The Franklin County Sheriff’s office has acquired a military-style Hummvee (a High Mobility Multi Purpose Wheeled Vehicle in military lingo, or HMMWV for short — the civilian Hummer is a spinoff) from the federal government. Sheriff Jeff Curry said the department paid a minimal transfer fee for the vehicle. TFM Communications of Topeka donated $4,100 in labor and radio equipment, siren and emergency lights. Dale’s Body Shop of Ottawa donated nearly $1,600 in labor and paint to paint the vehicle. Bill Duncan and Duncan Auto Paint donated $60 worth of canvas dye to match the paint used by Dale’s Body Shop. BKB Leather donated $100 worth of canvas repair to the driver’s side door. Curry said the cost to the sheriff’s office was less than $1,800 and that was more than covered by selling two drug dealers’ vehicles. There’s been a need for such a vehicle, he said. Some calls have required deputies to cross terrain too rugged for patrol cars by walking and lugging equipment. Officers routinely have to navigate rough terrain such as oil leases, minimum maintenance roads, and railroad right of ways within the county.
Thursday, Dec. 29, 4 p.m.
