Klamath County Commissioners have approved $178,425 to purchase four new Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicles to replace unsafe and inoperable patrol cars.

The county plans to purchase Dodge Durangos from Salem-based Withnell Dodge for $120,304, with another $58,121 earmarked for equipment including light bars, cages and radios.

Funding will come from a line item set aside for vehicle replacement, as well as a $32,499 insurance payout for a patrol vehicle damaged in a collision. Money raised from sales of the old vehicles will also help replenish the vehicle replacement fund.

Increase in staffing

Sheriff Chris Kaber said the new vehicles were needed due to an increase in patrol staffing, as well as older cars that were either unsafe to operate or did not run at all. Kaber said, with these new vehicles, the average age of a patrol car for the sheriff’s office will be four years.

Upon taking office in January, Kaber said one of his goals was to update the patrol fleet and begin a replacement scheduled preventing cars from reaching the point where they were no longer safe to drive.

County Commissioner Derrick DeGroot, public safety liaison, said he was pleased to play a role in ensuring the safety of deputies.

“I’ve been excited with being part of equipping our deputies with vehicles we can trust to bring them home, which is really what it’s all about,” he said.

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County Approves $178K for Patrol Vehicles (H&N)