PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office is getting new wheels.
County commissioners Tuesday approved a $59,753 purchase order for two utility all-wheel drive Ford Police Interceptors from a Longview auto dealer on a state bid.
The cost of the four-door pursuit vehicles is covered by a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
“One of the reasons we’re going with the SUVs is they’re a little bit larger, and plus, it’s giving us an all-wheel-drive capability that we really haven’t had before,” Clallam County Undersheriff Ron Peregrin said.
“When we have inclement weather, we have real difficulty getting around and getting to a lot of our calls. These will correct that deficiency to a large degree.”
‘Defined process’
Commissioners questioned why the vehicles were being purchased at Columbia Ford instead of a Clallam County auto dealer.
Peregrin said the Longview dealer, one of two state bidders, has a “defined process” of outfitting police vehicles with the necessary equipment and can offer them at a better price.
The purchase of the custom-made pursuit vehicles is being handled by equipment mechanic Tom Gray of the Clallam County Road Department.
“It works out really well having them help us with this,” said Alice Hoffman, chief civil deputy in the Sheriff’s Office.
Hoffman on Thursday said the vehicles were being ordered and likely would arrive around the end of the year.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
