County to buy 5 new police cruisers

Bedford County Board of Commissioners' law enforcement and workhouse committee voted to purchase five new sheriff's department cruisers from Russell Barnett Dodge at a cost of $28,284 each.

Russell Barnett Dodge was the next-to-lowest bid, but sheriff's department officials said it was the best bid because the dealership offers pickup and delivery on service calls, eliminating the need for a sheriff's officer to be taken away from regular duties.

Sheriff Randall Boyce told the Times-Gazette the department has about 50 vehicles and tries to replace a few each year on a rotating basis.

In a related issue, Boyce said the gasoline crisis has affected his department's operations and ability to make random patrols.

Boyce briefly discussed the accident early Sunday involving a Sheriff's department vehicle. He said that both the driver and passenger in the other vehicle were intoxicated and that the other vehicle turned in front of the patrol car even though the patrol car had just turned on its lights and sirens on the way to investigate a stabbing incident.

Boyce said his department has left investigation of the incident entirely to the Tennessee Highway Patrol in order to avoid any possible conflict. But he expressed confidence that his department would be exonerated.

"It's no problem for us," said Boyce. "They're going to have a problem."