CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, offered effusive praise this week to the Berkeley County Commission and all those involved in donating four retired police cruisers to Clay, Mingo and McDowell counties, as well as the town of Kimball.
“These vehicles are still in excellent condition, and Berkeley County’s generosity will help law enforcement operations in these smaller communities, mine included, continue their vital work in a cost-effective manner,” Hanshaw said.
The Commission had decided several years ago to gradually phase out the use of Ford Taurus sedans and shift to a fleet of SUVs for the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department. The donated vehicles were four remaining cars from the fleet. Berkeley County’s process for retired police cruisers is to have them declared as surplus and then either sell them via auction or offer them in kind to other local government entities, which Berkeley County has done a handful of times over the years.
Delegates Michael Hornby, Michael Hite and Chuck Horst, all R-Berkeley, joined Berkeley County Commission Vice President Steve Catlett and County Administrator Gary A. Wine to help deliver the vehicles to their new owners in Charleston Tuesday, May 20.
“The local Delegates really did the work of identifying where there was a need and made the connections for the County Commission,” Hanshaw said. “These are the actions of true public servants at every level, and I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to everyone who had a hand in this.”