Sheriff asks commissioners to take 2026 vehicle bids under advisement; highlights jail award, victim‑notification proposal

Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office officials opened three bids for 2026 patrol vehicles and asked commissioners to take the bids under advisement on April 1. The sheriff also briefed the commission on a statewide recognition for the jail’s suicide‑prevention work and urged the county to consider an electronic victim notification system the office supports.

Bids and next steps: Three vendors submitted bids for 2026 Chevrolet police‑model SUVs and equivalent utility vehicles. The bids discussed by the sheriff were: - Barney Buick GMC Mazda: $56,720 per vehicle with an additional $125 document fee (seller location not specified in the record). - CMG (Colonial Municipal Group), Plymouth, Massachusetts: $56,688.72 per vehicle. - Course Auto Group: $58,967 per vehicle (subject to factory production availability).

The commission voted to take the bids under advisement to allow staff review, with commissioners agreeing to consider the sheriff’s note that one vendor offers an “all‑inclusive” package of pre‑installed equipment that may be cost‑effective. The sheriff said outfitting a vehicle with radios, lights, computer stands and cages runs in the roughly $10,000–$12,000 range, depending on configuration; he also noted the region’s transition away from Ford vehicles to Chevy Tahoes affected long‑term maintenance and resale considerations.

Jail recognition and victim‑notification proposal: The sheriff reported the county jail received recognition from a statewide suicide‑prevention organization (described as "Caring About Lives in Maine" and coordinated through NAMI Maine). He credited correctional staff and contractors for suicide‑prevention efforts and said the award recognized local practices and a mental‑health clinician funded through a grant.

The sheriff also renewed a pitch for an electronic victim‑notification system intended to notify victims and witnesses automatically when someone is released from custody. He told the commission the system would cost about $10,000 per year and said he was disappointed the proposal faced legislative resistance. "It is just stunning that something like this got ... in legislation, and it was essentially shot down," the sheriff said. He argued the system would help victims and witnesses who are not currently guaranteed notification by statute.

Votes and fleet context: In discussion the sheriff said the county fleet would be about 54 vehicles after the planned additions and noted many towns provide contract deputies and help offset vehicle costs under agreements with the county. Commissioners took the bid packages under advisement; staff will return with procurement recommendations and further price comparisons.

Ending: The commission did not award vehicles at the meeting; it approved the request to review the bids further and asked the sheriff and staff to supply additional pricing and equipment comparisons for a future meeting.