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Hiram police to transfer unused intoximeter, sell outdated speed devices and dispose of surplus crowd-control munitions
Summary
Staff proposed donating a decade-old intoximeter to a distant police department, selling several older lidar speed devices and disposing of less-lethal crowd-control munitions; council discussion focused on minimal cost and proper disposal or transfer.
City staff told the council it will transfer or dispose of several pieces of outdated police equipment, citing maintenance costs and changing needs.
The items under discussion include a 10-year-old intoximeter the city obtained via grant and has not used in six years, a set of largely outdated speed-detection devices (lidars) and batteries, and a quantity of less-lethal munitions the department no longer needs for crowd control.
Lonnie, a city staff member presenting the items, said the intoximeter was obtained about 10 years ago on a grant and has been unused for six years. He said a police department in far North Georgia that conducts blood draws requested the intoximeter; donating it would eliminate maintenance costs for Hiram. “It costs us $0 to get it, and it'll cost us $0 to get rid of it,” Lonnie said of the donation to Kahunga Police Department.
On speed detection equipment, staff said there are four lidar units and 11 batteries, many of which are not functioning or are dated; the plan is to sell them back to a manufacturer or vendor to obtain a discount on new purchases. On less-lethal munitions and launchers, staff said the department initially acquired them because it lacked less-lethal shotguns but now has multiple less-lethal shotguns and does not foresee a need for the munitions; staff suggested selling them to the county or disposing of them via authorized channels if the council approves disposal.
Council members asked operational clarifying questions about blood draws and evidence procedures; staff said the department often uses blood draws handled by a third-party vendor and that courts prefer blood tests in some cases.
The work session record shows these were presented as surplus/transfer items; there was discussion but no recorded formal vote during the work session. Staff said disposing or transferring the items would relieve maintenance costs and put working equipment to use for other agencies.
Background: staff said the intoximeter arrived through a past grant; the speed-detection inventory includes dated devices and batteries and the department has newer less-lethal shotguns available by shift.
Next steps: staff will follow disposal/transfer protocols for law-enforcement equipment and return any required paperwork or recommended agreements to council as needed.
