Pulaski County quorum court backs $184,000 appropriation for sheriff vehicle purchases

The Pulaski County Quorum Court voted to send ordinance 25I26 to the full court with a due-pass recommendation to appropriate $184,000 in contingency funds (Fund 18-07) to the sheriff's enforcement account for purchase of patrol vehicles.

Greg Evans, one of two enforcement majors with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, told the court the department has lost 15 vehicles to wrecks since 2023 and removed nine vehicles from service in 2024 for mechanical issues and high mileage. “Between those two, that is the $184,000 that's on the appropriation ordinance for tonight,” Evans said. He explained that totaled vehicles were covered by the Arkansas Association of Counties and related proceeds, and that auction receipts and insurance payments flowed back into the county general fund; the department is asking that $184,000 be placed back into the enforcement account to buy replacement vehicles.

The most pointed questioning came from Justice Robinson, who asked, “For a hundred and $84,000, how many vehicles do you think we can actually purchase? One?” Evans replied that recent Tahoe purchases were expensive and that the office was examining alternatives such as Dodge Durangos, which he estimated at about $52,000 apiece. He said the appropriation would cover roughly three vehicles and that the office still needs additional vehicles beyond what $184,000 will buy.

Justice Davis confirmed she had asked the sheriff how many vehicles would be purchased and said the sheriff indicated three vehicles. Justices raised the possibility that recent federal tariffs could increase vehicle prices; Evans acknowledged that pricing could change.

Following discussion and additions of multiple sponsors to the ordinance, the court recorded 14 ayes on the roll call and sent 25I26 to the full court with the due-pass recommendation.

The motion was presented by Justice Ward and seconded; the roll-call vote recorded the following members as voting yes: Miss Medlock, Mister Elliott, Mister Stowers, Mister McCoy, Mister Robinson, Miss Ward, Mister Keith, Miss Curry, Miss Massey, Mister Person, Miss Blackwood, Miss Lewison, Miss Capps and Miss Davis.

The appropriation would place contingency funds into the enforcement account to allow the sheriff’s office to purchase and prepare vehicles for patrol use; court members and sheriff’s staff emphasized that the $184,000 is not intended to fully replace the department’s long-term vehicle needs.

The court adjourned after a brief public-comment period that included praise for emergency workers and a separate citizen complaint about prior treatment at a meeting.