Liberty County approves $104,750 purchase of 50 AEDs using opioid-abatement funds

Liberty County Commissioners Court on Nov. 25 approved the purchase of 50 LifePak CR2 automated external defibrillators for $104,750 using Texas opioid-abatement funds.

The request came from the Sheriff’s Office and Chief Knox, who said the devices will be deployed to sheriff’s office locations and frontline vehicles. A vendor representative described the units’ service and warranty, saying, “It has a 4-year battery and an 8-year manufacturer warranty,” and explained that the devices are monitored via a web platform that reports device faults and provides GPS location data.

County commissioners asked about training and liability. Chief Knox and the vendor said the devices provide step‑by‑step on-screen instructions and that local first‑responder training has been provided previously; the vendor also said the purchase includes eight years of program management at no additional cost. Commissioners requested that vendor or staff follow up with a training and certification plan for users.

Judge called the motion to approve; Bruce moved, Greg seconded, and the court approved the purchase by voice vote.

Why it matters: The county is using opioid-abatement funds to buy life‑saving equipment for public safety personnel and vehicles rather than for direct treatment programs. The equipment’s warranty, battery life, remote monitoring, and vendor-managed maintenance were central to commissioners’ questions about long-term reliability and liability.

What’s next: Staff will finalize procurement paperwork and work with the vendor and local fire/EMS for user training and device monitoring.