Carroll County commissioners on Dec. 18 approved a series of procurement requests for the Sheriff's Office and fleet management, including tactical rifles, vehicle upfitting and additional accessories for an armored response vehicle.

Procurement staff asked the board to approve purchase of 50 replacement long guns and accessories from Whitmer Public Safety Group for $84,867.50. A sheriff’s‑office speaker explained the purchase will be funded from asset‑forfeiture monies seized through investigations, saying the funding is “not coming out of the county’s budget at all—it’s all drug dealer money that we’re using.” The purchase was approved following questions about rotation and procurement processes.

Separately, the board approved two change orders totaling $64,834 to add thermal cameras, monitors and modem integration to a previously authorized Lenco Bearcat armored vehicle. Staff said the additions became available as the vendor completed engineering for newer accessories, and funding is included in the FY26 budget.

The board also approved upfitting contracts for patrol vehicle fleets: upfitting seven 2025 Ford Explorers ($172,801.48), seven Ford F‑150 pickup trucks ($238,447.45), and three unmarked Explorers ($74,731.63) to be completed by Priority Install LLC under state contract. Staff said many purchases use available state contract pricing and are within the FY26 budget.

Questions from commissioners focused on where asset‑forfeiture funds are held, internal policies for spending those funds, and whether purchases are planned or cyclical. Procurement staff confirmed the county is the fiduciary for seized asset accounts, procurement rules were followed, and FY26 budgets include the approved amounts.

The board approved the rifles and vehicle upfitting motions in separate votes; all procurement items recorded in the meeting were carried as presented.