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Rockingham commissioners approve sheriff's purchase of tactical plates and holsters using controlled-substance funds
Summary
The Rockingham County Board of Commissioners voted May 5, 2025 to approve two sheriff-requested purchases from controlled-substance funds: 60 tactical threat plates ($26,434) and 50 holsters with lights. County administration said the purchases are allowable uses of those state-derived funds.
The Rockingham County Board of Commissioners on May 5, 2025 approved sheriff-requested equipment purchases to be paid from controlled-substance funds, county staff said.
Lance Metzler of county administration told the board the sheriff requested two purchases drawn from controlled-substance funds, which Metzler described as state excise-tax revenue reserved for local law enforcement. Metzler said the items were allowable expenditures and recommended using this year’s funds. "The 2 that they're asking for is 1 is the, the 60, 60 tactical, threat plates for patrol, civil, and school resource officer divisions. The amount's $26,434, and the other is to, fund, and purchase 50 holsters and lights for the weapons for patrol and civil duties," Metzler said during the presentation.
Sheriff Sam Page had appeared earlier in the meeting to thank commissioners for participating in detention-facility orientations and described the jail tour format; Metzler’s presentation said the sheriff's office included these equipment requests in the upcoming budget and suggested funding them from this year's controlled-substance reserve.
Commissioner Barrow moved to approve the two purchases and Commissioner Hall seconded. The board approved the motion by voice vote; the chair called for the ayes. The motion covered both the 60 tactical plates (listed at $26,434) and the 50 holsters with lights for patrol and civil duties.
Controlled-substance funds were described at the meeting as state-collected excise revenues distributed to local law enforcement and held in a reserve account that cannot be supplanted by the county general fund. Metzler emphasized those statutory limits when recommending the funding source.
The board did not provide a roll-call tally in the meeting transcript; the approval was recorded by voice vote and the chair declared the motion passed. The meeting then moved on to commissioner comments and routine business before adjourning.
