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Sheriff says DHS approved weapons grant; court stalls on $44,741 radio purchase after debate
Summary
Sheriff Herndon said the Department of Homeland Security has verbally approved an $11,461 grant for Glock pistols; the court debated proposals for new or refurbished P-25 radios and a repeater but a motion to buy new radios for $44,741 failed on a roll call vote.
Sheriff Melvin Herndon told the Fiscal Court that the Department of Homeland Security had verbally approved a grant of $11,461 to purchase Glock 17 pistols to standardize sidearms across the sheriff’s office. He said officers would receive transition training once weapons were received and that the county would purchase the guns and be reimbursed by DHS.
A separate and more contested item concerned county radio communications. Deputies described recurring “dead spots” on parts of Highgrove Road where in one account officers had to use a paramedic’s vehicle radio to coordinate incident details. Magistrates discussed multiple procurement routes: a new-equipment bid from J&N Electronics (total $44,741) that county staff described as a three-year warranty option, versus a refurbished-option package (about $27,500) from a Colorado vendor that included a repeater. Supporters of buying new equipment emphasized warranty and dealer proximity; proponents of the refurbished option emphasized cost savings and available warranties/return windows.
Judge Riley moved to accept the J&N Electronics bid and transfer funds from a Spears Drive project to pay for radios and a repeater. The motion failed on a roll call: Judge Riley voted aye; all other magistrates either voted no or the motion did not receive sufficient support. Magistrates also discussed purchasing a repeater separately and the need to amend the county procurement threshold in the Administrative Code before some purchases.
The court approved routine vehicle repairs for a sheriff’s cruiser ($4,269.40 less the $500 deductible) after insurance review. Sheriff Herndon also reported that selected M-16 rifles had been converted from full-auto to semi-auto with modifications paid from seizure funds and that removed parts were stored in the sheriff’s safe.
The radio debate was one of the meeting’s most contentious exchanges; county leaders acknowledged the communications shortfall between first responders while disagreeing about procurement strategy and the timing of purchases.
