Christmas comes early for Athens PD

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Athens Daily Review: News Story

Saturday, December 29, 2001 Community Newspapers

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Christmas comes early for Athens PD

By Stone

Although the ambulance parked in front of Athens Police Department

Thursday afternoon will no longer be used by paramedics rushing to a fire or an

accident, the vehicle's days of usefulness are not over.

For quite some time, Athens Police Chief Dave said, his

department has needed some sort of vehicle larger than the standard police car.

Often, when officers are investigating crime scenes or conducting raids, there

is equipment to be toted around.

For example, said , a drug bust that requires lots of officers

and contains a significant danger to the officers would require a large vehicle

to haul cameras, investigative equipment and body armor for the officers.

" We need our teams to be safer and be mobile, " said. " The

police department has long wanted a vehicle to use to carry equipment and work

out of. We need a mobile command post. "

In other situations, barricade equipment, explosives, lethal and

non-lethal weapons and even communications equipment needs to be moved from one

place to another. The equipment that will go into the ambulance is already

purchased, but cannot all fit into a police car when needed, said .

" We are just trying to give better service to the community, " said

.

So a year ago, the city requested an old ambulance from East Texas

Medical Center's Emergency Medical Services. The group often donates old

vehicles to agencies such as police departments for other uses.

EMS heard APD's plea. Thursday, the ambulance arrived.

It looks like any other ETMC ambulance now, but said after a

remodel and a paint job the vehicle will be ready for city use.

According to ETMC Regional Director EMS Don Greenhaw, the cost of

the ambulance, a 1996 model, is about $79,000. Greenhaw was responsible for the

donation of the vehicle to APD.

Although the department has had the need for quite some time,

said there is not enough money in the budget to pay for a vehicle of this kind.

" They are very expensive, and East Texas Medical Center has helped

us to obtain one, " said .

The ambulance has already been taken from the police department to a

paint shop, where it will be painted in blue and white during the next few

weeks. According to Athens Lieutenant Tom Underhill, the vehicle should be ready

for use by the end of January.

said the city council and administration was supportive of

his request from the beginning, and for that he is grateful. Before the

ambulance could be delivered, the city council had to approve the donation.

" The city (council) and administration are supportive of the police

department's efforts to provide additional safety and service to the community, "

said City Administrator Pam Burton.

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