The St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, Sheriff's Office converted a 2015 Nissan Cargo Van that previously served as a transport vehicle to a mobile crime scene unit.  -  Photo: St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office

The St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, Sheriff's Office converted a 2015 Nissan Cargo Van that previously served as a transport vehicle to a mobile crime scene unit.

Photo: St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office

The Saint Martin Parish, Louisiana, Sheriff's Office recently converted an old transport van to serve a new purpose. The 2015 Nissan Cargo Van now serves as a crime scene response van, a Capt. Ginny Higgins with the sheriff's office told Government Fleet.

What Was Changed in the Van

The seats inside the van were removed and a rubber mat was installed on the floor for stability and traction. Utility shelving units were installed for sanitation and equipment and extra lighting.  -  Photo: St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office

The seats inside the van were removed and a rubber mat was installed on the floor for stability and traction. Utility shelving units were installed for sanitation and equipment and extra lighting.

Photo: St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office

The seats inside the van were removed and a rubber mat was installed on the floor for stability and traction. Utility shelving units were installed for sanitation and equipment and extra lighting. Additionally, a utility table was installed on the back door. An inverter was installed for extra power, along with a portable generator for lighting purposes when working in remote areas.

The conversion process began in mid-fall 2021 and was completed about a year ago.

Saving Money Through Conversion

The cost to convert St. Martin Parish's new mobile crime scene unit came to $6,500.  -  Photo: St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office

The cost to convert St. Martin Parish's new mobile crime scene unit came to $6,500.

Photo: St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office

The decision to convert the van ultimately came down to cost. The total conversion cost, including the new paint job, wrap, and shelving, was approximately $6,500. That amount also includes the crime scene supplies that were placed in the van.

Even though the vehicle has high mileage, it's only used as a specialized vehicle and is not driven on a daily basis.

All work was completed in-house, with the exception of the wrap.

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Christy Grimes

Christy Grimes

Associate Editor

Christy Grimes is Associate Editor at Bobit, working on Government Fleet and School Bus Fleet magazines.

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