Vehicle Donation Allows Georgia PD to Begin Take-Home Program

The donation of 11 police vehicles from the Walton County, Florida, Sheriff's Office will allow the Vidalia, Georgia, Police Department to roll out a vehicle take-home program for its patrol officers.

The Walton County Sheriff's Office donated six used Ford Police Interceptor Utility vehicles and five used Chevy Caprices. Wiley Willoughby, senior manager of facilities and fleet for the sheriff's office told Government Fleet that the vehicles were scheduled to be removed/decommissioned from the fleet.

Willoughby said that the request for the vehicles was made from an individual who has close ties to Vidalia PD. When the sheriff's office found out that there were not enough vehicles for each member of the department, the chief of staff gave them the go-ahead to make the donation.

He added that the sheriff's office assists other law enforcement agencies with donations like this when possible.

"Public safety is a family and we all should invest in each other so we can all be successful," Willoughby said. "This career is a difficult one to embark in and some agencies do not have the resources we have. We are proud to help another department better serve the people in their jurisdiction."

Officers with Vidalia PD recently traveled to Florida to pick up the new vehicles. You can get a closer view of the vehicles in the video below.

The Vidalia Police Department has 35 men and women on its police force who serve more than 10,000 residents, according to its website.

An employee of the Vidalia Police Department told Government Fleet that the vehicles will be upfitted with equipment and decals and will be ready for patrols in the coming weeks.