KEARNEY, Neb. For the first time in its history, the Kearney Police Department (KPD) will implement a new take-home vehicle program thanks to a $3 million donation from a local private foundation.
KPD hopes this new addition will help improve its ranks.
“We are always looking for ways to recruit and retain talented men and women to join the Kearney Police Department. Over the past few years, there have been challenges across the United States in recruiting and retaining new officers,” said Bryan Waugh, Kearney Police Chief.
KEARNEY POLICE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES DONATION TO START POLICE ASSIGNED VEHICLE PROGRAM
Currently, only the marked cruisers that are brought home are police K-9 units. Waugh said officers who could take vehicles home could help fight crime even more, as the city saw a spate of knife and gun violence in the past few weeks.
“These cars will add more of a law enforcement presence throughout the community. When the officer brings that car home, it’s parked on the street, it’s parked in their driveway, it adds that extra police presence to the community 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in addition to police officers who are patrolling all over the city,” Waugh said.
The program will be implemented in the next 18 to 24 months, with 30 vehicles incorporated in the department. This will allow Kearney’s 62 police officers to receive their own take-home vehicles. New cars could help save local taxpayers money. On average, KPD destroys four cars a year and replaces five to six vehicles annually; this costs taxpayers $250,000 each year.
