Pickett County Sheriff’s Department receives grant to buy 4-wheel drive truck
Submitted by Pickett County Sheriff’s Department
Recently, the Pickett County Sheriff's Department was awarded a federal grant by Jerry Jolley of Rural Development of Cookeville. The Sheriff's Department applied for this grant to allow them to purchase a 4-wheel drive vehicle. The need of this vehicle is for driving in bad weather conditions in the winter months, hauling confiscated drugs and drug equipment as well as stolen property. Most other Sheriff's Departments in the state already have a 4-wheel drive.
Pickett County had been relying on officers using their personal vehicles or borrowing from other departments when a 4-wheel drive was needed. The grant was awarded in the amount of $24,800 for the purchase of a new vehicle. Sheriff Dowdy was able to purchase the truck for $23,556.
Since purchasing the truck, it has already been used to haul products from meth labs, marijuana and the growing system, and a stolen 4-wheeler. Sheriff Dowdy is very grateful to Rural Development for always working well with Pickett County. Grants are extremely important for small rural counties such as ours.