SALINE CO., Ark. (KTHV) -- There's a new arsenal of emergency response tools for one of Central Arkansas' fastest growing counties.
Most recently Saline County received a trailer, a donation from the Benton Fire Department. It's now converted into a mobile command center to use where-ever emergency strikes in the county.
There's a new set of wheels at the Saline County Sheriff's Office.
"In the East End area a couple of years ago, when we had the tornado, we had to call on the National Guard to bring us something to be able to function with," Sheriff Bruce Pennington said. "We're self-sufficient now."
They're self-sufficient with a new mobile command center for any emergency.
"Whether it is a manhunt, disaster, lost person, missing person, anything, we can respond in a moment's notice," Sheriff Pennington said.
The features include improved radio communication with law enforcement agencies county-wide.
"We have the capability because we have each radio type in here," Sheriff Pennington said.
A row of cell phones sit charged for deputies in the field to check in, plus beds, a bathroom and a kitchen.
This mobile command center actually joins a few other recently purchased emergency vehicles for the county. There's an old Brinks Security van the county plans to fix up and use for its Swat Team and two humvees the sheriff's office plans to use in cases like last winter when all those drivers got stranded on Interstate 30.
"Their capability of going in terrain, where they can use four-wheel drive, they can go," Sheriff Pennington said.
And expand emergency response with a growing fleet of ammunition.
Sheriff Pennington says they acquired all of these new vehicles at no cost to taxpayers.
The mobile unit was a free donation; they got the Brinks security van for just $10 and the humvees came from federal resources.
You Might Be Interested In