Staff writer

OAKLAND CITY-One of the city's newest police officers made a bid Tuesday for city officials to help with the purchase of a refurbished squad car, which he said would alleviate the reliance of all the department's part-time officers on a single vehicle.

Michael Collins, hired in July as an Oakland City police officer, said he has researched the possible purchase of a renovated former police car and believed the department's need for an additional vehicle makes such a purchase necessary. Of the three cars currently used by the department, one is used by full-time officers, one is designated for the department's K-9 unit and the other is shared between all part-time officers.

Collins said not only are the current cars racking up mileage, but this situation has at times created problems for officers who were forced to respond to calls or transfer suspects in their personal vehicles.

&#8220There have been many circumstances where we needed an extra car and have not had it," he told the board.

A Ford dealership in Bloomington upgrades older-model police cars and sells them to police departments looking for a less expensive option to buying a new vehicle, Collins said. And he added, that he and other officers planned to drive there and look at the cars offered, if the board and the city council approved the purchase.

With a donation of $3,000 earmarked for the purchase of an additional squad car already received by the department, Collins asked that the city match that amount for the possible purchase of the car.

&#8220A city match would get us a decent police car and could leave enough left over to buy equipment to put in that car," he said.

Mayor Hugh Wirth said he was caught off guard by the request and asked for input from the rest of the board.

Board Member Jerry Richardson said he did not like officers having to use personal vehicles for police work and understood the need for another squad car, before making a motion to move forward with the purchase. The motion was approved 2-0, with Board Member Bill Battram not in attendance.

City Attorney Bob Kinkle said on top of the board's approval, the city council would also have to agree to fund the city's portion of the vehicle's purchase.

During the council meeting, Council Member Charlotte Richeson asked Police Chief Doug Young if he believed the department needed another vehicle.

&#8220Yes, we do. We have three now, but we had to get rid of two to get the new car." replied Young, reiterating that the current vehicles are having many miles put on them and officers are sometimes forced to use their own cars.

Collins said he did not know what, if any, warranty would be included with the purchase of a renovated car, but he said they are all equipped with police engines and would be test driven by Oakland City officers before any purchase is made.

The council approved matching the $3,000 donation and moving forward with the purchase, if Collins finds a car suitable for the city's needs. Wirth said the match would come from the Riverboat Fund of the General Budget.

In other business, OCPD Officer Tim Gaines and his K-9 partner Tess demonstrated new drug odor detection training equipment recently purchased by the department with the help of an unknown benefactor.

Gaines said a donation of $641.45 was received for the purchase of five K9 OPSgear odor detection training canisters and a set of bags that go with them. But it was not known who made the generous gift, he added.

&#8220In my opinion, this is the best thing on the market today," Gaines said. &#8220I'm not sure who donated this money, but I want them to know that it is greatly appreciated and will be put to good use."

After the meeting, Gaines said he had mentioned the possible purchase of the equipment and the need for possible donations for its purchase briefly to some city officials. After he provided information on the system, Gaines said the donation was received within hours.

&#8220Without this donation, we would have probably not been able to get this," he said. &#8220This will be a major part of our narcotics training."