Wareham Police to receive free vehicles

Aug 22, 2012

The Wareham Police Department is set to have some extra wheels in the near future.

"It sounds like a military base around here," said Selectman Ellen Begley, who along with her fellow Selectmen, approved various donated vehicles on Tuesday.

The vehicles include two Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and one "Humvee," a military vehicle capable of being driven through rough terrain.

Also included in the donations were jet skis, which are currently being used by the police, but were not approved of by the Board of Selectmen when they were first received mid-summer. A local businessman's donation of auto body work for a police cruiser was also approved.

The two Harley-Davidson motorcycles will cost $3,900 each for a one-year lease. The money for the two motorcycles will be donated by residents of Burgess Point in Wareham, said Police Chief Richard Stanley.

Stanley added after the meeting that the money was donated for one year. What will happen to the motorcycles after that will have to be decided, he said.

"There is a tremendous amount of traffic ... which our cruisers can't even get around sometimes," said Stanley. "This is a big project and a big help for us."

Some Wareham police officers are trained to use the motorcycles, Stanley said, and others will receive training. Usage of the bikes will not generate extra overtime pay for police officers, Stanley said after questioned by Selectmen.

Stanley said that the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, better known as a Humvee, will be useful during extreme weather conditions, such as flooding after a hurricane.

"This is a tremendous asset to the community," said Stanley. "It will assist us in getting us to where we need to get to."

The Humvee is worth $22,000, but will be of no cost to the town, Stanley said. It will be obtained through a federal government program.

Also on the list is paint and minor body work for a police cruiser, which will be donated by Vaughn Wedge of Vaughn's Towing & Recovery in Wareham.

"It shows great community spirit," said Stanley.

Selectmen also approved two Kawasaki jet skis obtained by the department mid-summer. Selectman Steve Holmes chided Stanley for obtaining the jet skis without getting the necessary prior approval from the Board of Selectmen. Stanley apologized.

The jet skis are worth $15,000 dollars each, and were received for free through a watercraft public safety loan program offered by Kawasaki Motors Corporation.

The town's Harbormaster Department patrols Wareham's waters. Selectman Peter Teitelbaum asked Stanley what type of coordination his department has had so far with the Harbormaster Department.

Stanley said that the Harbormaster Department has loaned marine radios to the police. Otherwise, it is a "work in progress this year," he said.