At Monday’s Lenoir County Commissioners meeting, Sheriff Ronnie Ingram requested an armored vehicle to replace the incapacitated 1981 model retired in 2018. Previous requests for funding for an armored vehicle were removed from the budget in 2019 and 2020.

“Well, here we are again on this armored vehicle,” said Ingram. “Just so you know this is probably the third time that we’ve had this conversation about this armored vehicle.”

The Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office has had to request armored vehicles from neighboring counties, adding to the response time on the scene. In recent manhunts, approximately 15 armored vehicles from other agencies aided in the search.

Deputies have had to use their equipment truck in potentially dangerous situations with no ballistic protection. The current vehicles used by the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office are not sufficient to support the needs of the community and fail to keep the deputies safe.

Ingram spoke of what has changed since the last request, and he used the incident involving Robert Lee Strother as an example.

“The only difference is, he wasn’t shooting that little 223 round, he was shooting a 7.62 round,” said Ingram. “Just a quarter-inch to the left, we’d of had a second officer to have been killed in the line of duty.”

The Sheriff’s Office requested the purchase of a Lenco Bearcat G3 with a total cost of $313,286. The vehicle is projected to be in service for 20-25 years. With a Ford F-500 chassis, maintenance can be done locally. The cost of this armored vehicle is comparable to an average ambulance.

Chair Linda Rouse Sutton shared a story of a man who committed suicide near her office.

“This is the third time this has been before us. So I think we need to go ahead and say we need to let the county manager work it out with the sheriff to get it done,” said Rouse Sutton.

Requests were made for the county to set aside funds for a new armored vehicle in 2016, and again in 2017. In 2018, the county lost the use of the 1981 armored vehicle, and a resolution to purchase a new armored vehicle was tabled.

“In February of 2016, 2017, 2018, we had those conversations with the manager,” said Ingram. “We submitted a resolution that went before the board, requesting funds to purchase an armored vehicle.”

An armored vehicle is invaluable for the safety of law enforcement officers as they approach a dangerous situation.

“This armored vehicle saves lives,” said Ingram.

Commissioner J. Mac Daughety made a motion seconded by Commissioner June Cummings to approve a purchase order for the armored vehicle. The motion passed unanimously.

“We want to note that this purchase is being made with current year budget funds that were meant for patrol vehicles that were not purchased this year,” the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook. “This means that no extra funding was needed. We consider this a win-win for our Office, County and budget.”