Lone Star PD receives grant, purchases vehicles

Chances are, if you spot
a Lone Star Police officer
on the street, you might
not recognize them. No,
there is no major undercover
sting occurring, but
the department has
received two, new-to-the
department vehicles, that
are already being put to
good use.
According to Chief
Larry Fleet, the new vehicles
are thanks, in large
part, to Sergeant Brett
Gutierrez. “Last year, Brett
took the initiative and
applied for a grant
through the East Texas
Council of Governments
to purchase new vehicles.
Originally, we were
approved for $80,000 to
purchase two new vehicles,”
said Chief Fleet.
Fleet said the department
was then notified that, due
to a lack of funds, they
would only be receiving
$40,000 for the vehicles.
After conferring with the
state on the ability to use
the funds on used or new
vehicles, the department
chose to go with used vehicles,
saving the remainder
to outfit the vehicles they
would purchase. “We have
a guy in Oklahoma that we
have used before,” said
Fleet, adding “that we can
get vehicles from him for a
cheaper cost.”
The department chose to
purchase a 2013 Chevrolet
Tahoe and a 2014 Ford
Explorer, both of which are
“equipped with modern
technology,” said Fleet.
Fleet, as well as the rest of
the department, is very
proud of the news vehicles,
which were received the
first week of January. “We
are very proud of them,”
that funds for the new
vehicles came solely from
the grant for which
Gutierrez applied, with no
cost to taxpayers or the city.