Lake Station’s fleet of police cars will get a boost from the Portage police in what officials called a good example of regionalism Tuesday.
Portage Police Chief Troy Williams said his department will sell three vehicles to Lake Station’s police department for $1 each.
“We’re truly grateful for them,” said Lake Station Police Chief Dave Johnson. “We’re in a position, right now, where we really don’t have enough vehicles for the amount of guys we have. In addition to that, if even one car breaks down, that puts us a further step back.
“The idea of being able to work together allows us to be a better community overall, not just where the dividing lines are for the cities.”
Williams said his department beefed up its fleet with 15 new vehicles this year, with some of the cars purchased with money from a state-funded program.
Selling vehicles to another community for a symbolic price is nothing new, Williams said. Several years ago, Portage bought a garbage truck from Valparaiso in a similar agreement, he said.
“We don’t need those particular squad cars, and Lake Station can use them, so we want to help our neighbor,” Williams said. “This is what regionalism is. This is what being a good neighbor is. We want to help each other out.”
Portage bought the cars in 2007, 2008 and 2010. They have “high mileage” on them, but they still have plenty of life in them, Williams said.
“(Johnson’s) not getting junk vehicles,” he said. “He’s getting something that can work for a little bit more for him.”
Michael Gonzalez is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
