CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department has a new piece of equipment to use during investigations and critical incidents thanks to the generosity of the Lake County Fire Protection District.
Acting Clearlake Police Department Chief Tim Celli said the agency recently received a surplus ambulance from Lake County Fire, with the ambulance to serve as a police incident command vehicle.
Celli said it will be useful to police officers and staff in a variety of functions, including crime scene investigation as well as at other scenes or incidents where it might be necessary to form a unified command or have bulk equipment on hand.
He said investigations staff had expressed the need for a crime scene or evidence vehicle for some time.
Staff could also have used such a vehicle on several occasions, including large-scale search operations during missing persons cases for planning and information gathering, various crime scenes where it was necessary to have specialized equipment for evidence gathering and as an incident command during the evacuations for the Clayton fire last year, Celli said.
Celli said staff realized that having certain equipment readily available and on hand would make responses more efficient and save time for employees who would otherwise have to shuttle equipment back and forth to on-scene personnel as needed.
Command staff recognized the usefulness and efficiency that a vehicle like this could bring to emergency efforts and reached out to the Lake County Fire Chief Willie Sapeta to find out if he or his staff could help them find such a vehicle on a limited budget, Celli said.
It was at that time that Chief Sapeta told the police department that his district would soon be able to surplus one of the ambulances from its emergency fleet. Celli said police staff thought this vehicle would be the right fit to suit the needs of the department.
When the Lake County Fire Protection Board heard of the police department’s need, intended use and the efficiency it would bring for various operations, it voted unanimously to surplus the vehicle to the police department, Celli said.
Celli said the vehicle has received a fresh coat of paint and was marked with the police department logos. The vehicle also will be outfitted with equipment funded through leftover funds from AB 109 grant and asset forfeiture.
“I believe this vehicle will help staff operate at a more efficient level when timing is critical,” Celli said.
“The Clearlake Police Department and Lake County Fire Protection District have built a good working relationship together, especially on emergency operations,” he added. “I want to thank the Lake County Fire Protection District for their generosity and all the help they have given us throughout the years. I look forward to the continued partnership.”
Clearlake Police Department receives incident command vehicle thanks to Lake County Fire donation
- Lake County News reports
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