Commissioners debate reassignment of surplus constable and sheriff vehicles
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Summary
After earlier vehicle valuations proved inaccurate, commissioners discussed reassigning surplus Tahoes and other law‑enforcement vehicles, raising reserve deputy usage, liability, insurance and interdepartmental transfer concerns; a workshop was requested to determine vehicle inventories and needs.
Van Zandt County commissioners revisited prior discussion about surplus vehicles from the constables and sheriff—s departments after staff said previous model years and values had been reported incorrectly.
Speaker 8 opened the item saying earlier information had understated the value and model years of several Tahoes; staff had rechecked Kelley Blue Book values and found some vehicles (e.g., constable Burton—s Tahoe) were 2020 models with low mileage and worth more than previously estimated. The county previously set approximate values of $15,000 per unit; staff said those figures were not accurate and that the total prior value calculation (quoted in the meeting as "about $3,132,000" in the transcript) was incorrect.
Commissioners and law‑enforcement representatives debated whether vehicles designated as surplus were still used by reserve deputies and whether reassigning vehicles would create liability and insurance gaps. Speaker 11 pressed for confirmation that reserve deputies would have access to vehicles if units were moved to other departments; Speaker 2 stated some vehicles are actively used by reserves for court duties and part‑time shifts and that personal vehicles are sometimes used when county vehicles are unavailable, raising concerns about liability and indemnification.
Speaker 7 and Speaker 4 urged the court to confirm needs with constables and the sheriff before reallocating vehicles; Speaker 8 proposed a workshop to inventory extra vehicles, identify units to be returned or auctioned, and clarify policy for spare/backup vehicles. The court agreed to postpone definitive action and schedule further discussion after the sheriff and constables provide a list of vehicles available for auction, reassignment or retention.
Outcome and next steps: The court did not approve a reallocation at the meeting. Commissioners asked county staff to prepare an inventory of extra vehicles, confirm which units are in active reserve use, and convene a workshop with the sheriff, constables and commissioners to establish a consistent policy for handling surplus law‑enforcement vehicles.