BUCKINGHAM — Approximately $300,000 dollars has been awarded to the Buckingham County Sheriff’s Office from the Virginia Attorney General’s Office as part of an asset forfeiture transfer.

The money means lots of new technology and many new tools for law enforcement officers to better serve the county.

“I’ve got an announcement for you,” began Sheriff William “Billy” Kidd during the December 9 board of supervisors meeting.

“Several months ago, the attorney general’s office, contacted all the sheriffs departments, or sheriff’s offices, and said ‘if you want to get some of this one-time asset forfeiture money that the state won, he was willing to share it with us.’ So, I got Mr. (Brent) Uzdanovics (an investigator) to fill out the paperwork, because he’s very good at it. And we have received a letter from Mr. Cuccinelli’s office.”

“On behalf of the attorney general, Ken Cuccinelli, I am pleased to announce that your department has been approved for an asset forfeiture transfer based upon your submitted proposal in the amount of $299,761.34,” Kidd related to supervisors, reading the letter.

“Wow…That is good news,” District Five Supervisor Cassandra Stish responded.

According to Kidd, the money will be used to purchase in-car digital cameras in 18 vehicles, replacing the mobile radios in all vehicles, purchasing new radar units for all vehicles, purchasing new weaponry technology, buying a tire deflation system, purchasing portable ballistics shields, which will be placed in every school and in all vehicles, a GPS system for all vehicles, a new fingerprinting system for the department, new workstation computers for all deputies, and software upgrades for the department’s reporting and data collection systems.

“It saves money on the budget, because some of this stuff was coming up for replacement and we would have had to take it out of the budget if I don’t have it coming from somewhere else,” Kidd offered.

Five New Vehicles

During their meeting, supervisors voted unanimously to allow Sheriff Kidd to purchase five new vehicles.

“This letter serves as my intent to solicit for bids for the purchase of four 2014 Ford police interceptor utility vehicles with approved funds in the 2013-2014 fiscal year budget. I request that you send out to bid with the appropriate notices and advertising for the purchase of these vehicles,” his November 25 letter to supervisors explains.

“Additionally, I would like your consideration in purchasing a fifth vehicle, a 2014 Ford F-150 crew cab truck, to replace a 2008 Ford Explorer that is utilized by the drug investigator. Funding for this vehicle can be accomplished through a USDA community development loan at $27,000 for a period of five years, at a low interest rate of 3.5% with annual payments of $5,981 thousand,” the sheriff requested.

Kidd offers in his letter that by using the USDA loan, the department can stretch the cost of the replacement vehicle over a five year time span, and make payments from its drug asset forfeiture account “with no impact on current or future fiscal year budgets.” He goes on to say that the account has funds to support three years of payments, with anticipation on generating additional revenue to pay the remaining obligation within the loan period. “This, in essence, will fully support the purchase of this vehicle,” informs his letter.