An examination: 1033 in the county sheriff's office

The sheriffás office has been acquiring government surplus for the cost of transportation since 2011.

Deputies have made 44 trips to bases in neighboring states like Pennsylvania and Virginia, and as far away as Georgia to pick up items like flood lights, trucks, M-16s, clothing and Humvees.

2011: 3 trips for 350 items

2012: 11 trips for 246 items

2013: 7 trips for 20 items

2014: 18 trips for 219 items

2015: 5 trips so far this year for 163 items

An examination: 1033 in the county sheriff's office

Government surplus

By RENEE FOX

Tribune Chronicle

WARREN ä A federal give-a-way program has allowed the Trumbull County Sheriffás Office to procure nearly one thousand surplus items the government no longer needs, but the program has come under scrutiny for possible unofficial use, storage and need of the equipment.

Deputy Ty Kata, of Bristol, has been spearheading the officeás participation. Run by the Department of Defense, the surplus program is an effort to, âprovide logistics support to state and local government agencies participating in counter drug, homeland security and emergency response activity,ã according an overview provided by the Defense Logistics Agency.

âThis program has benefited us immensely,ã Sheriff Tom Altiere said. âIt has helped with budget restraints, and kept us afloat, especially the vehicles.ã

A few trucks have been procured for undercover use, another used for plowing snow in the winter and towing a boat in the summer. The large Ford 650, and a surplus boat, helped the sheriffás office procure a grant for a marine patrol, Kata said. The grant will pay 75 percent of the cost to patrol Mosquito Lake on weekends and holidays in the summers, a grant Kata said the office would not have received if they didnát have the proper equipment, which they obtained for nearly nothing.

âWe want to be a proactive force, not a reactive force,ã Kata said. âIt is better to have this equipment, now, for free, then to realize we need it and not have it.ã

A transport van Kata acquired in 2013 cost about $500 to transport and then paint, outfitted with an older radio and cage; compared to a similar model purchased by the office for over $30,000, Kata said.

A number of salt dispensers and vehicles to load and distribute it were also acquired, the equipment was used county-wide, justified as necessary to the office for improved roadway safety for officers.

âI have selected items in the interest of making law enforcement safer and more effective,ã Kata said. âOur maintenance guys can use the truck to plow snow anywhere in the county, not just our parking lot, as long as we (sheriffás office) maintain ownership.ã

There are other items that really donát have a use anymore, like a small fleet of Humvees that were obtained in 2011 and 2012, before most cruisers had all-wheel drive, Kata said. Kata admits, they mostly sit in a parking lot now, but they are good back up.

âAny time we need to raid a marijuana field, or investigate something in the back roads, we will need those vehicles, you canát drive an SUV into a field or woods,ã Kata said.

An overview of the 1033 program indicates Humvees are for counter-terrorism and counter-drug use and should be given to another agency if they are not needed.

The internal investigation Altiere has opened up will look into where some of this equipment was stored and repaired, and whether or not it was used to lay manure down on an employeeás farm or in other personal ways.

On Friday, Kata said some of the heavy equipment, including a back hoe, has to be âplayed with so we know how to use it when we need it.ã

The items offered from nearby bases cost only the time, gas and tolls it takes to get to the base and bring it back. But participants often do not know exactly what they are going to pick up, and items often need repairs. Kata and other deputies have made over 40 trips to Pennsylvania, Virginia, and as far away as Georgia, since 2011.

âTax payers have already paid for this stuff, it is being used to improve the way we serve them,ã Kata said.

Kata usually travels by himself, unless he needs another driver to bring back a working vehicle. He said, on an average trip he turns in receipts for about $120 in fuel costs, a little more when he travels toll roads.

On Thursday, Kata said the only time he has stayed over night was on a trip to Georgia to pick up nine multi-fuel motorcycles March, last year. The motorcycles were lightly used, but in need of repairs and fluids. The motorcycles have not been used for official business yet, but they were being worked on, until the weather grew cold, Kata said. His goal is to get as many of the motorcycles into working condition as possible and then assign them to individual deputies, as is the plan for the nine ATVs. Some of the vehicles will need to be cannibalized to get them into working order.

âThe pick-up cost of these items is small, most of the expense comes from parts, repairs and maintenance,ã Kata said.

The first few items Kata ordered were snowblowers and weed trimmers, used by prisoners around the county. Many of the items were not in working condition. Kata said students in classes at Trumbull Career and Technical Center practiced small engine repair on the tools, learning to determine with ones to cannibalize and which ones to save with parts.

Law enforcement agencies must fill out justification forms after selecting an item, once the request is approved, a representative from the agency has 14 days to pick it up. Departments are not allowed to sell the items, but they can give them back or to other law enforcement agencies. Kata said he has become friendly with coordinators on the bases he frequents, sometimes he calls them to find out if an item listed in the database is really worth going to get. A lot of times he goes into the deal blind.

âWe get a lot of good equipment out of the programä not all of it is goodä but what is good we use,ã Altiere said.

Spotlights was Kataás most recent acquisition, they havenát been used yet, and are sitting out in a parking lot, but they could illuminate a night-time crime scene, Kata said.

âWe use this stuff, maybe not every day, but we use it,ã Kata said.

Descriptions of the items are categorical, any item that comes from the kitchen is called âkitchen equipmentã with no further information. Trucks and utility vehicles are identified as such, but no information about their working condition is included, or what types of repairs they may need. Kata said he often brings belts, batteries and other things with him to pick-up vehicles.

A tool box is listed on the site as a âtool kit,ã that can be anything from a small, metal and empty handy-man tool box, or a large tough box filled with a useful, if slightly incomplete, ratchet set or other tools.

A random audit in August, from the state program coordinator in Columbus, found no problems with how the items are being used or stored, Major Harold Firster said. And, Firster said, they have requested an additional audit.

Altiere is expected to release an analysis of over-time and other costs associated with the trips and surplus program soon.

rfox@tribtoday.com