General manager

Ecrumbly@calhountimes.com

The Calhoun city police department recently acquired some high-powered vehicles that will help to enhance their special operations endeavors.

Two Humvees and two four wheelers are now part of the city fleet, and they were acquired at no cost to taxpayers, according to Det. Lt. Tony Pyle.

The police department acquired the vehicles through the GEMA (Georgia Emergency Manage-ment Agency) excess military property program.

The city’s Special Response Team will use the Humvees when they respond to hostage situations or serve high-risk search warrants. Pyle said the vehicles will be modified to make for a quicker exit and entry process for the officers using them.

The back portion of the cabs will be removed so officers can simply jump through the opening without being hampered by doors. Rails will be added to the sides of the vehicles so officers can stand on them and ride to a location. This way, officers can be on the ground running before the typical suspect realizes what has happened, he said.

Both Humvees will eventually be painted black with police markings, he said.

The ATVs will be used for patrolling areas where cars cannot go, such as the city’s walking park. They would come in particularly useful, he said, in situations where wooded areas would have to be searched, such as when a child wanders away.

In the past, the department has also gotten helmets and military camouflage clothing through the program for training.

Police Chief Garry Moss applied for this grant, Pyle said, but any law enforcement program can so the same. They can even secure helicopters if they have pilots to fly them, he said.