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Saltillo Police Chief Grant Bailey shows off the new patrol cart, complete with flashing blue lights. The lift kit allows the vehicle to cross curbs and go over rough terrain.
By William Moore
Daily Journal
SALTILLO – Saltillo’s police rode up and down the parking lot, blue lights flashing, at a recent Friday night’s football game. But they weren’t in a patrol car.
It was the first chance for the general public to see the department’s newly decked-out golf cart.
“Since the parking lot is on the other side of the school and pretty far away from the stadium, the cart also allows us to get between the two pretty fast,” said Saltillo Police Chief Grant Bailey. “We’ve had instances of fights in the parking lot in the past. The cart will be a huge help.”
The battery-powered golf cart was purchased about a month ago but the striping and LED blue lights were not installed until this week. The $5,000 cart, which has a lift kit to help it get over curbs and across rough terrain, was purchased through the department’s budget.
“I really want to thank the board of aldermen for seeing the need for this piece of equipment,” said Bailey.
In addition to serving official police business at Saltillo’s home football games, officers have used it to help in other ways. An injured player for the opposing team was given a lift to the locker room up the hill at the school.
“I gave a lift to a single parent and two little kids all the way from the field to Highway 145 so they wouldn’t have to walk,” said Bailey.
In addition to football games, officers will use the cart at parades, festivals and runs.
“In Saltillo, once a parade starts, you are not getting a car anywhere downtown,” said Bailey. “But this cart is small enough to zip along the edge of the parade.
“During the homecoming parade, we had an officer and a fireman with his medical bag on the cart just in case,” said Bailey.
william.moore@journalinc.com