LISA HOBBS – News Editor
McMinnville TCAT is nearing completion on the Warren County Sheriff’s Department’s Cougar (MRAP).
Students are adding a ram rod to the Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicle.
“It’s going to be a nice vehicle when we get it all done,” said Commissioner Randy England, during a County Corrections Partnership meeting. “Basically, our part at the school is finished. I think they are just doing a little clean-up on it. We had a really good student in the welding class that, more or less, designed most of it. He’s done an excellent job on it. The pieces are tucked away underneath the doors. They’ve ordered some paint. So, it you are looking for them, you won’t really see them.”
England stated that the cost to the Sheriff’s Department was just under $2,582 for the parts.
“That’s very cheap. If we had taken it to a shop to have it done, I’m satisfied that it would have cost $10,000 to $12,000 to have it done. That doesn’t include the paint, so that’s right under $2,600 to have it done. That’s pretty good. When we have to break in somewhere, hopefully, this will work like we wanted to.”
Sheriff Jackie Matheny Jr. stated, “I hope we never have to use it.”
“That’s right,” replied England.
Matheny added, “We are very excited to have it.”
During the meeting, jail population was discussed. There are 214, with 170 males and 44 females. The jail is housing 22 state inmates and four on parole violations. Sheriff Matheny says the number of state inmates remains high because the Tennessee Department of Corrections hasn’t taken any of its inmates recently.