Working Together

Saturday, June 19, 2010
Greencastle Mayor Sue Murray, right, takes the keys to Greencastle Police Department's new 2010 Dodge Charger from Putnam County Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter. GPD was able to purchase three new vehicles through the Putnam County Asset Forfeiture Fund. Present for the exchange are GPD Chief Tom Sutherlin, third from right, patrolman Albert Epple, Sheriff Steve Fenwick and Terry Smith, city councilman fourth ward.

GREENCASTLE -- Putnam County Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter and Sheriff Steve Fenwick presented the keys to three 2010 Dodge Charger police cars to Mayor Sue Murray and Police Chief Tom Sutherlin Thursday.

"In my six years as prosecutor, I have never seen the sheriff's department and Greencastle Police Department work so well together, as they do now," said Bookwalter. "Both departments have been sharing resources and assistance to make all of Putnam County safer."

The money used to purchase the cars came from the Putnam County Asset Forfeiture Fund.

"With the public funding so tight right now, both Sheriff Fenwick and myself wanted to help out the City of Greencastle with the purchase of these three police cars," said Bookwalter.

The Indiana General Assembly allows forfeitures of drug dealer's profits and property. The funds are kept on deposit with the Putnam County auditor and are spent on law enforcement after the prosecutor makes a recommendation for expenditure. It then has to be approved by the Putnam County Commissioners.

Indiana State Board of Accounts audits the fund annually.

Comments
View 8 comments
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.
  • Nice car they look great!

    -- Posted by nascar_Couple on Sat, Jun 19, 2010, at 9:25 AM
  • Yeah..... New cars that what Putnam County needs more of! Seems to me that there is a better use of funds that the continuous purchase of DODGE CHARGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why not put the money into community programs to help the people and children of PUTNAM COUNTY!

    -- Posted by Innocent on Sat, Jun 19, 2010, at 10:06 AM
  • Awesome Cars! What better way to spend the criminal's money than with new cars to patrol the streets and keep our community safe. Get as many cars as you can. Way to go!!!!!!

    -- Posted by Thelastpaladin on Sat, Jun 19, 2010, at 11:57 AM
  • Innocent? I think notsomuch...police basher would be a better title!

    -- Posted by hardtobelieve on Sat, Jun 19, 2010, at 6:37 PM
  • I want to know if everyone works so well together these days, why can the prosecuters and police do a better job at helping a inecent man prove he is not guilty of a false police report????? been begging the prosecuters and police to do a tresspassin report/ false reporting/ civil lawsuit but cant get it done??? any suggestions?

    but they sure can arrest a man who has done nothing wrong in this false reporting,, any suggestions on how to get them to work with us??

    -- Posted by tc2645 on Sat, Jun 19, 2010, at 11:54 PM
  • Great Job you all!! Keep up the Good work, Glad to see the Cars on the Road.

    -- Posted by Afghan Contractor on Sun, Jun 20, 2010, at 11:03 PM
  • Maybe if he knew how to spell "innocent", "trespassing", or "prosecutor" they could help him. Prosecutors cannot file civil lawsuits, by the way.

    -- Posted by LTSmash on Mon, Jun 21, 2010, at 7:45 AM
  • Yeah..... New cars that what Putnam County needs more of! Seems to me that there is a better use of funds that the continuous purchase of DODGE CHARGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why not put the money into community programs to help the people and children of PUTNAM COUNTY!

    ------

    Normally, I might agree somewhat with what you said but in a much calmer mature way. But I know the Chargers are actually cheaper than most other police cars on the market now. Plus I drive by the mechanic shop the cruisers go to for repairs and the older cruisers are there every day, day in, day out. They are obviously worn out and the maintenance costs are probably astronomical. Also, I believe the forfeiture fund can only be used for law enforcement needs and thats pretty darn good that the county got involved to help the city with little or 0 tax payer dollars used.

    -- Posted by G-boy2008 on Mon, Jun 21, 2010, at 2:33 PM
Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: