Squad cars may get paint job

Redesign of deputies’ cars to be considered for 2010

Friday, May 9, 2008

The decision represents a compromise between the department and the Calvert County Board of County Commissioners, where a slim majority opposed the change, said Assistant Sheriff Tom Hejl.

Hejl said he is confident that the proposal will be accepted when it is discussed next year.

‘‘Yeah, I’m confident it will be passed,” he said. ‘‘Two commissioners had no problem with it now, and a third commissioner wanted to hold off for one fiscal year to look at budget issues. We’re confident that that commissioner will give his blessing to do this,” Hejl said, later identifying the latter commissioner as President Wilson Parran.

Last month, Evans and the commissioners faced off over the sheriff’s proposal to repaint the white cruisers a more traditional black-and-white design and to have their siren lights inside the cars instead of on the roof. Making this change would have cost $680 per car, or $42,840 for the current 63 squad cars, something three of the commissioners balked at during the current fiscal crunch.

Parran said Thursday he is not concerned about the sheriff’s authority to repaint the cars, but that ‘‘we’re dealing with a budget problem of a quarter million dollars.”

Before the compromise was reached, the commissioners and the sheriff’s office disagreed about whether Evans could authorize the change without approval from the commissioners; Hejl said an opinion from the Maryland State Attorney General’s Office supported the sheriff’s office’s position, but he declined to immediately make the letter available, citing attorney-client privilege.