Greenbrier County sheriff finds unused equipment

Christian M. Giggenbach
Register-Herald Reporter

January 07, 2009 10:44 pm

— LEWISBURG — New Greenbrier County Sheriff Jim Childers revealed Wednesday the discovery of more than $13,000 worth of night-vision goggles that had been purchased through the sheriff’s department in 2004 with Homeland Security funds, but for some unknown reason were never distributed to law enforcement officers.
Childers said 53 Bushnell night-vision goggles, as well as four spike strips, which can be thrown in front of a fleeing suspect’s vehicle in an attempt to deflate the tires, were found locked under key at the sheriff’s office during some “routine housecleaning.”
“I want to be perfectly clear about something,” Childers said during a special news conference Wednesday. “Making this discovery public is not to be intended or to reflect negativity on any previous sheriff’s administration. It is what it is ... I don’t have all the answers to your questions as to why the equipment was not distributed.”
White Sulphur Springs Police Chief James Hylton did shed some light on the discovery of the equipment. In 2004, Hylton said, about $13,000 had been left over from a $100,000-plus Homeland Security grant that all law enforcement entities in the county had applied for.
“All of the agencies got a wish list and it was pre-approved through Charleston,” Hylton said. “Altogether, we had enough to buy every officer in the county a pair of Bushnell night-vision goggles.”
Hylton said the order had been placed in December 2004. During that time, Albert Lindsey was sheriff and finishing out his term. The next month, Roger Sheppard took over the position.
Hylton said 48 night goggles had been ordered. However, 53 night goggles were found in boxes that had never been opened.
The goggles were valued at about $270 apiece and the five spike strips totaled about $1,200, officials said. It was unclear exactly what funds were used to buy the spike strips.
Hylton also stressed he did not want to assess blame concerning the night goggles. Hylton said he made several calls to the sheriff’s department about the night goggles, but was never told they had been placed in storage.
Lindsey and Sheppard were unavailable for comment Wednesday.
Childers said a complete inventory of the entire department is under way. He said more equipment had also been found which will be disclosed to the public when more information about the equipment is garnered.
Childers said he doesn’t believe any equipment bought with grant money had been stolen. The night goggles and spike strips will be distributed to the proper officers, he said.
“Whatever has happened in the past is done,” Childers said. “We are wiping the slate clean and I guarantee you this won’t happen again.”
— E-mail:
cgiggenbach@register-herald.com

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