[JULY 18, 2005] A special task force of the Lincoln Police
Department will soon be getting a new and different sort of vehicle.
Members of the Emergency Response Team will be as safe as money in a
Brink's, literally. A Brink's armored car offers the most protection
of any civilian vehicle.
The local emergency team was formed soon after Mayor Beth Davis took
office. She put it at the top of her list in the interest of keeping
our children and public safe. She worked with the former police
chief, Rich Montcalm, on its development. Then-Sgt. Robert Rawlins
was the lead officer in charge of training the team and acted as
field commander.
Brink's extends to emergency response teams the
offer of vehicles that the company can no longer use to transport
money. They ask for $10 in the sale and a signed agreement that
requires the agency to sell it back to them for the same amount when
they are finished using it. Lincoln's name was put on the list over
a year ago, and the call came last week.
Chief Robert Rawlins received approval from the council to go see
and purchase the vehicle, which was being held in Joliet. Rawlins
pointed out that he hopes we would not need to use it, but said, "It
is always better to prepare for the worst and hope for the best."
He will be checking with a local company to see if their offer to
paint it at no cost still stands.
Efforts to get the company that erected signs and barricades at
the old Central School site have gone unheeded, Alderman Buzz Busby
informed the council. He would like to see the cleanup and repairs,
such as any damaged curbs, completed as the company promises before
the new school year begins.
City engineer Mark Mathon has agreed to pursue the matter with
the company.
Award
Mayor Beth Davis said that she was informed that the local AMVETS
Post 71 has received an AMVETS national recognition for their
project at All Veterans Park last year. Arnie Haak came to the
council to ask for the city's assistance with cleaning up the trees
at the park on Union Street.
The group renovated the park, adding granite benches, and laid
bricks with veterans' names.
