Updated: 9/9/2009 6:36:17 PM
The Wartburg Police Department is celebrating a big win: a brand new, state of the art police cruiser.
School kids gathered around to watch the new cruiser, a Dodge Charger funded by the Governor's Highway Safety Office, roll into town.
"It is cool!" exclaimed fifth grader Johnathan Laymance.
"It's pretty cool. I like the colors of it," fifth grader Lilly Crozier weighed in.
"This car is equipped with the top-of-the-line everthing. It's got the laptop, the radars, cameras front and rear--anything you could possibly get on a patrol car, it's got it," said Dwayne Bales, a patrol officer for the Wartburg Police Department.
The Wartburg Police Department is celebrating its luck--Bales' lucky touch, more specifically--in winning the Governor's Highway Safety Office Law Enforcement Challenge program.
"The law enforcement challenge program is a program designed to recognize agencies and what they've accomplished in highway traffic safety for the previous year," said Clint Shrum with the Governor's Highway Safety Office.
Wartburg put together a book detailing its efforts in that arena. Qualifying cities were then entered into a drawing.
"We put your name in a bowl, we draw out ten names, and you draw a key. The guy that has the key that activates the blue lights wins the car. It just so happens that Dwayne Bales with Wartburg had the key this year," said Shrum.
"It was unreal. Very shocking!" Bales said Wednesday.
"We're a financially challenged area, a financially challenged city, and these guys did a lot of work, and it paid off. This is tremendous for us," said Wartburg Mayor Joey Williams.
"In terms of economic impact, we're talking about a $50,000 car coming to Wartburg that does not have to be paid for out of the general budget," Shrum said.
"It's nice. A $51,000 charger handed over to us, fully equipped. It's a nice asset," Bales said.
Wartburg isn't the only area winner in the law enforcement challenge.
Alcoa Police will receive a new Harley Davidson motorcycle next week.
