Local Businesses Make City Police SRT Vehicle Possible

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Published on February 21 2019 1:45 pm
Last Updated on February 21 2019 1:45 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

(THE CREW FROM HIGGS WELDING WITH MEMBERS OF THE CITY'S SPECIAL RESPONSE TEAM)

Local businesses have worked with Effingham City Police to make a Special Response Team vehicle possible for the police department.

The SRT vehicle, purchased locally in 2018 from Goeckner Brothers in Effingham, has been outfitted according to city police "to meet the unique needs of the Effingham community." A release from the police department states "the addition of this resource will allow the department's SRT to carry and store the specialized equipment necessary to perform various types of focused assignments throughout the community as needed." In addition to the Specialized Response Team needs, crime scene equipment will be readily stored in the vehicle for immediate deployment to a scene by members of the city Bureau of Criminal Investigations.

The van has been equipped to accommodate the SRT's need for both seating and storage. Higgs Welding in Dieterich donated all the labor and equipment to outfit the van to meet the requirements the Team has for storing all the equipment as well as seating for transportation of the Team to and from assignments. In addition to Higgs Welding's work and support, Tri-Power Towing in Effingham assisted with financial support for the project.

(HIGGS WELDING OF DIETERICH DONATED THE LABOR AND EQUIPMENT TO OUTFIT THE VAN. FROM LEFT: TROY HIGGS, RUSSELL HIGGS, BRETT HIGGS AND VINCE HIGGS)

"This vehicle has been made possible through the gracious generosity of Higgs Welding and Tri-Power Towing who want to contribute to make Effingham a safer community," said Police Chief Jeffrey Fuesting. "I personally want to thank Vince, Brett, Troy and Russell Higgs for the countless hours put into this project outfitting this vehicle to meet out needs. Mike DePoister, owner of Tri-Power Towing, was instrumental supporting the project. The collaboration between our business community and the Department are what makes Effingham a great place to live, work and play. We are very grateful for such community support."