The city of Bland Police Department received their new 2017 Ford Police Interceptor Utility vehicle on March 10, purchased with a $25,000 grant. 

Bland Police Chief Dwayne Goodridge said the city could have purchased a new vehicle with the grant money, but then would have had to spend more out of pocket.

“It would have taken another $7,500 to load it with police equipment,” Goodridge said. “Purchasing the 2017, we got everything for the same amount as the grant. The city didn’t pay anything out of pocket.”

The vehicle was purchased for a dealer in Diamond City, Mo., who trailered it to Lebanon where Bland officials met them.

“A funny story about that, someone saw the vehicle being trailered and looked up the city of Bland, which was on the side of the vehicle, and saw that it was over 150 miles away. They called dispatch and said they thought the car might be stolen,” Goodridge said. “Dispatch called me and asked if we were missing a car because someone saw one on a trailer driving down the interstate. I said, ‘no, we didn’t have one stolen, but we are going to pick one up!’”

The officers are pleased with the purchase so far.

Goodridge also informed the Bland Board of Aldermen during his department head report that they have written 95 tickets since the beginning of 2021. City Clerk Carrie Krupp added that the court has been having trouble keeping up with the numbers and the city may consider going back to monthly court dates if the numbers continue.

According to the court report, 55 new tickets were written as of Jan. 29, 2021; no warrants were issued at the January court date; 20 remaining outstanding warrants; and $4,070 total court fines have been collected. 

Also, all requirements for Show Me Courts will have been met as soon as the city receives checkbooks for their new account.