COLUMBUS — The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department has unveiled a mobile command center to enhance law enforcement operations and strengthen community engagement. The newly renovated motorhome-like vehicle, purchased earlier this year from the Columbus Township Volunteer Fire Department, is now equipped to serve various critical functions.
Repurposed as a state-of-the-art command center, the vehicle will serve as a secondary emergency operations and dispatch center. This will allow local agencies to continue operations remotely during major disasters or if the primary dispatch center becomes inoperable. In addition, the vehicle will be used for public outreach at local events such as the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair and Hope Heritage Days, providing an opportunity for residents to interact with law enforcement in a more engaging and accessible way.
Sheriff Chris Lane highlighted the new command center’s significance for law enforcement and the community. “This vehicle will allow our local emergency agencies to continue their operations remotely during critical situations,” Sheriff Lane explained. “It will also allow us to connect with the community during events, further strengthening our relationship with the public.”
The total cost of acquiring and renovating the vehicle, $92,500, was entirely covered by jail commissary funds and drug seizure funds obtained through local drug enforcement efforts in collaboration with the DEA task force. Notably, no taxpayer funds were used for the purchase or renovations. The motorhome cost $43,500, while the upgrades, including workstations and a new exterior design featuring the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department logo, amounted to approximately $49,000.
To introduce the new mobile command center to the public, the Sheriff’s Department will participate in the Festival of Lights parade in downtown Columbus on Saturday, December 9, which begins at 6 p.m. Residents are encouraged to come out and see the new addition to the department’s resources, which will serve both public safety and community engagement efforts for years to come.
