Sheriff implementing fuel conservation plan

By Justin Faulconer

Published: July 24, 2008

The Amherst County Sheriff’s Department is cracking down on its fuel and energy consumption to reduce budget costs.

Sheriff Jimmy Ayers wants all staff members to practice ways to conserve until further notice.

Methods he suggests include shutting down vehicles upon arrival on scenes and trips to the office, car pooling to training events, reducing speed when driving and completing reports indoors rather than writing them in police cars with the engine running.

In a memo, Ayers also encouraged staff to leave office lights off when rooms are empty, and not to bring police dogs to work for appearances in court or other duties.

The measure will keep canine vehicles from using fuel while idling to keep animals from overheating, he wrote to staff.

“Our vehicle use policy currently allows deputies issued take-home cars to attend college or visit a gym for physical training, as these activities benefit the department and county,” he wrote. “Please use the most direct route to these activities.”

Other localities in the area are adopting similar means to cut energy expenditures.

For example, Bedford County officials sent letters recently to each of its departments using county-issued vehicles to halt all personal use of those vehicles.